Media release
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today expressed concern about the finding by the ACT Inspector of Correctional Services that a forced strip search of an Aboriginal female detainee did not comply with ACT human rights legislation. The finding in the Report of a review of a critical incident by the ACT Inspector of […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) said today that a $26 million funding package for the community sector announced by the ACT Government represented a major commitment to address needs highlighted by ACTCOSS and its members during the COVID-19 health and economic crisis. The funding announcement includes: $8.6m for specialist homelessness programs $4m to […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today welcomed a motion by Johnathan Davis MLA calling on the ACT Government to support the ACT’s community sector organisations. The motion, to be tabled in the ACT Legislative Assembly tomorrow, will acknowledge the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 health and economic crisis on the most vulnerable […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today welcomed measures to protect and support rental households impacted by COVID-19, including a 12-week moratorium on evictions for rental arrears. However, ACTCOSS is disappointed that broader protections, including a blanket eviction moratorium, have not been provided to prevent tenants experiencing vulnerable circumstances from being pushed into […]
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 […]