Media release
The ACT Council of Social Service said that today’s Federal Government JobSeeker decision is devastating news for the many Canberrans receiving income support. The announcement – a measly $3.57 a day above the brutal old Newstart rate – will plunge thousands of Canberrans deeper into poverty as they struggle to cover the basics including food, […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today released a wide-ranging submission to the ACT Government’s ongoing Territory Planning Review. The submission calls for the new system to be evidence based, to prioritise people most affected by poor planning and to focus on social and inclusive planning. ACTCOSS Acting CEO Craig Wallace says: “We […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has slammed a decision by the social media giant Facebook which saw some community organisations around the country unable to post and share information with vulnerable clients and service users. According to A/g Chief Executive Officer Craig Wallace: “We are very concerned by reports that we’ve been hearing […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) said that today’s ACT Budget fell short on the investments and vision required to ensure Canberrans facing disadvantage were protected as the ACT emerges from the COVID-19 crisis. The Budget includes pre-announced measures of $15.8 million to extend funding introduced during COVID-19 for mental health services, $2.6 million […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today called on all members of the ACT Legislative Assembly to support today’s motion by Elizabeth Kikkert MLA calling for an independent inquiry into systemic and/or institutional racism at Canberra’s prison, the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC). ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Emma Campbell, said: “In the wake of historic allegations […]
Leaders from across the housing and community sector have today written to the Minister for Housing, Yvette Berry MLA, calling for the ACT Government to match its significant investments in infrastructure projects, such as light rail and renewable energy, with similar investments in social housing. The letter, signed by the Community Housing Industry Association ACT […]
ACTCOSS today welcomed a long overdue funding announcement by the ACT Government to support Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children and families. The funding includes $4.9 million to implement recommendations of the Our Booris, Our Way review into the over-representation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children in the ACT child protection system and $1.6 […]
ACTCOSS today praised the ACT Government for calling on the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) and the Federal Government to allow people with disability to use their National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funds for services to support sexual expression. This follows disappointing and inappropriate statements on these issues by the Federal Minister for the NDIS, […]
Care and ACTCOSS joint media release. Care Financial Counselling Service and Consumer Law Centre (Care) and the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) have made a joint submission calling on Federal Parliament to ensure important consumer protections remain in place for the benefit of all Australians. Care CEO, Carmel Franklin, said: “Our joint submission to […]
MHCC ACT and ACTCOSS joint media release. The Mental Health Community Coalition ACT (MHCC ACT) and the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) have welcomed today’s announcement of $15.8 million to extend funding introduced during COVID-19 for mental health programs across Canberra. The package includes investment in community-based mental health services, funding for the Police, […]