ACTCOSS and Jobs Australia are partnering in the provision of the ACT Community Sector Industrial Relations Service. Find out how we can help your community organisation.

The ACT Budget will be announced on the first Tuesday in June.

ACTCOSS will hold its annual post-budget briefing the following day—Wednesday 6 June from 12.15 pm. The forum will outline the impact of the Budget on the community sector.

ACT Treasurer, Andrew Barr MLA and Minister for Community Services, Joy Burch MLA will be addressing the forum.

ACTCOSS Director, Roslyn Dundas will provide an overview of the 2012-13 Budget and particular issues for the sector.

• WHEN: 12.15 pm – 2.00 pm, Wednesday 6 June 2012.
• WHERE: Function Room, Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre, Civic Square, Canberra City.
• COST: This is a FREE event. Light refreshments will be provided following the presentations.
• RSVP: To register please email lisa@actcoss.org.au.

For further details please contact Nat Oliver at ACTCOSS natalie.oliver@actcoss.org.au or 02 6202 7208.

Download the forum flyer:
ACT 2012-13 Budget Forum for the Community Sector.

Speakers: Mick Dodson AM, and Masepah Banu

In this seminar speakers Professor Mick Dodson and Masepah Banu will discuss how Native Title is changing lives in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. They will also consider the next step in the 'rights agenda', the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Australian Constitution.

• WHEN: 7.15 - 9.30 pm, Monday 28 May 2012
• WHERE: Theo Notaras Multicultural Centre, 2nd Floor, North Building, 180 London Circuit, Canberra City
• COST: This is a FREE event. Light refreshments will be provided.
• RSVP: Please rsvp for catering purposes to lisa@actcoss.org.au by 24 May 2012.

For more information please download the seminar flyer:
Rights and Recognition: From Native Title to the Constitution.

Nominations close: Monday 18 June 2012

The ACT Council of Social Service is sponsoring the Canberra and District NAIDOC Award for the Canberra and District Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Sector Worker of the Year.

This is the time to recognise the many heroes who are providing links between their organisations and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, or who have supported Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through their work in the community sector. The Community Sector Worker of the Year Award recognises the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers at the forefront of this vital work.

Download the nomination form (Word doc 180KB).

Find out more at the NAIDOC website: www.naidoc.org.au.

The years 2012 and 2013 will see the community sector transformed, by external government reforms and a resulting shift in the focus of service delivery. The community sector and government are partners in seeking to ensure an equitable and just Canberra, and government must realise the pressure and demands such reform will put on the sector. The challenge for the next ACT Budget is to recognise and respond to these challenges accordingly.

The Council's submission focuses on the five areas that most need the government's attention at this time. These are community sector viability, affordable and accessible housing, the social impacts of climate change, the provision of corrective services in a human rights framework and consideration of the social determinants of health.

Download the ACTCOSS Budget Submission 2012-13 (PDF 630KB, Word doc 250KB).

On the fourth anniversary of the Federal Parliament's apology to the stolen generations the ACT Council of Social Service launched a report advocating actions in a number of areas to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the ACT can enjoy the same rights as the general community.

Download the report: Whose Rights? (PDF 1.2MB).

Read the media release: ACTCOSS asks 'Whose Rights?' (PDF 47KB), 13 February 2012.

On Wednesday 1 February 2012 Fair Work Australia issued their decision on the Equal Remuneration Case for community sector workers. In summary:

• FWA have granted wage rates as agreed by the Commonwealth Government and the ASU in November 2011: ranging from 19-41%, to be implemented from 1 December 2012.
• FWA found that the implementation should be phased over 8 years in 9 instalments starting December 2012.
• A further 4% to be spread out over 8 years; this component is comparable to the Queensland equal remuneration component, but it is to be spread out over the implementation period, ie 4% over 8 years (9 instalments also).
• Annual Award increases will then be included on top of the decision.

The ACT Government have announced they will 'fully fund' their share of the wage increases - applying to community programs funded through Service Funding Agreements, for community sector workers. Preliminary calculations estimate the impact of today's decision on the ACT Government to be $27 million over eight years.

This decision and announcement are exciting. However, there is significant detail to work through over the coming months.

The full decision can be read here: Fair Work Australia Decision - Equal Remuneration Case

ACOSS media release: Community sector welcomes Equal Pay case decision

ACT Government media release: ACT Government commits to fully fund Equal Remuneration case for community workers

The Australian Community Sector Survey, released Monday 15 August by the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), shows that ACT community organisations increased their workload by ten per cent, but it was not enough to match the rising demand for services, as turn-away rates rose by 17 per cent.

Community services are in demand, providing much need support to Canberra's most vulnerable. However, increasing pressures are causing more to be turned away without accessing the support they are seeking.

The survey reveals the biggest shortfall was in helping those looking to access mental health services, with 86 per cent of organisations identifying this as an area of high or medium need. The level of unmet need was also particularly acute in the areas of homelessness and housing, general health, legal services and supports for families and relationships.

The Australian Community Sector Survey is the only national data collection about the non-government, non-profit community services and welfare sector. 70 local agencies completed the survey, providing data on service delivery and organisational operations over 2009-10.

Read the Australian Community Sector Survey - ACT Report (PDF 2.5MB).

Read the ACTCOSS media release More community services, but even more seek support (PDF 54KB) - 15 August 2011.

Read the national report at the ACOSS website.

Budget Snapshot

Every year ACTCOSS provides a summary paper outlining selected Budget initiatives for the community sector.

Download the ACT 2011-2012 Budget Snapshot - PDF (150KB) or Word document (533KB).

Media Releases

Modest or Shy? - 3 May 2011

The ACT Government's Budget for 2011-12 has been described as modest, however the community sector is concerned that the Government has been too shy with its support for the community sector and Canberra's most vulnerable.

The correcting of Corrections…? - 4 May 2011

The ACT Government’s Budget for 2011-12 goes some way to addressing the concerns around the delivery of correctional services at the Alexander Maconochie Centre, but questions remain about early intervention and community support.

The ACT Council of Social Service office is now located at:

Weston Community Hub
1/6 Gritten Street
Weston ACT 2611

All the rest of our contact details remain the same:
Post: PO Box 849, Mawson ACT 2607.
Ph: 02 6202 7200
Fax: 02 6281 4192
Email: actcoss@actcoss.org.au

As of 1 January 2010 there will be a new Award in place for Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services. This replaces the current ACT SACS Award. Download the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (PDF 253KB).

The final Award has changed from the draft version previously available. If you are currently operating on the SACS Award you will need to transition to the Modern Award from 1 January 2010. Changes to penalty rates and loadings commence transition from 1 July 2010. Classifications and wages are delayed in their implementation until 1 July 2011.

Read the factsheet Award Modernisation: What will it mean for COSS Members? Dec 2009 (PDF 49KB).

View the Australian Industrial Relations Commission Decision.

The Joint Community Government Reference Group (JCGRG) is reviewing the ACT Social Compact.

The Social Compact is a statement of understanding about the relationship between the ACT Government and the community sector. It provides a framework for relations between the community sector and the ACT Government by articulating the principles of good communication and partnership.

Please complete a very short survey on awareness and use of the Social Compact:
ACT Social Compact Community Sector Survey

ACT Government staff can complete the survey here.

Download a copy of The ACT Social Compact (PDF 538 KB).