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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Pandemic support for vulnerable citizens must continue ahead of winter COVID wave
Media Release The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today called on the Australian Government to continue to provide free Rapid Antigen Tests to concession card holders beyond 31 July when the program is due to expire. This follows the Australian Council of Social Service’s statement that a cut to free RATs for concession […]
Consumer trust in energy providers declines
Media Release The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today said that more needs to be done to protect vulnerable utilities consumers and to rebuild trust between providers and customers. This follows data released today by Energy Consumers Australia (ECA) showing that in the ACT there is deteriorating household satisfaction with gas and electricity services […]
Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! Join the Community sector NAIDOC Week event – 5 July
Media Release The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has been working with ACT’s Community Sector in bringing the Canberra Community Sector NAIDOC Week Event for 2022, celebrating the history and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The event will take place on Tuesday 5th of July between 10:45am – 2pm, in the […]
ACTCOSS welcomes ACT Government’s 2022/23 increase in funding for the ACT’s community sector
Media Release The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed the ACT Government’s announcement of a 4.43% increase in funding for the ACT’s community sector for the year 2022/23. The increase is slightly behind the increased wage costs of 4.6% and the additional 0.5% superannuation contribution that the community sector must cover next financial […]
Census population data highlights the need for major investment in the ACT community sector
Media Release The ACT Council of Social service (ACTCOSS) has called for major investment from the ACT Government and Federal Government in community services and infrastructure in light of a 20,000 person undercount of the ACT’s population. The new population figure, revealed in the release of the 2021 census results, has significant implications for the […]
End of ACT Equity to Access COVID-19 vaccination program
Media Release The ACT Council of Social service (ACTCOSS) has commended the ACT Government for its work and partnership with the community sector to deliver the ACT Equity to Access COVID-19 vaccination program. The ACT Equity to Access program, which ends on 30 June, helped people get vaccinated who faced high COVID-19 health risks and/or […]
ACT Government must maintain adequate utilities assistance for low-income households as costs rise
Media Release The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has called on the ACT Government to permanently increase the Utilities Concession in 2022-23 as Canberrans face a higher combined utilities bill alongside further increases in the cost of housing, food and fuel. ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Emma Campbell said: “In recent weeks we have heard much […]
CASP Wellbeing Newsletter – Issue 3 out now
Welcome to the third issue of our wellbeing newsletter! This newsletter is designed for frontline workers of the ACT Community Assistance and Support Program (CASP) – which includes volunteers and staff of subcontracted organisations. This newsletter is to provide additional wellbeing support in recognition of the unique challenges faced by frontline workers during the pandemic. […]