21 September 2023

5 October 2023

Post-Budget Breakfast 2023
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With this year’s state budget containing little joy for people doing it toughest, this year’s Post-Budget Breakfast was a more sombre affair. But there was still a purposeful energy in the room and a palpable sense of our sector’s collective determination and unified purpose.

It's always instructive to hear from our Treasurer, Daniel Mookhey, and Shadow Treasurer, Damien Tudehope in-person and to have the opportunity to question, query and challenge on the issues that matter. A big thanks to both for their involvement and willingness to engage.

But it was Emma Warren, our lived experience advocate, who really cut through. Her compelling opening address expressed, more powerfully than any research report or statistics, the day-to day reality of surviving on income support, managing serious health issues and dealing with the stress, uncertainty and unaffordability of life in NSW’s private rental market.

And as ever, our panel delivered – with sharp observations, key facts, down-to-earth analysis and practical solutions. Thank you to Emma, our four panel members, those of you who joined us in-person or online, and to Channel 9’s Liz Daniels who brought polish and professionalism to the job of navigating us through some tricky topics.

You can catch up on our budget analysis here and read more about our Post-Budget Breakfast in NCOSS News below.

Redfern Legal Centre: A reminder of our role as change agents

A positive in this year’s budget was the $8 million for Redfern Legal Centre to expand its financial abuse service statewide. There’s no doubt this is a growing problem, often connected to domestic violence and coercive control; and greater access to free legal advice is welcomed.

But we know that Redfern Legal Service is more than the programs it delivers on behalf of government – as evidenced by its recent work challenging the validity of COVID-related fines, which disproportionately impact people who are disadvantaged and marginalised.

I was reminded of this broader role in successfully advocating for social and legal reforms recently, when I was lucky enough to help launch There’s Glory for You: A History of Redfern Legal Centre. Written by Frances Gibson – whose connection to community legal centres spans 35 years – it traces the origins and history of the centre, and its track record of exposing injustices, holding the powerful to account, and achieving positive change.

It’s a cracker of a read that gives insight to the unique personalities involved, the different political and social forces at play over the decades, and the power of a small NGO to deliver important and lasting reforms. It’s the perfect antidote if you are feeling despondent about the state of the world and the impact of our collective advocacy.

You can get copies at Better Read Than Dead in King Street, Newtown or on line at Booktopia and various other sites.

Just over a week out from the referendum, watch – and share – the messages from some NCOSS members and sector leaders
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At the Post-Budget Breakfast we showed this video message from 10 sector leaders in support of the campaign to recognise First Nations people in the Australian Constitution and establish a Voice to Parliament as the next step in this country’s journey towards reconciliation.

With First Nations households in NSW experiencing economic disadvantage at twice the rate of their non-Indigenous counterparts, surely we can support the modest and sensible proposal of an advisory body to the Australian Government and Parliament, embedded in the Constitution?

As we in the social service sector well know, you get the best results by listening to the voices of those directly impacted. People who are closest to the ground are in the best position to know what’s going to work for their communities, not far-away bureaucrats or politicians, as well-meaning as they might be.

With just over a week to go till the 14 October 2023 referendum, please watch it and share it with your networks.

Thanks, again, to our fabulous NCOSS members who gave up their time to make this happen and to our talented film-maker, Tiger Gill-Finnegan, co-owner and Creative Director at Think Well Digital.

We've also started dropping individual reels from our 10 sector leaders (scroll down to NCOSS News). Please take the time to watch them and, again, share with your networks. So many heartfelt reasons for accepting the generous invitation of the Uluṟu Statement from the Heart.

Registrations for the 2023 AGM open today!
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Register for the NCOSS 2023 AGM, which will be held at Yirranma Place on Gadigal Country from 10:00am on Friday, 24 November 2023.

This year, we've partnered with Tribal Warrior and Strathfield Rotary Club to support their new Work Fit program and they’ll be coming along to talk about how they'll work with First Nations people, especially targeting those who are coming from correctional centres and who need to find work or communities where there are high levels of Indigenous unemployment and people are struggling to break into the job market for the first time.

Regardless of the outcome of the Referendum on 14 October, the shameful overrepresentation of First Nations kids, young people and adults in the NSW criminal justice system has to stop. And we need to move the dial on the Indigenous employment gap. Work Fit involves skilling up participants to be job ready while, at the same time, emphasising cultural awareness, mental health and identity to help them feel safe and strengthen their confidence.

So this AGM, we're asking all NCOSS members, supporters and friends to donate to help deliver the Work Fit program a truly ground up, community-led initiative. NCOSS will be donating $5,000 to the program instead of hosting our usual end-of-year event. We'll also match donations to Work Fit made before our AGM, up to total of $5,000. Information about how to be part of this will be available soon. Watch this space!

Fighting Inequality for a Resilient Future

The International Day for Disaster Reduction is 13 October. On 11 October, I'm joining Margaret Moreton from the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience, Bhiamie Williamson from Monash University, Loriana Bethune from Gender and Disaster Australia and Bronwyn Lay from the Federation of Community Legal Centres in a free webinar that looks at the relationship between disasters and poverty, inequality and discrimination. Register here or scroll down to Sector Events for more information.

Vinnies 2023 Rosalie Rendu Forum
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In my last engagement as NCOSS CEO, I am very proud to be part of a panel of women leaders working in the fight against inequity and for social justice participating in Vinnies' annual Roslaie Rendu Forum which coincides with Anti-Poverty Week 2023, 15-23 October 2023 with the theme Act on Poverty.

The Roslaie Rendu Forum is being held at The University of Notre Dame, Broadway on Thursday, 19 October at 6:00-7:30pm. This year, it's tackling the question of who is paying for a divided society, delving into the impact of the cost-of-living crisis. Register here for this free event.

I would love to see you there. Scroll down to Sector Events for more information.

My last eNews

This will be my last eNews before I leave NCOSS. The next will go out on 26 October 2023, with Ben McAlpine in the hot seat as Acting CEO, and then fortnightly after that.

NSW Treasurer, Daniel Mookhey, speaks to the NCOSS Post-Budget Breakfast. Image credit: Catherine Reilly

Some 150 members and friends joined us in the Stranger's Room at NSW Parliament House on Tuesday, 26 September for our 2023 Post-Budget Breakfast and others joined us online.

It was fantastic to catch up with everyone, and in particular our special guests, Maha Abdo, CEO of Muslim Women Australia; Pauline Cook, CEO of Monaro Family Support Service; Wendy Spencer, Project Manager of Yuwaya Ngarra-li for Dharriwaa Elders Group in Walgett; Sharyn White, CEO of Human Nature and Tina Williams, Operations Manager at Rekindling the Spirit.

There was a real buzz in the room as we gathered to hear from the Treasurer and Shadow Treasurer. But you could have heard a pin drop when our lived experience advocate, Emma Warren, took to the stage to share her story with courage, dignity and grace.

She told the room what is was like to spend 60% of her income on rent, that she feels like she’s “choking” under the pressure and – despite living with a chronic, serious health condition which means she is on a Disability Support Pension – “can’t afford to be sick.”

Government spending decisions are about priorities. This Budget has been delivered against a backdrop of widening inequality, with poverty and disadvantage increasingly concentrated, and worsening, in some suburbs and locations, while others experience more favourable circumstances – exacerbated by an affordable housing shortage and a cost-of-living crisis.

While NCOSS acknowledges the budgetary pressures the NSW Government is facing, and the inclusion of some welcome initiatives that target disadvantaged households, this Budget does not do enough to help those barely hanging on. Nor does it sufficiently address the compounding, structural layers of disadvantage that affect some groups more than others, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability and multicultural communities.

Read our Budget analysis.

The NSW Treasurer and Shadow Treasurer respond to questions from Liz Daniels. Image credit: Catherine Reilly

After the politicians left, our Panel spoke to exactly why we need firm commitments for change.

Julie Perkins, CEO of Gurehlgam, spoke about the flow-on impacts of the floods to the Clarence Valley, as people from flood ravaged communities arrived in Grafton without food, money or a place to say putting increased pressure on the availability of accommodation and significantly increasing the demand for services which local providers are not resourced to provide. Yet were stepping up to help, where they could.

Yet she delivered a message of strength in unity. “We are all in this beautiful community sector together. Let's not give up hope, let's keep advocating to make things better," she said.

While Nemat Kharboutli, Strategic Support Manager at Muslim Women Australia, welcomed the cost-of-living relief measures announced in the Budget she stressed that more needs to be done to deliver social housing and to support the social services sector, which has been supporting communities facing one crisis after another in the last few years.

he emphasised the need for nuanced approaches to the housing response to ensure that families in South Western Sydney were not sitting on waiting lists for housing that did not meet their needs. Current housing stock does not accommodate larger family groups or people with access needs. She called for a multipronged approach that responds to communities "as they are," to effectively address the housing crisis.

Olivia Wright, Director, School Gateway Project at NCOSS – who stepped in when Poppy Loueizi was unable to make it – acknowledged that the NSW Government school infrastructure spending tin communities of deep disadvantage is valuable. However, it doesn't not guarantee equity when the service systems supporting these families are fragmented, unresponsive and hard to navigate. She told the audience that the School Gateway Project aims to bring better integration, coordination, access and flexibility into the whole of the service system so that in being more responsive to needs, it better supports families – and ultimately students – to succeed and thrive.

CEO of the Tenant's Union, Leo Patterson Ross, noted that the shortfall of 220,000 social and affordable homes that was estimated in 2021 is getting worse. 'Every year we delay building or providing affordable homes at scale we dig ourselves deeper and deeper into a hole," he said.

He called on government to use all the levers they have available to dig us out of the hole. "The Build to Rent investment is exciting – not for the scale (which is minimal) but as a publicly owned, publicly managed model that could expand the definition of public housing,” he said.

He was also careful to point out that the 5.75% indexation the Treasurer said was provided to the sector had not applied across the board, only to certain services funded by DCJ.

Yes! campaign yarning circle poster in yelllow, red and black.

Following the release of our YES! message from a group of 10 sector leaders and NCOSS members, we're excited to release the individual reels, which go further into why they, personally, support the YES! vote.

Hear from Bev Baker, Chair of the Older Women’s Network and NCOSS Director and Thom Calma, Executive Manager, Sydwest Multicultural Services and proud Kungarakan man.

In coming days, we'll be releasing messages from:

Jenni Beetson-Mortimer, CEO, Northern Rivers Community Gateway and NCOSS Director, who comes from the Ngemba people in the Brewarrina area
Daniel Gobena, Manager of Mt Druitt Ethnic Communities Agency
Nemat Kharboutli, Muslim Women Australia’s Strategic Support Manager
John Robertson, NCOSS President
Yolanda Saiz, CEO, St Vincent de Paul Society.

NCOSS supports recognition of First Nations people in the Australian Constitution and the Voice to Parliament. Don't know? Find out! It's not too late.

Thanks to our fabulous NCOSS members who gave up their time to make this happen and to our talented film-maker, Tiger Gill-Finnegan, co-owner and Creative Director at Think Well Digital.

Design element from One Step of Many More, by NCOSS' RAP artist, Karlie Stewart.

First Nations referendum grants
Australian Communities Foundation’s First Nations Advisory Group

One-off grants of between $500 and $2,000 are available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander organisations, community groups and individuals undertaking initiatives that bring community together and provide access to information, resources and support in relation to the upcoming referendum. Scroll down to Grants Opportunities, towards the end of eNews, for information on how to apply.

Photo of young Aboriginal women at the Cootamundra Girls Home. Seen on Stan Grant in Cootamundra: Revisiting a place of stolen lives, on the SBS website.

Recently, the NCOSS team participated in the second of a two-part program of cultural awareness training delivered by proud Barkindji and Ngyiampa woman, educator and facilitator, Julie Wilson. This is the first step on NCOSS journey to becoming a more culturally aware organisation, a key component of our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan.

The first session comprised a two hour Reflective Yarning Circle which focussed on the impacts that past policies and practices had – and continue to have – on First Nations people, with Julie sharing her very personal experience as a member of the Stolen Generations. Julie provides background pre-reading and viewing materials for the yarning circle, which her story – and her family’s – then bring into life.

The second session was a three hour experiential workshop, Journey Through Aboriginal Eyes. This workshop helps participants take what they’ve learned about the history of colonisation, and connect with the experience of First Nations people at an emotional, rather than just intellectual, level.

Julie is a natural storyteller, warm, giving, funny and committed to genuine reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, conversation by conversation, through sharing knowledge and experiences, being open to new points of view, and owning our where we’ve got it wrong as a solid foundation for building a better future for all Australians.

The NCOSS team found Julie’s sessions thought provoking, challenging and inspiring. If you’re looking for someone to help your organisation increase its cultural sensitivity and awareness, get in touch with Julie. She can be contacted at Julie Wilson Cultural Training.

NCOSS is looking forward to continuing our cultural education with Julie and other First Nations educators over coming months and years.

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

Joanna was quoted in a number of print articles and appeared in a number of radio interviews commenting on the Budget.

Here's a transcript of 2SM's 20 September 2023 8:00am News:

The NSW Government has announced a $224 million investment in social and affordable housing in its budget. However, there are concerns it won’t be enough to help ease the housing crisis. NSW Council of Social Service CEO, Joanna Quilty, says many people are battling poverty.

“We know that housing costs are front and centre for low income budgets. More households are experiencing housing stress. Private renters are particularly impacted. So we did need to see substantial investment in the delivery of social and affordable housing and some concrete actions to improve security and protections for renters. But these things weren’t in the Budget. They were missing in action.”

A still from one of the Participate Australia's resources, picturing a young woman with disability holding a hand-drawn sign reading "I vote too." Provided by Participate Australia.

Participate Australia has created a suite of videos to help disseminate information about the Voice referendum to people with disability.

They are seeking assistance to distribute the three videos, which are intended to act as conversation starters between people with disability and trusted family and friends.

These resources have been created as part of Participate Australia's mission to support people with disability live full lives as members of the community, which includes exercising their right to vote at elections.

They explain concepts including the Constitution and referendums, outline what the October 14 referendum is about, detail why Australians are being asked to make a change, and explain that people can vote either yes or no.

You can find a link to the videos and supporting information here: https://participateaustralia.com.au/thevoice/

Participate Australia is a subsidiary of SydWest Multicultural Services. SydWest will also help disseminate translated information about the referendum to culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Graphic of a young woman holding a crying baby looking at power bills in the sweltering heat. Provided by Better Renting.

Are you a renter who's had enough of sweltering summers in your home? Want to join a community that's pushing for better, healthier rental homes? Better Renting's citizen science project, Renter Researchers, is calling your name.

This summer of 2024, Better Renting is sending out temperature trackers to Renter Researchers to monitor the indoor heat of their homes. The aim? To collect compelling data that will push state and territory governments to enact minimum energy efficiency standards for rental properties.

By stepping up as a Renter Researcher, you're not just another renter. You're part of a collective force aiming to revolutionise the rental market. This is your chance to be heard, to make a tangible impact, and to improve rental conditions nationwide.

Don't snooze on this. Applications open on Thursday, 5 October and 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 and lock in your application.

Close up of a woman's hands as she fills in a document with a pen. Provided by DCJ.

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.

The aim of this survey is to provide an evidence-base to both improve the support provided to workers who respond to DFV and the service system response to victim survivors and those who use 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.

Four young people from different backgrounds laughing and talking. Provided by Emerging Minds.

Emerging Minds: National Workforce Centre for Child Mental Health invites health, social and community services workers to complete the 2023 National Workforce Survey for Family, Parent and Child Mental Health. This survey seeks to understand the current awareness and practice challenges facing professionals in supporting children’s mental health during their everyday practice. 

You do not have to work directly with children or in mental health to participate.

This is an opportunity to help build a picture of workforce needs that will help ensure future workforce development strategies meet the needs of real workers and will also contribute to advice that will shape children’s mental health policy.

The survey is anonymous and takes about 20 mins to complete. It closes on Wednesday, 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 to read, download, watch or listen to the results of the previous survey in 2020-21.

APW #EndChildPoverty illustrations by Melisa, age 8. A groups of people saying "NO MORE POVERTY!" Provided by the APW campaign.

This year Anti-Poverty Week will run over two weeks from 15-27 October, and include Children’s Week. The key call to action this year is to sign a petition calling for an Australia Child Poverty Reduction Act, initiated by the Valuing Children Initiative – find out more here and sign here.

Download Fast Facts sheets on Women, Poverty and Violence, Poverty in Australia and Child and Family Poverty. You can also join the call to end child poverty and share the explainer – Why Poverty Diminishes Children’s Lives.

A social media pack is also available for download. Versions with space for you to add your own organisational logo available via this Dropbox link.

A young carer with an older man in a wheelchair. Image by Freepik.

The Minister responsible for the Carers portfolio is seeking applications for a Chair, Deputy Chair and members of the NSW Carers Advisory Council (the Council). There are 8 to 11 positions available.

The functions of the Council are to:

Advance the interests of carers
Review and make recommendations to the Minister responsible for carers on any legislative or policy proposal, or any other matter relating to carers referred to the Council by the Minister
Carry out such other functions relating to carers as may be directed by the Minister.

Members are expected to attend and participate in four meetings per year (usually at NSW Parliament House), working group meetings, as well as consultations out of session.

Sitting fees and out of pocket expenses (including travel and accommodation for those coming from regional areas) are paid according to the Classification and Remuneration Framework for NSW Government Boards and Committees.

General membership terms are for a duration of up to four years. The Chair and Deputy Chair are drawn from the membership and appointed in these specific roles for up to two years.

For further information and to apply, applicants can view the advertisement on the Department of Communities and Justice website.

If you’ve got a question about applying or would benefit from an adjustment in the recruitment process to help you perform at your best, please contact Reyzhel Velasco.

A 480 bus pulls into Stand M at the Central Station bus stop. Seen on the Bus Industry Taskforce Taskforce website.

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:

Wollongong
Wollongong City Diggers, 82 Church Street , Wollongong 2500

Friday 13 October 2023, 1:00pm - 1:45pm
Friday 13 October 2023, 2:00pm - 2:45pm

Epping
The Epping Club, 45-47 Rawson Street, Epping 2121

Monday 16 October 2023, 10:00am - 10:45am
Monday 16 October 2023, 11:00am - 11:45am

Gosford
Central Coast Leagues Club, 1 Dane Drive, Gosford 2250

Friday 20 October 2023, 1:00pm - 1:45pm
Friday 20 October 2023, 2:00pm - 2:45pm

Mittagong
Mittagong RSL Club, 148-150 Old Hume Hwy, Mittagong 2575

Monday 23 October 2023, 1:00pm - 1:45pm
Monday 23 October 2023, 2:00pm - 2:45pm

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

Penrith
Penrith RSL, 8 Tindale St, Penrith 2750

Tuesday 14 November 2023, 6:00pm - 6:45pm
Tuesday 14 November 2023, 7:00pm - 7:45pm

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

Northern Beaches
Hunter
South East Sydney
Parramatta
Liverpool

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

Inside the NSW Parliament's Legislative Council chamber. As seen on the NSW Parliament website.

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

People at an AGM graphic.

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 also known as Darlinghurst. Registrations open today, 5 October 2023.

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.

Light refreshments will then be served, if you're able to attend in person.

Woman and baby looking on at a threatening sky. Seen on the AIDR website.

Fighting Inequality for a Resilient Future
Australian Institute of Disaster Resilience
Wednesday, 11 October 2023, 2:00-3:00pm, Online
Free | Register

The Australian Institute of Disaster Resilience is hosting a virtual panel to discuss Fighting Inequality for a Resilient Future on Wednesday, 11 October at 2.00-3.00pm to mark the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Inequality underpins conditions that can leave people more exposed and vulnerable to disasters. The Panel will explore different perspectives on disaster risk and inequality, and provide examples and recommendations on how to better support disaster resilience for all.

Hosted by AIDR Executive Director, Dr Margaret Moreton, the panel features NCOSS CEO Joanna Quilty, as well as Dr Bhiamie Williamson (Research Fellow, Fire to Flourish, Monash University), Loriana Bethune (Research and Innovation Manager, Gender and Disaster Australia) and Bronwyn Lay (Climate and Disaster Lead, Federation of Community Legal Centres).

More information here.

An older man looks to camera, a younger woman sits with her head in her hands over a pile of bills and two Vinnies volunteers pack food hampers. Image provided by Vinnnies.

Cost of Living: Who pays the price for a society divided?
St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, Rosalie Rendu Forum
Thursday, 19 October 2023, 6:00-7:30pm, The University of Notre Dame, Broadway
Free | Register

Join Vinnies at their annual Rosalie Rendu Forum on Thursday 19 October, 6.00-7.30pm, The University of Notre Dame on Broadway. This year’s theme is Cost of Living: Who pays the price for a society divided?

Our eminent speakers are women leaders working in the area social and economic equality and include Verity Firth, UTS Pro Vice-Chancellor for Social Justice and Inclusion; Yumi Lee, CEO NSW Older Women’s Network; and Joanna Quilty, NCOSS CEO. They're discussing the issues and solutions to the growing divide of poverty and wealth in our communities.

For further information visit the Vinnies' website.

Three women speaking at a Panel session at the LGBTIQ+ Women's Health Conference with a rainbow flag behind them. Provided by LGBTIQ+ Women's Health Conference.

LGBTIQ+ Women's Health Conference
Thorne Harbour Health & ACON
24 & 25 October 2023
$250 a day | Register

The @LGBTIQ+ Women’s Health Conference is back!

Are you passionate about the health and wellbeing of all LGBTIQ+ women? Join us in Melbourne this October 24 & 25 and hear from incredible women in sectors across healthcare, psychology, mental health and more.

The full program is up now on our website and registrations are live – book your spot.

Five small vignettes of the presentations at last year's award ceremony. Provided by Youth Action.

NSW Youth Work Conference and Awards 2023
Youth Action
Thursday, 26 October, 9:00am - Friday, 27 Oct 2023, 4:00pm. ATYP, Pier 2/3 Hickson Rd, Dawes Point
$50 - $350 I Register

Registrations are open for Youth Action's Listen, Learn & Celebrate: NSW Youth Work Conference to be held at the Australian Theatre for Young People's premises at Dawes Point, Sydney! Purchase your tickets here.

Youth Action listened to the youth sector about what they wanted to hear more about in 2023 and arranged professional development sessions with a focus on mental health, homelessness, participation and rights-based approaches, how to better interact with the education system, working better with First Nations people and their organisations, and programs and approaches for better through care for young people in conflict with the law.

Since 2013, Youth Action has hosted the NSW Youth Work Awards, an annual celebration of the exceptional work of youth services and youth workers across NSW. The Awards will be held as a part of the NSW Youth Work Conference.

Youth Action is excited to bring everyone together to celebrate the incredible work that the youth sector does for young people.

Gender & Disaster Australia and Australian Government logos

Lessons in Disaster training
Gender & Disaster Australia
October 2023
Lismore, Blue Mountains, Sydney
FREE I Register

Do you work with communities affected by disasters? Don’t miss out on the valuable Lessons in Disaster training.

Award-winning training will help you understand:

The distinct experiences of women, men, and LGBTIQA+ people during disasters.
How gender roles often expect men to protect and provide while women are expected to prioritise nurturing others at the expense of their own safety.
That LGBTIQA+ people’s needs are frequently overlooked in disaster situations.
That applying a gendered lens at every stage of disaster leads to stronger and more inclusive communities in recovery.

Follow the links below to register for the session closest to you:

Lismore: 10 October 2023 @ 9.30am to 4.30pm
Blue Mountains: 18 October 2023 @ 9.30am to 4.30pm
Sydney: 19 October 2023 @ 9.30am to 4.30pm.

You may wish to continue on to the two-day intensive Train the Trainer program on 24-25 October 2023 in Sydney. To register, first submit an EOI for review. For more information contact Melesa or visit the website.

Two women talking in an office. As seen on the Justicee Connect website.

Screening Checks for NFPs
Justice Connect - Not for Profit Law
Tuesday, 10 October 2023. Online
$49 - $85 I Register

Are you involved in the recruitment of staff and volunteers in your community organisation? Is your screening process effective and legally compliant? Do you need a refresher on Working with Children Checks and Police Checks?

Screening checks are essential to protect all those involved with your organisation: staff, volunteers, clients and members of the public.

This webinar will walk you through the basics of how to set up a screening process, what types of checks you need and updates to the law around screening.

AbSec Learning and Development Centre logo.

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.

Multicultural NSW Stronger Together Grants Program
Closing Date: Friday, 13 October 2023

The Multicultural NSW Stronger Together Grants Program aims to support multicultural festival and events across NSW. We invest in community projects and activities that foster community harmony and celebrate cultural diversity as a precious part of our identity and way of life.

The Stronger Together Festival and Event grant program will support multicultural and multifaith community groups to produce Festivals and Events that celebrate and embrace our state’s vibrant cultural diversity.

More details here

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.

Some of the latest from our Jobs Board:

State Manager, Migration Support Services (Sydney or Wollongong) - Australian Red Cross - VIEW JOB

Teacher of Community Services (Rverina) - TAFE NSW - VIEW JOB

Case Manager - Permanency Support Program (Moruya & Western Sydney) - Anglicare NSW South I NSW West I ACT - VIEW JOB, VIEW JOB

Operations, Risk and Compliance Manager (South Sydney) - WEAVE Youth and Community Services - VIEW JOB

Community Youth Worker (Western Sydney) - Platform Youth Services - VIEW JOB