A key aspect of ACTCOSS’ work is bringing together community organisations to network, discuss common issues and share information. Here are some of the networks that ACTCOSS facilitates or supports. In addition, ACTCOSS is also a member of the Community Development Network. If you are interested in finding out more about one of these groups, please e-mail us at actcoss@actcoss.org.au or call (02) 6202 7200.

The ACTCOSS General Committee (GC) is ACTCOSS' Board of governance and therefore provides policy leadership, financial and legal oversight and the strategic direction for the organisation. In providing policy leadership it debates and advises on ACTCOSS' social policy positions. Its members are elected from members of ACTCOSS for a two year term at the AGM in November.

Click here for the current ACTCOSS GC members.

The Peaks Forum is a monthly meeting of ACT Peak Body representatives. This meeting provides a forum for information sharing and discussion of current issues relevant to the ACT Community Sector. The Peaks Forum also enables the Peaks to represent the ACT Community Sector as a united body on issues of common importance, strengthening the voice of the Community Sector in public policy debate.

This network brings together social policy officers and researchers from across the ACT community sector to provide mutual support, share information and ideas, and develop collaborative and strategic research, policy and advocacy projects.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Sector Network is a networking medium for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers in the Community Sector.

This network provides an opportunity for information sharing and networking for HACC and Disability Services. ACTCOSS also facilitates a supporting email network for planning and sharing organizational news.

Membership: Members of the network include board members and management level personnel from organizations funded by HACC, representatives from Disability ACT, the ACT HACC Program (ACT Health) and the HACC section of the ACT Office of Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care. Meetings take place monthly and are chaired by ACTCOSS.

The ACT Community Coalition on Corrections was formed in 2000 to examine policy issues in the area of justice and to provide a forum for a community sector focus on the ACT Prison.

Membership: The group includes members from a diverse range of organizations such as church-based organizations, Prisoner’s Aid, youth representatives as well as groups with an interest in drug law reform.

An email discussion network that also coordinates the occasional community sector human rights discussion forms. This network grew out of the 2004 ACTCOSS biennial conference, and seeks to bring together human rights champions from across the community sector.

An email network of homelessness community services which provides a forum for sharing the latest news in housing and homelessness matters, and innovations for homelessness service providers.

The ACT Community Sector Human Resources Network (HRN) is a network of individuals and organisations interested in sharing, networking and improving processes for services and employees of ACT Community Sector organisations. The Network aims to provide support to HR workers with linkages to information and good practice procedures.

The HRN aims to create a safe networking environment, where an opportunity for the following will be provided:

• building networks and greater co-ordination between people working within human resources;
• sharing good practice policies and procedures, including recruitment, probationary reviews, performance management and performance appraisals;
• share information on topical issues such as superannuation, industrial relations, awards, OH and S;
• training, development and more!

Anyone who has an interest in or is working in the human resources arena, be that carrying out whole of organisation HR management, or parts of (such as payroll, policy development, performance management, worker conditions, supervision, training and development, recruitment, rewards/recognition etc) are invited to join.

The network meets quarterly. For more information please e-mail us at actcoss@actcoss.org.au or call 02 6202 7200.

An email network which discusses issues to do with good practice, using quality standards, updating or writing documentary infrastructure, sharing job vacancies, or anything to do with innovation in the community sector.