Announcing the finalists in the NCOSS EVA Awards...

1 October 2025

CEO Update

As we count down the final weeks to what will be one of the most significant milestones in NCOSS’ history, our 90th Anniversary Celebration on October 28, we are filled with both pride and anticipation.

This isn’t just a birthday celebration. It’s a moment to pause, reflect and honour the incredible legacy of the social services sector in NSW.

Our team has been busy behind the scenes to bring together an event that not only commemorates 90 years of NCOSS, but also provides space for connection, reflection and well-deserved celebration with our sector colleagues.

Central to this celebration are the EVA Awards for Excellence, Vision and Advocacy (EVA). These awards shine a spotlight on the extraordinary individuals and organisations who go above and beyond every day to make our communities stronger, fairer and more inclusive.

We were thrilled to receive 54 nominations across four categories. Reading through these submissions has been both humbling and inspiring. They serve as a powerful reminder of the depth of talent, commitment, innovation and empathy that exists right across our sector — from grassroots organisations in small communities to major service providers tackling complex social challenges.

Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who took the time to submit a nomination. Your stories and examples of leadership, positive impact and compassion are nothing short of remarkable. To our EVA Awards finalists: congratulations. You are setting the standard for excellence in our field, and we look forward to celebrating with you all on 28 October at the Australian Museum!

Finalists:

Category 1: Excellence and Impact - Organisation

Central Coast Tenant’s Advice and Advocacy Service
Dignity
Good 360 Australia
Mackillop Family Services
Uniting NSW/ ACT

Category 2: Excellence and Impact - Leadership

Edward Morris
Kane Abbott
Mary Ellen Harrod
Penny Lamaro

Category 3: Excellence and Impact - Frontline worker

Andrew Wong
Anna Certoma
Lisa Thompson
Meher Banu

Category 4: Amir Bodenstein Lived/ Living Experience Individual Honorary Recognition

Anna Nagel
Jenny Smith
Kevin Street
Renee McNab

In the lead-up to our 90th anniversary celebration, NCOSS spoke to Gary Moore, Director of NCOSS from 1995-2006, about how things have changed for the social service sector in the past 20 years.

1. How would you describe the social service sector landscape during your tenure, and what were the key issues facing communities?

It was an era of child protection failures at government level, and partially within the sector too, and there was a lot of focus in NSW on how the Department of Community Services kept on getting it wrong. There were some inquiries and it was very significant.

Secondly, the Howard Government introduced capital gains tax exemption reforms in the late 1990s. We started to see a lack of affordable housing starting to occur in the private rental market, and also there had been of a lack of funding for social housing.

The third area was the impact of problem gambling, particularly when the [NSW Premier Bob] Carr allowed gaming machines into hotels in 1997. The 1990s were the beginnings of things like competitive tendering. You started to see the entrance of for-profit providers into some areas — residential aged care, and children's services. It accelerated significantly over the next 15 years.

2. What strategies did you use to ensure the voices of smaller or regional member organisations were heard and included?

NCOSS worked to support smaller organisations and think through what we could do so that smaller organisations had long-term security. A number of other peak organisations picked this work up in the 2000s. How do you get small organisations to effectively win funding? How do you get them to partner together? How do you get them to reduce their costs while still maintaining their front office?

We also started taking events to the regions and involving regional organisations in things such as preparing the Pre-Budget Submission — a major effort each year. We also tried to hold regular network meetings like you have today.

3. Were there any major policy wins or losses for the sector that stand out to you?

One of the wins was in the run-up to the Sydney 2000 Olympics and Paralympics. Nobody wanted street homeless people, or anyone at risk of homelessness, to be bussed out of Sydney, like what happened in Atlanta in 1996. We had a pretty reasonable win in that we got an extra commitment of funding for emergency accommodation for a five to six month period. Of course, it didn't last into 2001, but we certainly averted that issue in Sydney, and that was largely due to the sector, especially NCOSS and Shelter.

4. How do you think the challenges facing the sector today compare to those in your time?

The first thing is housing — it's become a lot worse over the past 20 years. Secondly, the domestic and family violence sector is a lot more organised today. It's hard to know comparatively, in terms of the level of domestic violence in the community compared to the population size, just exactly how much worse it's become, because it was totally underreported and we don't have data from the 1990s.

5. What gives you hope about the future of the social service sector in NSW?

One of the things I think is really important is the level of partnerships that have developed within the sector and across sectors in recent years. I think that gives one hope for the future that we're stronger together. It's an overused term that is actually true, and there's strength in that.

Another thing has been the growth of the social enterprise movement over the past 20 years. It's never been regarded as part of the social sector, but they do assist disadvantaged people and do similar work. Is there space for an integration of the social enterprise sector with the social service sector?

Community service organisations can take on many roles to support communities impacted by disasters and to help communities prepare. But what do these organisations need to meet the challenges of disasters and remain operating effectively?

The CODA Community of Practice focus areas are:

Investigating the main roles (current and potential) of the NSW community service sector across the disaster management cycle – relief, recovery, mitigation and preparedness.
Identifying the sector's resourcing and development needs to effectively undertake these roles.

The first CODA Community of Practice is on Thursday 6th November. We’ll discuss Disaster preparedness – people: Incorporating client disaster preparedness planning into service delivery.

You can complete an expression of interest here.

The CODA Project receives grant funding from the Australian and NSW Governments.

There are still spots available in our next Parliamentary Inquiries workshop at NSW Parliament House.

This workshop is most useful for people who have limited or no experience in writing submissions or taking part in hearings. It is also well-regarded by those who would like to refresh their knowledge and skills in the subject areas.

Discussions are facilitated by staff members of the NSW Legislative Council parliamentary committees, as well as by the NCOSS Policy and Research team.

It is free to attend, but numbers are limited and RSVP is required. (Sorry in-person only - no livestream available).

15 October, 2025, 8.45am-1pm. NSW Parliament House, Sydney.

Register here.

NCOSS' School Gateway Project, Mirrung, has been featured as a case study in this new policy paper, Sticking points: Why the 'glue' helps Early Childhood Hubs thrive from Social Ventures Australia. It highlights the critical but often invisible work of integration – the ‘glue’ that holds Early Childhood Hubs and other integrated service models together.

Last week, Olivia Wright, NCOSS Director of the School Gateway Project, and Neha Shah, NCOSS Policy Lead, talked to Directors from the Department of Education’s Metropolitan South and West, School Performance Directorate about educational equity — diving deep into how poverty creates invisible classroom barriers and exploring how to use NCOSS data to better understand the communities we support.

They examined how innovative school wellbeing hubs like Mirrung work in partnership with schools, families, community and health services, to address the needs of children and their families in communities experiencing concentrated socioeconomic disadvantage.

Queer Sydney Muslims have created a toolkit for service providers – such as therapists,
school counsellors, and social workers – who support LGBTIQA+ Muslim clients.

It’s applicable across diverse settings and is
intended for providers who belong to neither, either or both queer and Muslim communities.

The toolkit is one component of a larger project by Dr Siobhan Irving called
“Empowering Queer Muslim Voices: Building Bridges for Inclusion and Support”, which
is financially supported by a Social Impact Grant from the UTS Centre for Social Justice
and Inclusion, funding from the UTS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and funding
from Sydney Queer Muslims.

Download the toolkit here.

GambleAware is happening from 20-26 October.

This year's GambleAware Week focuses on helping people to understand the risks of gambling. It reminds them that there's more at stake than money and encourages them to visit the GambleAware website for information, practical tools, and support services.

You can help spread the message by using our GambleAware Week campaign materials in your workplace, venue or public space. Display posters and digital screens, post campaign videos on social media, or include banners and headers in newsletters to reach your networks.

Access campaign materials.

Never Too Old for a Future: Dignity, Equity, and Power for Older Women

Older Women's Network
2 October, UTS Function Centre
$150 | Register here

You are warmly invited to the National Older Women's Network's Conference!

This one-day conference will highlight issues which impact on the realisation of older women's rights to safety, economic security, housing and health as well as aged care.

It will give policy-makers important perspectives to inform more inclusive policy-making, and provide older women the opportunity to share expertise and experiences.

The conference seeks to foster discussion, share expertise, and promote dignity, equity, and power for older women.

Need to Know More about Carers and Centrelink?
Welfare Rights Centre
14 October, Online
Free, Register here

There are a number of different Centrelink payments intended for people who have taken on a caring role. These include Carer Payment, Carer Allowance and Child Disability Assistance Payment.

This free webinar covers the eligibility requirements associated with each payment, including rules about levels of care and frequency of respite.

We will outline the Centrelink assessment tools used and the type of medical evidence needed. We also address the relevant residency rules, income and assets tests, and other factors that may affect each payment.

Trauma Informed Practice
Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing
16 October, Online
Free | Register here

Join us to explore practical strategies to implement trauma-informed practice in Mental Health and Wellbeing services.

This presentation is aimed at service leaders, managers and policy decision makers. It will draw on real-world solutions that were developed in partnership with three services that co-developed and piloted tools to improve trauma-informed service delivery.

Annual Gala Ball
Great Lakes Womens Shelter
22 November, Tuncurry
$125 | Register here

This enchanting evening promises not only to be a memorable celebration but also a vital opportunity to support a cause that transforms lives.

As you enjoy a night filled with exquisite dining, live entertainment, and inspiring stories, you'll be contributing to the essential services and programs that empower women and children in our community.

Join us in making a difference—secure your tickets now and be part of a night that truly matters.

Gala Dinner & Awards Night

AbSec
18 November, Murrook Culture Centre

$180 - $260 | Register here

This year’s theme, Honour the Past, Empower the Present, Shape the Future, is about coming together to celebrate our communities, reflect on our shared journey, and shine a light on the people making a difference for Aboriginal children and families.

Tickets include a 3-course meal, Unico Zelo wines, live entertainment, and access to the NSW Aboriginal Child and Family Awards Ceremony, all while celebrating on Worimi Country, in the company of community leaders, practitioners, carers, and supporters from across NSW.

Community Mental Health Drug & Alcohol Research Network Grant
Closing Date: 16 October 2025

CMHDARN is excited to invite member organisations of Mental Health Coordinating Council (MHCC) and/or the Network of Alcohol and Other Drugs Agencies to apply for the 2025–2026 Innovation and Evaluation Grant.

This $20,000 grant supports community-managed organisations working across mental health and alcohol and other drugs to undertake a project that:

Champions innovation and evaluation
Addresses both MH and AOD service delivery contexts
Builds sector knowledge and capacity

For more information, please visit the grant information page.

Gambling Harm Prevention Grants
Closing Date: 20 October 2025

Funding to support the creation of culturally relevant social media content about gambling harm, developed in partnership with young Aboriginal people.

The grants aim to:

empower Aboriginal young people to start conversations about how gambling affects them and their communities
raise awareness about gambling harm among Aboriginal young people
support the development of engaging, culturally meaningful and community-informed social media content
build community capacity to co-design and deliver awareness campaigns about gambling harm
learn how social media campaigns on this issue can make a difference.

For more information, please visit the grant information page.

World AIDS Day - Red Ribbon Grants
Closing Date: 24 October 2025

Commemorated annually on 1st December, World AIDS Day and HIV Awareness Week, starting the 25th November, provide an opportunity to increase awareness, educate community, combat prejudice and show support for people living with HIV. The theme for World AIDS Day 2025 is ‘No one left behind’.

The South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) Red Ribbon Grants Program offers small grants of up to $500 to local organisations/ groups to run activities.

For more information, please visit the grant information page.

Inclusive Energy Outreach Grant
Closing Date: 3 November 2025

Grants are available for community-based organisations to deliver targeted outreach and tailored energy literacy education to their communities. Eligible organisations can apply for funding to deliver face-to-face community engagement (e.g. workshops), development of resources, partnerships with local councils, community groups or small business networks and more.

Funded projects will empower vulnerable cohorts to make informed energy choices to make their homes comfortable and affordable.

For more information, please visit the grant information page.

Holiday Fun for Young People Grant
Closing Date: 10 October 2025

Applicants are encouraged to design high quality, fun and engaging activities for the exclusive participation of young people aged 12-24 years.

Eligible organisations can apply for up to $5,000 per applicant for activities to be run during the Summer school holidays. An additional $3,000 in travel loading is available per organisation if an external supplier is needed to deliver the program in remote or very remote parts of NSW.

For more information, please visit the grant information page.

NCOSS gives its members the opportunity to share their stories, research, resources, events and more through NCOSS eNews. If you have something to share with the sector, send through a short blurb (50-70 words), image (250 x 250px) and relevant links to info@ncoss.org.au.

We will endeavour to add it to an edition of NCOSS e-News (goes out every fortnight on Wednesday morning). Deadline for content is 5:00pm on Monday, the week of publication. The next deadline is Monday, 13 October 2025.