NCOSS eNews

24 November 2022

Support for flood-impacted members

As we know, communities in the Riverina, Murray and Central West regions of NSW are facing significant flooding events. Our thoughts are with the residents in these areas and NCOSS members as they support their communities while managing the impacts in their own lives and on their services.

NCOSS has been working with a number of services throughout the state as they have faced similar challenges. If there are issues that need escalation with government agencies, Ministers or other authorities, or where NCOSS might be able to help resolve matters, please let us know.

NCOSS 2023 Policy Platform launch

On Friday 25 November we launch our 2023 Policy Platform, setting out the priorities that we think will set the path for a fairer NSW, where people doing it tough can access the support and resources they need to live a decent life. NSW has faced an onslaught over the last three years and we've all been affected in one way or another. But all things are not equal, and the data is unequivocal – it’s disadvantaged groups and poorer communities who are bearing the brunt of extreme weather, COVID, and now a cost of living crisis.

The cumulative impact of these events has laid bare the fault lines in our society. We can choose to ignore them, to let them widen so that more people fall through the gaps. Or we can decide we want to live in a NSW that’s fair and that supports people who are struggling.

Through rolling disasters we’ve seen the way communities have rallied, neighbours helping neighbours, strangers coming to the rescue, out of towners arriving to help with the clean-up – it’s clear NSW residents believe in fairness, compassion and supporting each other through tough times. It’s what we expect from each other so it’s what we should expect from our elected leaders.

And that’s the message we want to give to candidates across the political spectrum in the lead up to the 2023 NSW election. Given a choice, people value the public interest, common decency, community spirit and giving everyone the chance to have a reasonable life.

That’s what our 2023 policy platform is about. It calls for leadership that prioritises fairness, stops widening inequality and the entrenchment of disadvantage.

Investing in initiatives to this end is not only the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing as it bolsters economic participation and productivity and means less strain on our health, social service and criminal justice systems further down the track.

Our recommendations for the next NSW Government are grouped around three priority themes. Immediate cost of living relief for those most in need, targeted support for vulnerable population groups, and ensuring a sustainable social service sector.

The initiatives are common-sense and practical. They are backed by research, drawn from the evidence, and based on the feedback we've received from member organisations at the frontline. In many instances, they are initiatives that should have been implemented years ago.

So, we hope that you will join us at our 2023 policy platform launch on Friday 25 November 10 am - 12pm. It follows our AGM which starts at 10am. And if you can't join us in person, please jump online if you can.

Read our Policy Platform Summary.

We also encourage you to visit our 2023 Policy Platform and Election Advocacy Toolkit webpages on Friday to draw on the resources available – including regional factsheets, letter templates and endorsement form – to raise awareness of the relevant policy priorities in your community. Whether that's with other groups and organisations, through media stories, or by meeting with your local elected representative and other candidates.

We also hope you'll participate in our webinar on Friday 9 December. We will highlight our Election Advocacy Toolkit and share tips and reminders about how to champion the issues that matter to decision makers.

NCOSS looks forward to working with you over the coming months to advocate for the policy priorities that will deliver a fairer NSW.

NCOSS 2021-2022 Annual report

Our Annual report is available to read here. It’s been a really big year and we’ve achieved a lot together.

Last Thursday, we released a joint statement with The Workers Union and our member organisation, the Wesley Mission, calling on the NSW Government to put pokies in their place. For too long, the powerful clubs and pubs lobby have held a disproportionate sway over policy relating to the regulation of pokies – so called electronic gaming machines – swelling their coffers while doing untold damage to individuals who have a gambling problem, the people who love them and the broader community. As the NSW Crime Commission’s report on Project Islington also laid bare, billions in dirty cash is being laundered through the state’s 86,640 poker machines.

And all the while, workers in those venues are being put at the risk of serious harm as they witness the lengths people with a gambling problem will go to, to feed their habit or have punters take out their anger and frustration on them when they realise they’ve been fleeced. Again.
NSW – the pokies capital of Australia – needs a cashless gaming card system now, with built in harm minimisation features so punters can pre-set how much they’re prepared to lose and exercise their self-exclusion rights.

Read the SMH article and see Joanna on 10 News.

Twelve months after we told the NSW Government we wanted out of ClubGRANTS, we were being asked to comment on changes to the scheme rules put forward by ClubsNSW. This is after we were told that the NSW Government would not act on our comprehensive recommendations to ensure ClubGRANTS was delivering for those who were supposed to be the main beneficiaries – people on low incomes or otherwise disadvantaged – because there would be a review that involved all key stakeholders.

It’s also been more than 12 months after we reported to the NSW Government telling them we can no longer be part of ClubGRANTS Local Committees, because they have no real sway and seem set up to make it look like there are proper processes in place. However, according to the Ministerially approved rules, NCOSS is still listed as a “core member” of Local Committees which must be formed in any Local Government Area where clubs’ pokies profits exceed $30K.
Enough is enough. Clubs get a massive PR benefit from the scheme at the expense of NSW taxpayers, while being able to direct funds to their pet projects at the expense of cash-strapped social service sector organisations who are scrambling to put a roof over someone’s head for the night, or a meal on a family’s table. Many Clubs don’t even bother to follow the very few rules they’re required to – and they still get rebates – because it looks like the regulator doesn’t bother to check.

It’s time to end this tired scheme and put something in place that is truly aimed at delivering the best possible outcomes for people in the greatest need. This could easily be funded from what Clubs would have been able to claim in rebates and partnering with local Councils to run a really community-led small grants program. It could be open for Clubs to participate, but it’s inappropriate that they remain the decision makers about where forgone tax revenue is spent.

Read the SMH article.

NCOSS AGM 2022

Yirranma Place
25 November 2022
Attend our NCOSS AGM 2022 Friday 25 November, from 10:00am - 12:00pm at Yirranma Place on Gadigal Country, 262 Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst.

Online registrations have closed but send us an email to agm@ncoss.org.au for a last minute, in-person RSVP or to be sent a link to the live stream.

We’ll be launching our Policy Platform ahead of the 2023 NSW election and we’re lucky to have Sara Mansour, lawyer, writer, poet and co-founder of Bankstown Poetry Slam, performing one of her works for us.

A light lunch will then be served.

NCOSS Election Advocacy Toolkit for 2023 NSW Policy Platform

Online
2 December 2022
The NSW state election on 25 March 2023 is a real opportunity to work towards a NSW where everyone can access the basics, the resources and the supports we all need in order to lead a decent life.

Through consultations and a targeted, comprehensive research agenda, NCOSS has developed a policy platform called 'Working Together for a Fairer NSW.’
The policy platform sets out how the next NSW Parliament and the social service sector can work together to achieve a fairer NSW.

Register here for the online discussion on Friday 9 December 2022, 11am-12pm

50th Anniversary Dinner of Canterbury City Community Centre
Canterbury City Community Centre
30 November 2022
Warmest congratulations to Canterbury City Community Centre which is celebrating the contribution of the many people who have worked toward a better community life and have assisted 4CS to grow and develop over the last 50 years.
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The Deadly Dinner – Celebrating 25 years of AES

AES
7 December 2022
We are proud to have been leading the way in Aboriginal employment for 25 years and to mark this important milestone, we are combining our yearly graduation event with a national celebration of First Nations employment and empowerment - The Deadly Dinner.
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Flood Recovery Resources

The page brings together a comprehensive collection of key guidance material, research, information, and useful tools to support communities recovering from major flooding events.
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Supporting Frontline Responders Northern Rivers NSW
XFactor Collective
5 December 2022
An opportunity to come and find out more about the trainings and support available to not for profits, charities, and community organisations in the Northern Rivers region.
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Domestic & Family Violence and Centrelink
Welfare Rights Centre
6 December
This session will be presented by our Senior Solicitor with input from our Domestic Violence Community Worker and First Nations Access Officer. We’ll also provide information about support services within Centrelink, particularly the value in accessing a Centrelink Social Worker to obtain additional support navigating the Centrelink process.⠀
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