Share
NCOSS eNews
 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

CEO Update

26 October 2023


We stand with First Nations people, communities & organisations

Last week, we observed a Week of Silence in solidarity with First Nations people, communities and organisations who are our friends, colleagues and advisors. We marked the end of the Week of Silence by reaffirming our commitment to walk beside them, as a committed ally, in the ongoing fight for the recognition of their sovereignty and the right to self-determination in their lands. Always was. Always will be.

If you haven’t already and regardless of how you voted at the referendum please take the time to read the open letter to the Prime Minister and the Australian Parliament from some of the First Nations leaders who campaigned for a Yes vote.


Farewell Joanna!

We said farewell to Joanna with a gathering of the NCOSS Board and staff, sector colleagues and friends at Yirranma Place last Wednesday evening. It was an opportunity to reflect on what NCOSS – and the sector – has achieved together over the past five years and share some laughs.

On a personal note, I want to extend my own gratitude to Joanna for all the guidance and support she has provided. As many have said, her exit is a true loss for NCOSS and the sector, but we will build on her legacy together.
Read more in NCOSS News article below.

NSW Youth Work Awards 2023

NCOSS is proud to be again supporting our member, Youth Action, and the NSW Youth Awards 2023, sponsoring the prizes for NSW Youth Worker of the Year and Outstanding Work with Young People from Diverse Cultures, Backgrounds, Experiences. The awards will be presented tonight, as part of the Youth Action Conference, taking place at the Australian Theatre for Young People’s spectacular digs in the arts precinct in Dawes Point.


Good luck to all the nominees! You guys are awesome.


#EndChildPoverty

This year, Anti-poverty Week spanned the fortnight 15-27 October. The theme is to end child poverty and the key call to action this year is to sign a petition calling for an Australia Child Poverty Reduction Act – find out more here and sign here.


Raise The Age!

NCOSS is proud to be part of the NSW Raise the Age campaign, which re-launched yesterday. What we do now hurts children, families and communities. And it does not work. So, we are calling on the new NSW Government to show leadership and act, now, to raise the age of criminal responsibility to at least 14.

Thanks to the Public Interest Advocacy Centre for leading the campaign in NSW, and to all the other members of the coalition. More information is available in NCOSS News below, including how your organisation can join the effort.


5.75% indexation for all Health grants to apply from 1 July 2023

NSW Health has recently confirmed that all Health grants will be indexed by 5.75% and apply from 1 July 2023, other than grants where indexation is not applicable. Previously, this only applied to Ministerially Approved Grants.
This is great news and a win for community health services!

NCOSS will continue to push
for a consistent, evidence-based approach to indexation across the board for all NSW Government-funded social service sector organisations. We’ll also continue to work towards contracting and funding reforms that support a vibrant, sustainable sector offering job security, decent pay and a rewarding career.

Review of ClubGRANTS ToR released


The NSW Government has released Terms of Reference for a long awaited, wide ranging view of the ClubGRANTS scheme. This followed hot on the heels of The Guardian Australia's 18 October article, where Joanna referred to the scandal-plagued scheme as "a broken model and has been from the beginning."

A discussion paper and timeline for the review – which is being undertaken by Liquor & Gaming NSW, NSW Treasury and The Cabinet Office – will be made public in coming weeks.

NCOSS welcomes the review, but calls on the NSW Government to commit to making the process transparent, including by releasing the final report and the Government’s response. Read our Media Release.


NCOSS 2023 AGM

It’s just under a month till our 2023 AGM! This year, we’re partnering with Tribal Warrior and the Strathfield Rotary Club to support their new Work Fit program, and they’ll be coming along to talk about it.

In solidarity with the amazing work Indigenous-led organisations are doing to close the gap, NCOSS will be donating $5,000 to the program and we’re asking all NCOSS members, supporters, and friends to kick in what they can. We'll match donations made before our AGM to a total of a further $5,000. Scroll down to NCOSS Training & Events for information on how to donate or head to the AGM registration page.

Don’t forget to register. We hope to see you there!

Ben McAlpine, Acting NCOSS CEO

 
NCOSS News
We say farewell to Joanna
Caption: People listening to the speeches at Joanna Quilty's farewell. Image credit: Catherine Reilly

Some 65 NCOSS members, sector colleagues and friends joined the NCOSS Board and NCOSS staff to farewell Joanna Quilty, after a five year stint as the organisation’s CEO. Joanna is off to head up the NSW Reconstruction Authority’s Preparedness and Recovery work. Work which has never been more important or more urgent as the fallout from a changing climate make disasters more frequent and more ferocious.

The NSW social service sector is losing a fierce advocate and remarkable leader.

The silver lining is that Joanna will bring to her new role a deep understanding of the need to embed frontline, place-based sector organisations in the processes of preparing for, responding to, and recovering from crises, as well as the importance to keep the needs of those who are, invariably, hit hardest by natural disasters front of mind. That is, those individuals, families and communities that live with poverty or disadvantage.

We all wish Joanna every success in this new role.

We also said goodbye to NCOSS Directors Beverly Baker and Jack Whitney. Bev, Chair of the Older Women's Network NSW, has served on the Board since 2020 and is a member of the Board's Audit & Finance and Risk & Compliance Committees.  Jack, an individual member, was also elected in 2020 and is a member of the Board's HR Committee. They're both standing down at the 2023 AGM and we thank them for their valuable contributions to NCOSS.

Thanks to those who could make it, and especially our speakers, NCOSS President, John Robertson, NCOSS Director, Katherine McKernan, and the longest serving NCOSS staff member, Craig Howe, who has a promising career in stand-up if he ever decides to leave the organisation.
Raise the Age
Caption: Graphic calling on organisations to join the #RaiseTheAge Partner Network. Supplied by #RaiseTheAge NSW.

NCOSS is proud to announce that it is standing alongside a number of key partners to lead the Raise the Age Campaign in NSW. We are calling on the new NSW Government to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14. Locking up kids strips away their ability to thrive. The NSW Government has a unique opportunity to show leadership by partnering with community organisations and investing in evidence-informed models that are better for kids and better for communities.

Decades of data shows that early contact with the criminal justice system is a strong indicator of ongoing contact with it – and we need to break that cycle. It is crucial that instead of being sent to prison, these children are engaged in meaningful alternatives that give them a fighting chance to keep themselves and their communities safe.

Organisations and supporters are invited to join the NSW campaign. Read the coverage in The Guardian Australia.

NSW needs a fit-for-purpose food relief system
Caption: Foodbank workers and volunteers pack food relief hampers. Image courtesy of Foodbank.

Foodbank released its Foodbank Hunger Report 2023 report this week, showing that the face of hunger is changing. More than half of food insecure households have someone in paid work (60%), and those experiencing food insecurity for the first time are younger, with mid to higher incomes. The report highlights how households are sacrificing food in order to mitigate the cost-of-living pressures they are facing.

Almost one in two Australians have felt anxious about accessing adequate food or struggled to consistently access it.


These findings echo NCOSS' Cost of Living in NSW 2023 report, which painted a dire picture of growing food insecurity across NSW. It showed a sharp increase (up by 33% on the previous year) in people skipping meals, with food costs becoming discretionary – most notably for single parents, First Nations households and carers – to stretch budgets that invariably fall short.

That report called on the NSW Government to ensure that NSW’s food relief system is fit for purpose, supports households most in need and represents the best use of available resources and skills. It can do this by releasing the report of the Review of Food Relief Provision undertaken in 2021 and convening a taskforce of NGO experts to lead an assessment and, where appropriate, redesign of the system to ensure clarity of roles and responsibilities, effective resourcing, and coordination at the local level.

Disaster Ready Together: Northern Rivers engagement
Caption: Resilient Lismore volunteers outside the Lismore Recovery Hub. Seen on the Resilient Lismore website.

Local NGOs in Lismore, Kyogle and Richmond Valley LGAs are invited to get involved with the Disaster Ready Together - Community Sector Disaster Capability project, being led by Resilient Lismore.

A sector workshop on Monday, 6 November between 9am-1pm at the Lismore Workers Club in Goonellabah will be an opportunity to share ideas and identify what we need to do to prepare for future disasters. With a hot, dry summer forecast and bushfires already occurring, preparedness and disaster capability are immediate challenges.

Resilient Lismore is partnering with Rekindling the Spirit, Mid Richmond Neighbourhood Centre, Nimbin Neighbourhood and Information Centre and Kyogle Together to deliver the Disaster Ready Together project in the Northern Rivers.

The Disaster Ready Together team is gathering input from local NGOs – via the workshop, a survey and conversations. This will help shape a range of priority activities to strengthen the disaster capability of the local community sector to be delivered in 2024, including a conference planned for February. NCOSS encourages local services to contribute their ideas and experiences.

Morning tea and lunch will be provided at the workshop. Register here or visit the Resilient Lismore website for more information about the project.


Disaster Ready Together is one of four, place-based projects comprising the Community Sector Disaster Capability Project (CDSC Project), which is led by NCOSS in collaboration with AbSec and the LCSA.

The
CDSC Project aims to build a more collaborative approach to disaster risk reduction, working with vulnerable communities and non-government organisations to strengthen links between community organisations and emergency management agencies. It is funded through the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund, which is jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments.
We're looking for our next CEO
Caption: White jigsaw against a yellow background with the words "Now Hiring" and arrows pointing to the missing puzzle piece. Image by Freepik.

We're looking for our next CEO. Check out the ad on our Jobs Board.

Greenway Executive Partners has been engaged to assist the NCOSS Board with this recruitment process. To request an information pack or to apply please email them, or contact Peter Zangari, Managing Partner on +61 9000 1108 for a confidential discussion.

Applications close 5pm Thursday, 2nd November 2023 and should include a current CV and cover letter.

 
NCOSS in the News
 
NSW urged to end 'shameless rort' giving clubs a tax break for spending pokies revenue
Caption: Brightly lit poker machines in a dark room. Credit: Bloomberg/Getty Images as seen in The Guardian Australia.

On 10 and 18 October, The Guardian Australia reported on long-standing criticisms of the ClubGRANTS scheme and calls for the NSW to immediately end a "shameless rort" that allows clubs to legally funnel poker machine revenue within their own operations while claiming the expenditure as a "community benefit" that reduces their tax bill.

The 18 October article states:

Since 2014-15, the Canterbury leagues club in western Sydney – which had 634 poker machines as of 31 May – has paid $26.4m to its holding entity, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. These payments, which are legal and within the rules [of the ClubGrants scheme], were categorised as '"community development and support initiatives."

The amount of money transferred to the NRL club was significantly larger than what was spent on non-affiliated local community groups under the scheme, according to the league club’s financial statements.

Last year, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs reported a consolidated entity profit of $10m after tax. A year earlier it was $4.5m and in 2020 it was $4.4m.

ClubGrants was, according to official guidelines, "designed to ensure that larger registered clubs in NSW contribute to the provision of frontline services to their local communities; and to ensure that the disadvantaged in the community are better positioned to benefit from the substantial contributions made by those clubs."

The
NSW Council of Social Service, which abandoned its 25-year association with the ClubGrants program last year after its own review identified alleged conflicts of interest, believed the scheme no longer reflects community expectations.

"The ClubGrants scheme does not reflect 21st-century standards and expectations for a taxpayer funded grants program – it is a broken model and has been from the beginning," said the NCOSS chief executive, Joanna Quilty.

NCOSS member organisation, Wesley Mission’s CEO, Rev Stu Cameron, also called out the fact that Clubs can get a tax rebate for funding their own operations, to the tune of millions of dollars a year. He said it "illustrate[s] what is fundamentally wrong with the ClubGRANTS scheme."

Read Henry Belot's full articles here and here. Wesley Mission and NCOSS are members of the NSW Government’s expert Independent Panel on Gaming Reform.

International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction: Fighting inequality for a resilient future

Caption: A Peppercorn Services mini-bus with decal "Bringing the Hawkesbury Together." Seen on the The Hawkesbury Phoenix website.

Friday, 13 October 2023 marked the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction with the theme of fighting inequality for a resilient future.

With a forecasted hot, dry summer approaching, NCOSS – in partnership with AbSec and LSCA has appointed local NGOs in the Hawkesbury, Northern Rivers and Southern NSW as the host services for the Community Sector Disaster Capability project to help reduce the impacts of future disasters on vulnerable communities.

NCOSS CEO Joanna Quilty welcomed the engagement of local NGOs to deliver the project.

"We know that certain communities and population groups – people with disability, those who are homeless or in precarious housing, older people – are more vulnerable and will be most impacted by disasters," Ms Quilty said.

"But too often, these communities and the local organisations who support them are not involved in the early stages of disaster management, and subsequently not well included as part of the ongoing recovery.

"If the community sector is better included in planning for disasters, preventative action can be taken to reduce risks, such as working together to ensure everyone is prepared and has a plan.

"Better involvement of social service organisations should also improve communication and coordination during and after disasters."

Read NCOSS' media release and the articles in The Hawkesbury Phoenix, the Monaro Post, and the Northern Rivers Times.
 
Sector News
Yarrumah is offering support for First Nations people
Caption: Water cascading over rocks, creating a rainbow. Seen on the Yamurrah website.

Message for First Nations people from Rowena Lowrie, Director and Founder of the Yamurrah Collective:

At this time, Yamurrah Collective offers our support, solidarity and connections with care, compassion and integrity.

We extend our services of support and encourage you to reach out if you wish to have a yarn.

We are an independent, self-determined collective of First Nations clinicians, academics, educators, who are culturally and professionally diverse.

Attached is a fact sheet about how you can reach out for additional support.

We will be hosting a number of evening zoom sessions across the nation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people who may want to join for support and connection. Please let me know if you would like information for those sessions.

In solidarity

Rowena
AEC: Voice Referendum Expenditure Disclosure
Caption: "Referendum Disclosure" in white against a purple background. Seen on the AEC website.

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has updated its advice on referendum expenditure, which includes donations.

Charities spending $15,200 or more on referendum campaigning or donations to organisations involved with the referendum must make a financial disclosure to the AEC.

Any eligible expenditure that occurs between 11 March to 14 October 2023 must be reported.

Disclosures must be made to the AEC by 29 January 2024.

The AEC has published guidance on its website about the referendum disclosure scheme.
Bus Industry Taskforce: White Paper & Passenger Forums
Caption: A 480 bus pulls into Stand M at the Central Station bus stop. Seen on the Bus Industry Taskforce website.

Directions for On-Street Transit White Paper

Bus Industry Taskforce released its Directions for On-Street Transit White Paper at the Western Sydney Bus Symposium on 25 October 2023. The white paper outlines the key challenges, and identifies a way forward in delivering more equitable bus services for passengers in Western Sydney and across NSW.

This new vision for transforming how we plan and develop cities across Greater Sydney, Lower Hunter and Greater Newcastle, Central Coast and Illawarra-Shoalhaven, will feed into the Bus Industry Taskforce’s interim report, to be delivered to government by 31 October.

Read the paper and have your say.


Bus Passenger Forums

The NSW Government is conducting Bus Passenger Forums across the state to speak with the community face to face on what they want to get from their bus services. Parliamentary Secretary for Transport, Dr Marjorie O'Neill, will chair these forums. Members of the public and community groups, local businesses and non-government organisations are invited to have their say.

The following dates have been scheduled. (Note, they may be subject to change):

Nowra

Worrigee Sports Club, 131 Greenwell Point Rd, Worrigee NSW 2540
  • Friday, 27 October 2023, 10:00am - 10:45am
  • Friday, 27 October 2023, 11:00am - 11:45am

Orange
The Hotel Canobolas, Summer Street, Orange 2800
  • Thursday, 16 November 2023, 10:00am -10:45am
  • Thursday,16 November 2023, 11:00am -11:45am

Marsden Park (community pop-up) - registration not required
Elara Village Shopping Centre, Elara Bvd and Northbourne Drive, Marsden Park NSW 2765
  • Saturday, 18 November 2023, 10:00am -12.00pm

Broken Hill
Broken Hill Civic Centre, 31 Chloride St, Broken Hill 2880
  • Saturday, 28 October 2023, 10:00am - 10:45am
  • Saturday, 28 October 2023, 11:00am - 11:45am

Chatswood

Chatswood Interchange, Concourse (Station) Level, 436 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood  2067
  • Monday, 27 November 2023, 3:00pm - 6:00pm

Batemans Bay
Bay Pavilions, 12 Vesper Street, Batemans Bay, 2536
  • Friday, 1 December 2023, 1:00pm - 1:45pm
  • Friday, 1 December 2023, 2:00pm - 2:45pm

Register to attend.

Forums have already been held in

  • Northern Beaches
  • Hunter
  • South East Sydney
  • Parramatta
  • Liverpool
  • Wollongong
  • Epping

You can also have your say by completing the Taskforce's survey or making a submission.

Reminders...
Caption: A yellow post-it note with the word "Reminder" pinned to a cork board. Image by 8photo on Freepik.

Become a Summer Rent Researcher!
Applications to become a Better Renting Summer Rent Researcher close on Friday, 27 October. If you're fired up about driving change and elevating the state of rental homes, seize this opportunity. Become a Renter Researcher and be at the forefront of creating healthier, more affordable homes for renters everywhere.

Find out more.

DVF Workforce Baseline Survey

The Department of Communities and Justice is conducting a survey of the Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) specialist and prevention workforce, and broader workforce who come into contact with victim survivors and those who choose to use domestic and family violence. This is the opportunity for front-line workers, managers and CEOs in your organisation to have a voice. The broader workforce survey takes about 10-15 minutes to complete, and the specialist DFV and prevention workforce survey will take about 25 minutes to complete.

The link to the survey is here.  The closing date is 12 November 2023.


2023 National Workforce Survey for Child, Parent and Family Mental Health
The survey is anonymous and takes about 20 mins to complete. It closes on 15 November 2023. Complete the survey for your chance to win one of five iPads.

To learn more about the survey, check out the Emerging Minds website.

 
Training & Events
 
NCOSS Training & Events
Caption: Graphic of people at an AGM. Designed by Mel Cole.

NCOSS 2023 AGM
Yirranma Place, Gadigal Land, 262 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst & by livestream
Friday, 24 November 2023 @ 10:00am-1:00pm
Free | Register


This year, our AGM will be held on Friday, 24 November 2023 on the part of Gadigal land now also known as Darlinghurst.

Join us for the formal business meeting and stay to hear from our special guest speakers from Tribal Warrior and Strathfield Rotary about Work Fit – their new Indigenous Workplace Readiness Program – which will help participants coming out of corrections, or in communities with high Indigenous unemployment, get the skills and resources they need to break into the jobs market.

In solidarity with, and recognition of, the amazing work Indigenous-led organisations are doing to close the gap, NCOSS will be donating $5,000 to the Work Fit program and we’re asking all NCOSS members, supporters and friends to give what they can.

NCOSS will also match donations to Work Fit made before our AGM, dollar-for-dollar up to total of a further $5,000. Just head to the Tribal Warrior website, make your donation, and email us your receipt with a message that you've made a donation to Work Fit. Donations $2 and over are tax deductible.

If you're able to attend in person, light refreshments will be served afterwards. The NCOSS team is looking forward to seeing you there!

 
Caption:  Wayfinding signage in the Fountain Court, NSW Parliament House. Image credit AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi, seen on The Mandarin.

NSW Legislative Council Parliamentary Inquiries Workshop
NSW Parliament House, 6 Macquarie Street, Sydney
Wednesday, 6 December 2023 @ 8:45am-1:00pm
Free | Register


How to have your say and maximise your influence

Do you work for a non-government organisation and want to know more about Parliamentary Inquiries, so that you can participate and influence policy decisions? Do you want to build your skills in writing submissions or in appearing as a witness?

Facilitated by staff members of the NSW Legislative Council parliamentary committees, as well as by the NCOSS Policy & Advocacy team, 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.

More information is available on the NCOSS website.

Sector Traning & Events

Caption: AbSec Learning and Development Centre logo. Seen on the AbSec website

Trauma Informed Care

AbSec
31 October or 12 December 2023
$450 per person, group bookings available

It is a requirement in NSW that all Aboriginal children and young people in out-of-home care have a Cultural Care Plan and a Cultural Support Plan.

The Cultural Connections Workshop helps child protection practitioners and agency staff support Aboriginal children in care through effective cultural planning.

During the one-day workshop, AbSec's Aboriginal trainer will guide you through how to create meaningful and achievable cultural planning, and how to put it into practice. They will also build interpersonal skills to help you consult with Aboriginal families and communities; maintaining these relationships is central to forming complete and effective cultural support plans, and gaining the important input of all key figures in a child’s life.

This one day course is designed for those working or intending to work in the child protection industry as a service provider, case worker, manager etc.

More information and enrol here.

 
Caption: A young woman stands beside an older woman in a wheelchair. Provided by the Welfare Rights Centre.

Carers and Centrelink – Community Legal Education

Welfare Rights Centre
Tuesday, 14 November 2023, 2:00 - 4:00pm. Online
Free | Register

Want to gain a better understanding of Centrelink payments for people who are caring for others who are frail, ill, injured or have a disability?

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 online session will cover the qualification and eligibility requirements associated with each payment, including rules about levels of care and frequency of respite. We’ll outline the Centrelink assessment tools used and the type of medical evidence needed. We’ll also address the relevant residency rules, income and assets tests, and other factors that may affect each payment.

Conference graphic provided by the AASW

The AASW Online Health Symposium

Australian Assocation of Social Workers
Thursday, 16 November 2023. Online
$118 - $409 (ex GST)  I  Register


Join the AASW Health Online Symposium as Professor Lynette Joubert, Associate Professor Anthony Schembri AM, and other industry thought-leaders explore the intersection of social work and the broader health sector, across both tertiary and community care.
 
Caption: HESTA logo. Provided.

Mid-life health and wellbeing: helping women thrive in the workplace

HESTA and AIA Australian
Thursday, 16 November 2023, 12:00 - 1:00pm. Online
Free I Register


Menopause is a natural stage of women’s lives that occurs at the average ages of 45-55 and can last for five to ten years. For some, the symptoms of menopause can be extremely debilitating, impacting women’s needs in the workplace and experiences of work.

Where supports are not adequate, women may revert to part-time work, forgo leadership opportunities, or pursue early retirement. This can result in lost wages and superannuation contributions, which could lead to financial insecurity in retirement.

So, how can you help your employees feel supported and to thrive at work despite their symptoms?

Women at mid-life are often at the peak of their careers with rich experience behind them – and the potential to remain in the workforce for another 20-30 years.

In partnership with AIA Australia, the webinar will unpack:

  • evidence-based education about menopause strategies for supporting employees experiencing mid-life, to enable continued participation in the workforce
  • strategies for supporting employees experiencing mid-life, to enable continued participation in the workforce and better job satisfaction.
 
Caption: A smiling women looking to camera. As seen on the Justice Connect website.

Understanding Contracts (New)
Justice Connect - Not-for-Profit Law
Tuesday, 28 November, 12.45 - 2pm AEDT, Online
$49 - $85 I Register

Contracts are part of everyday operations for many not-for-profits. It’s important to know what issues to look out for when signing on the dotted line.

In this webinar, we’ll introduce you to the legal basics of contracting and give tips on what to think about when faced with a contract. We’ll also outline changes to laws about unfair terms and how they impact not-for-profits.
 
Grant Opportunities
Grants to End Homelessness
The Mercy Foundation

Closing Date: Monday, 27 November 2023

The Mercy Foundation Grants to End Homelessness are available for seeding initiatives, services, projects, advocacy and research that will contribute to the goal of ending homelessness by supporting permanent housing, housing first and permanent supportive housing solutions.

Now accepting Expressions of Interest for the 2023/24 Grants to End Homelessness Program. Please call at least two weeks prior to the closing date (27 November 2023) to discuss your project before submitting your EOI. More information here.

Childcare and Economic Opportunity Fund
Flexible Initiatives Fund
NSW Department of Education
Closing Date: Friday, 1 December 2023


There are two distinct streams in the trial. Applicants may seek funding for program activities in one or both streams:

  • Stream 1 focuses on smaller-scale operational changes within a single provider and service type. It also supports the establishment of new family day care services by existing providers in outer regional, remote, and very remote areas.
  • Stream 2 involves two established approved services of differing service types working together to implement or extend flexible practices or models. For example, an existing local family day care service provides wrap around hours care for children enrolled in a community preschool.

Services in areas with low socio-economic indicators, in remote regions, Multifunctional Aboriginal Children’s Services, Aboriginal Controlled Children’s Services and Aboriginal Child and Family Centres will receive extra consideration under the program, including allowances for higher costs in rural and remote areas.

For more information, visit the grant information page.

National Justice Reinvestment Program
Attorney General's Department (Aus Gov)
Closing Date: Thursday, 7 December 2023

The Australian Government is inviting applications through an open non-competitive process to deliver justice reinvestment initiatives.

Funding is available from 2023–24 to 2025–26 for up to 30 place-based community-led justice reinvestment initiatives. The National Justice Reinvestment Program is an ongoing program beyond 2025–26.

This grant opportunity aims to support the development and delivery of community and First Nations-led justice reinvestment initiatives across Australia, by supporting:

  • the development, implementation, and evaluation of local justice reinvestment strategies and activities
  • local project teams and leadership structures to undertake the work of developing, implementing and evaluating justice reinvestment strategies.

For more information, visit the grant information page.

Latest Community Jobs
 
Some of the latest from our Jobs Board:

Senior Carer Practitioners (Bega & Moruya) - Anglicare NSW South, NSW West and ACT - VIEW JOB, VIEW JOB

Manager, Foster and Kinship Care and Case Manager, Permanency Support Program (Canberra/ACT) - Anglicare NSW South, NSW West and ACT - VIEW JOB, VIEW JOB

Financial Counsellor (Southern Highlands) - Anglicare NSW South, NSW West and ACT - VIEW JOB

Community Wellbeing Manager
(Inner West) - Inner West Council - VIEW JOB

Mental Health Team Leader (Illawarra) - Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre - VIEW JOB


Manager (Northern Rivers) - Murwillumbah Community Centre - VIEW JOB


Program Manager and Project Support Officer (Sydney CBD) - Network of Alcohol and Other Drugs Agencies (NADA) - VIEW JOB, VIEW JOB

LGBTIQA+ Project Officer - Training (Western Sydney) - STARTTS - VIEW JOB

Registered or Enrolled Nurse (Sunshine Coast, QLD) – We Help Ourselves (WHOS) – VIEW JOB
 
Member Stories
 

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 Thursday). Deadline for content is 12pm Monday, week of publication.

Facebook
 
Twitter
 
Linkedin
 
Instagram
 
Email
NCOSS gratefully acknowledges the support of

Share our eNews to your communities

Facebook
 
Twitter
 
Linkedin
 
Email
 

Email Marketing by ActiveCampaign