Media release
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) is calling upon the ACT Government to reduce the administrative burden on community service providers as they respond to the COVID-19 crisis. The Chief Executive Officer of ACTCOSS, Dr Emma Campbell, said: “It is really important that community service providers continue to be funded and supported so they […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed key elements of the ACT Government’s rescue and stimulus package announced today in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The package includes support for low-income people through rates and rebates, a cash payment to housing tenants, funding for community organisations at the front line and […]
Government support for the not-for-profit (NFP) community service sector in the ACT is failing to keep up with demand for services, foster collaboration and allow for advocacy. This is a key finding from the Australian Community Sector Survey prepared by the Social Policy Research Centre at UNSW Sydney in collaboration with the Councils of Social […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed last week’s public hearings on government services by the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body (ATSIEB). The annual hearings provide an opportunity for scrutiny of ACT Government programs by ATSIEB. ATSIEB was created to enable Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today welcomed the release of the ACT Wellbeing Framework by the ACT Government. ACTCOSS CEO Dr Emma Campbell said: “ACTCOSS has long seen the need for an agreed set of wellbeing goals to guide government decision making and to track our progress beyond standard economic indicators. “We welcome […]
ACTCOSS and YWCA Canberra joint media release Ahead of International Women’s Day, the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) and YWCA Canberra are calling on the federal government to commit to equal pay for workers in the community sector. Almost a decade ago, a landmark decision by the Fair Work Commission found that work performed […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) is urging the ACT Government to prioritise investment in social housing infrastructure when proposing to the federal government new measures to stimulate the economy. The federal government has written to state and territory governments, seeking projects as part of its economic stimulus package and asking for infrastructure to […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has called on the ACT Government to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 14 years old from the current level of 10 years old. Responding to the Council of Attorneys-General Review of Age of Criminal Responsibility, ACTCOSS joined the Australian Medical Association, Law Council of Australia, […]
ACT community service leaders are concerned that the Federal Government has yet to commit to the continuation of funding put in place to ensure staff can be fairly paid in this important sector. The sector provides homelessness, food relief, mental health and many other community services. A survey of community service sector leaders has found […]
The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed a new bill in the ACT Legislative Assembly that will offer more flexible payment options for people facing fines. Dr Emma Campbell, CEO of ACTCOSS said: “a flat rate fine imposes greater punishment on a person with a low income than it does on high income […]