Media release
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) responded to today’s announcement by the ACT Greens of an election commitment to build and buy 10,000 new public housing dwellings in ten years. “ACTCOSS calls on all parties and candidates to commit to similarly transformative change of the ACT’s housing system,” said Dr Devin Bowles. “Business as […]
On 11/12/2023 it was announced Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith will become the Minister for Disability in the ACT, replacing Minister Emma Davidson. We welcome Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith as the new Minister for Disability and look forward to a vibrant and robust working relationship with her and her team. We are eager to assist Minister Stephen-Smith to […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed the ACT Government’s decision to not proceed with mandatory relocations under the Growing and Renewing Public Housing Program. “We commend the ACT Government for responding to the recommendations made by the ACT Ombudsman, and for listening to the concerns raised by public housing tenants and the […]
This year, Anti-Poverty Weeks (APW) will be held across two weeks from the 15-27 October around Australia. For the first time in 21 years, APW will be held over a fortnight in recognition of the historic Voice to Parliament Referendum. APW is a time for us all to learn more about the causes and realities of poverty […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today released their report “Supporting a fair, fast and inclusive energy transition in the ACT”. The report details how the ACT Government can support low income and vulnerable households to make the switch off fossil fuel gas. ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Devin Bowles, said: “The ACT Government’s Integrated […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed funding in today’s ACT Budget for housing, homelessness, mental health, and expanded energy concessions. ACTCOSS invites the ACT Government to collaboratively explore where increasing service delivery by non-profit community organisations would enhance the Government’s return on investment. The Budget included previously announced measures of $345m for […]
Living costs in the ACT have reached their highest levels in twenty years, and women are disproportionately facing the effects of these increases – these are the latest findings in the 2023 ACT Cost of Living Report, released today by the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS). The report, which tracks the changes in the […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today welcomed the ACT Government’s announcement of $345m in additional funding for housing measures in the 2023-24 ACT Budget. The investment will be spread across public housing growth and renewal, land release and the Affordable Housing Project Fund. ACTCOSS CEO Dr Devin Bowles said: “We congratulate the […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has called for more funding for community services to address the cost-of-living crisis following the release of a report highlighting increased demand for support across the ACT. ACOSS’s report, At the Precipice: Australia’s Community Sector through the Cost-of-living Crisis released today, showed that across Australia, increased demand is […]
The Chair of the Board of the ACT Council of Social Service, Jeremy Halcrow, has announced the appointment of Dr Devin Bowles as the new Chief Executive Officer of ACTCOSS. This follows the departure of the previous CEO, Dr Emma Campbell, in January 2023. Dr Bowles is the CEO of the Alcohol Tobacco and Other […]