News and Media
Here you’ll find news, announcements, and media releases from ACTCOSS and the Gulanga Program, along with major community sector news.
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COVID-19 Update No.2 for Organisations Supporting Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Communities, 1 May 2020
Welcome to the second edition of our CALD-focused newsletter. Information develops daily concerning COVID-19, and to support your important work, we are sharing some useful resources and links to assist organisations supporting culturally and linguistically diverse communities. If you would like us to get answers to particular issues or if you have information to share, […]
Media release: Housing report highlights need to maintain JobSeeker increase
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today highlighted the importance of maintaining increased levels of income support and called for more government action to address the shortage of affordable housing in the ACT following the release of data on rental affordability in Canberra. Anglicare’s 2020 Rental Affordability Snapshot data on the ACT and Queanbeyan […]
COVID-19 Update No.10, 29 April 2020
Key Updates Moratorium on evictions: The moratorium on evictions related to COVID-19 is now in force. The Declaration (pdf) and Explanatory Statement (pdf) are available. The ACT Government’s COVID-19 resources site includes factsheets for tenants (pdf), landlords (pdf), and real estate agents (pdf) which reference the moratorium. Support for people on temporary visas: The ACT […]
Joint statement: ACT community services support National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services’ COVID-19 policy statement
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has united with the Women’s Centre for Health Matters, the Women’s Legal Centre ACT and Professor Lorana Bartels to support the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services’ (NATSILS) COVID-19 policy statement and to call for its implementation in the ACT. The NATSILS statement calls on government, the […]
COVID-19 Update No.9, 23 April 2020
Key Updates Support for people facing homelessness or domestic and family violence arising from the COVID-19 pandemic: The ACT Government has announced $3 million in funding for client support ($330,000); accommodation support ($832,000); responding to domestic and family violence ($550,000); and provider support ($1 million). ACTCOSS will distribute more information once it is received. Jobs […]
COVID-19 Update No.8, 17 April 2020
Key Updates Information to support landlords and tenants: the ACT Government’s COVID-19 resources site now includes factsheets for tenants (pdf), landlords (pdf), and real estate agents (pdf) in relation to their rights during COVID-19. If you would like to flag issues affecting your organisation or vulnerable communities, please get in touch with ACTCOSS through our […]
COVID-19 Update No.7, 15 April 2020
[TODAY!] COVID19 Diverse – a social media forum Join #COVID19diverse – a social media forum hearing from disabled, queer and diverse Canberra voices in the pandemic, and hosted by ACTCOSS, Women With Disabilities ACT, A Gender Agenda, Advocacy for Inclusion and AIDS Action Council. This all-day social media forum is an opportunity to provide feedback […]
Media release: Human rights must be protected in COVID-19
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed a landmark statement by internationally-recognised human rights advocates calling for equal access to lifesaving medical treatment for people with disability during COVID-19. Signatories to the Statement of Concern on COVID-19: Human rights, disability, and ethical decision-making include former Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Inness AM; Vice-Chair of […]