The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed funding in today’s ACT Budget for housing, health and the ACT community sector but said more is needed to support Canberrans struggling as the cost of living skyrockets. The Budget, described by Chief Minister and Treasurer Andrew Barr MLA as “delivering for Canberrans now and into […]

The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) is calling for significant investment in community services, cost of living relief and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations ahead of the release of the 2022-23 ACT Budget tomorrow. ACTCOSS CEO, Dr Emma Campbell said: “Cost of living pressures are continuing to increase in the ACT and more people are […]

The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today welcomed a $30 million investment to deliver promised public housing and $57.3 million to undertake public housing repairs. These investments are part of a package announced by the ACT Government in the lead up to the ACT budget on 2 August, comprising: $30 million investment to […]

The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today welcomed the announcement by the ACT Government that the 2022-23 Budget will include more than $13 million in additional supports for alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment services in the Territory. Significant investments will go toward the continued development of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residential […]

The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today welcomed the release of the ACT Legislative Assembly Inquiry into Community Corrections report but called it a ‘missed opportunity’ to bring meaningful change to the ACT’s justice system. In June 2021, the ACT Legislative Assembly Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety initiated an inquiry into the […]

ACTCOSS today expressed its concern over proposed legislation that will weaken protections against eviction for Housing ACT tenants. The ACT Attorney General, Shane Rattenbury MLA, today released the draft Residential Tenancies Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 aimed at increasing protections for tenants living in privately owned rental properties by removing the ‘without cause’ tenancy termination provision. […]

Media Release The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has welcomed today’s announcement to continue funding for key community sector services, but calls on the ACT Government to deliver major investments in supports for vulnerable Canberrans in the forthcoming ACT Budget. Today’s announcement of support for the ACT community sector includes: Funding to continue specialist […]

Media Release The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has today called on the Australian Government to continue to provide free Rapid Antigen Tests to concession card holders beyond 31 July when the program is due to expire. This follows the Australian Council of Social Service’s statement that a cut to free RATs for concession […]

Media Release The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) today said that more needs to be done to protect vulnerable utilities consumers and to rebuild trust between providers and customers. This follows data released today by Energy Consumers Australia (ECA) showing that in the ACT there is deteriorating household satisfaction with gas and electricity services […]

Media Release The ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) has been working with ACT’s Community Sector in bringing the Canberra Community Sector NAIDOC Week Event for 2022, celebrating the history and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The event will take place on Tuesday 5th of July between 10:45am – 2pm, in the […]