Media release
On Equal Pay Day 2021, the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has called on all governments to do more to reduce the ongoing gender pay gap and the resulting financial insecurity experienced by women in Canberra. Research by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) calculated that the current ACT gender pay gap was nearly […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today has demanded an improvement to the response by the ACT Government and Canberra Health Services to the COVID-19 outbreak at Condamine Court public housing complex. ACTCOSS CEO Dr Emma Campbell said: “ACTCOSS has been speaking with community sector organisations working on the ground at Condamine Court. We […]
As Australian Parliament returns today, the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has called on all Senators and MPs to reject new legislation that threatens charities with deregistration for speaking out on behalf of the vulnerable communities they serve. ACTCOSS CEO Dr Emma Campbell said: “If enacted, these new regulations will mean that charities could […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today welcomed the establishment of an emergency relief service by the ACT Government to ensure vulnerable Canberrans are able to access essential goods including food and hygiene items during the period of lockdown. Any Canberran who is significantly and adversely impacted by this seven-day lockdown can call […]
The number of Canberrans living below the poverty line has increased to an estimated 38,000 during the COVID-19 pandemic, including approximately 9,000 children. Canberra is the most expensive capital city to rent, and the ACT has Australia’s highest rate of rental stress among low-income households. These are among the key findings of the 2021 ACT […]
This Homelessness Week, the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS), ACT Shelter and the Community Housing Industry Association ACT Region (CHIA) have welcomed research highlighting the positive economic and social returns from investing in social housing, including community housing. The research by the Australian Housing and Research Institute (AHURI) also showed major shortfalls in funding […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed the discussion paper on residential tenancy reforms released today by the ACT Government. ACTCOSS has been calling on the ACT Government to strengthen the ACT’s Residential Tenancy Act 1997 to provide increased protections for renters. ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Emma Campbell said: “Given the ACT’s acute housing […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today highlighted shocking research showing that high rents in the ACT are pushing essential community sector workers into serious financial stress. The research, published by the Everybody’s Home campaign for Homelessness Week 2021, found that essential community sector workers would need to use between one third and two-thirds […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today gave evidence to the ACT Legislative Assembly’s Select Committee on the Drugs of Dependence (Personal Use) Amendment Bill 2021. The Bill, aimed at decriminalising small amounts of certain drugs for personal use, will help ensure people who use drugs access appropriate healthcare and supports rather than ending […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today welcomed the expansion of the ACT’s COVID-19 vaccination program including extended opening hours for the Access and Sensory Clinic and the inclusion of all social and community sector frontline workers as now eligible for vaccination. ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Emma Campbell said: “Each week 2000 COVID-19 Pfizer […]