10 August 2023

10 August 2023

National Homelessness Week 2023 – It's time to end homelessness

Coinciding with National Homelessness Week, our colleagues at Homelessness NSW have released a report calling for an overhaul of a broken, fragmented system of homelessness and other supports, to ease the pressure on gridlocked services unable to keep up with growing demand, and to stop the social housing waitlist blowing out beyond a decade.

Scroll down to read the article in Sector News. #endhomelessnesstogether

Post Budget Breakfast – Registrations open today!

Registrations for our Post Budget Breakfast open today at 12:00pm. Join us to hear from the NSW Treasurer, the Hon Daniel Mookhey MLC, and Shadow Treasurer, the Hon Damien Tudehope MLC, and a panel of sector leaders, with proceedings moderated by a respected journalist.

It all takes place in the Strangers Dining Room at NSW Parliament House and online on Tuesday, 26 September 2023 from 7:30am for an 8:00am start.

Regional organisations who can't make it to Sydney will go into the draw for one of three, $300 prizes so you can buy morning tea for your team and join the fun online. We'll announce the winners in the 21 September edition of eNews.

A visit to Ashcroft PS & the Mirrung wellbeing hub

Joined by members of the Allan and Gill Gray Philanthropy Australasia team, last week I had the chance to visit Ashcroft Public School for its annual art exhibition and to see the Mirrung project in action.

It was also an opportunity to meet up with the team behind the project – the school's Principal, Poppy Loueizi; Olivia Wright, NCOSS' Project Director; Olivia Mackay, Deputy Principal, Wellbeing; and Karen Ali, Deputy Principal – to understand how the project is facilitating connections with families' involvement in their children’s education, and access to timely support and practical assistance when needed.

You can read more about it, and check out some of the kid's art work, in the article below.

Gambling harm advocacy through story telling

On Wednesday, 3 August, I attended Wesley Mission’s Gambling Harm, Recovery and Reform event where we were privileged to see the pioneering and powerful work of Victorian-based Three Sides of a Coin.

The project uses theatrical story-telling with people who have experienced gambling harm, to creatively express their journeys into darkness and process of healing and recovery. It was compelling, confronting and very moving – and a stark reminder of the devastating fallout from pokies, the need for gambling reform, and the importance of including and listening to the voices of those who have been impacted. A timely reminder with the independent panel overseeing the cashless gaming trial soon to convene. (Check out this video about the project).

A big thank you to Wesley Mission for putting on this event. You can sign onto their campaign and find out what actions you can take locally to support gambling reform here.

The event was also an opportunity to remind those present that, while the NSW Government has announced a review of the ClubGRANTS scheme – which we’ve welcomed – until the review happens, and substantial changes implemented, ClubGRANTS remains seriously flawed. We encourage organisations to read our report, which looked at the Category (CAT) 1 element of the scheme, consider other funding options and, at the very least, participate in ClubGRANTS with your eyes open.

We know it’s a tough time for community organisations at the moment keeping up with rising demand and meeting associated costs when there is no growth funding. But we need to find more sustainable, transparent ways of funding essential social services, in keeping with community expectations for probity and integrity in the expenditure of public funds.

Joanna and NCOSS' Director, School Gateway Project, Olivia Wright, visited Ashcroft Public School last week, for the opening of the school’s art exhibition and to see the Mirrung wellbeing hub.

NCOSS is establishing Mirrung – which means "belonging" in the local Dharug language – in partnership with the school. The aim is to lift educational outcomes in an economically disadvantaged location by bringing social and health services, along with enrichment activities, into the school setting. It's being funded through a generous grant from Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropy Australasia.

Joanna and Olivia were joined by some of the Allan & Gill Gray Philanthropy Australasia team, including Justin Koonin, Roimata Mitchell and Nathalie Richmond. They spent a morning meeting the kids, who were so pleased and proud to welcome their guests and show off their work, which drew on the styles of famous artists over different periods history. You can see some of their works here. Photos by Joanna and as seen on the school's Facebook page.

It was fantastic to see the positive and supportive environment that Ashcroft Public School Principa Principal, Poppy Loueizi, and her team have created, kids and families enjoying the art show, and the Mirrung hub operating as a welcoming place for parents and families to connect with each other, with school staff, and with the different activities and services on offer.

A big thanks to Poppy and her fantastic team for hosting us. We're excited to see how the Mirrung hub continues to develop and we're looking forward to our next visit to Ashcroft Public School.

NCOSS, the Tenants' Union of NSW, NSW Shelter, DV NSW and Justice Connect – among more than 80 other sector organisations in NSW and around Australia – have submitted a joint statement to the Senate Inquiry into Australia's worsening rental crisis.

NSW Tenants' Union CEO, Leo Patterson-Ross put it this way: "Renting in Australia should mean a good home from which we can live full, rich lives. Just as it did 50 years ago, the Commonwealth can support a national conversation across jurisdictions about what we expect from our renting system as well as bringing all the other tools it has to support good homes.

"The community sector joining together on this statement shows the level of support that exists for meaningful reform across every state and territory, and for the Commonwealth to be part of the conversation, to bring every rented home into the 21st century."

The Inquiry is accepting submissions until 1 September 2023.

Read the joint statement
Read the media release
Make a written submission

Or fill in the on-line form.

Released on 7 August to coincide with the start of Homelessness Week 2023, Rare, Brief and Non-recurring: A System-wide Approach to Ending Homelessness Together is Homelessness NSW's vision for a future, and a roadmap for how to #endhomelessnesstogether.

The report has canvassed more than 650 people and 200 organisations, including across the state government, service providers, lived experts, and the finance and property industries, about what needs to change over the next 10 years.

"Homelessness is affecting more people in NSW than ever before. Everyone – from governments at all levels, services, to the property and finance sectors and broader community – must work together and commit to a shared goal of ending, not just reducing, homelessness," Homelessness NSW Acting CEO Amy Hains said.

The report calls for key measures including higher welfare payments, the upgrading and maintenance of social housing, and adequate support to stop people from becoming homeless after leaving prison, hospital or out-of-home care, to make homelessness "rare, brief and non-recurring."

Read the report. Illustration by The Visual Storytellers Group, seen in the report.

With the Australian Labor Party National Conference taking place in Brisbane on 17 August 2023, the Raise the Rate campaign is calling on supporters to email their local MP (if they live in a Labor-held electorate) and/or their ALP State or Territory Senate representatives, calling on them to raise the rate so that people on income support payments can cover the basics.

You can do this from the campaign page. Just enter your residential address, and up will pop your local MP (if you live in a Labor-held electorate) and the ALP Senators for your State or Territory. Fill in the details, write your message, hit send! Raise the Rate even provides some suggestions for what you might want to tell your elected representatives.

Let's get this done!

In a recent, two-one split decision, the Australian Administrative Tribunal (AAT) affirmed the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit (ACNC's) decision to deny Equality Australia's application for Public Benevolent Institution (PBI) status – and Equality Australia is appealing that decision to the Federal Court.

The ACNC, which did not appeal the AAT's decision in the September 2021 Global Citizen case, has welcomed the opportunity to clarify the law. Global Citizen is working to end extreme poverty by 2030 in accordance with the UN's sustainable development goals, by advocating for changes in law and policy; seeking financial commitments from governments, philanthropic organisations and corporations; and raising awareness. In the Global Citizen case, the AAT found that they were eligible for PBI status.

Importantly, in Equity Australia, all three members of the AAT found that:

the ACNC's argument that Equality Australia was disqualified from being regarded as a PBI because it engaged in politics was not valid
the ACNC's argument that a PBI was inevitably limited to providing actual practical relief from (or mitigation of) harm or distress that has already become manifest was not valid
it was inappropriate for the term PBI to be fixed in time, and the meaning will alter as its common understanding does.

"We believe our work, including our advocacy, addressing the disadvantage and discrimination experienced by LGBTI+ people qualify us as a PBI," said Equity Australia's legal director, Ghassan Kassisieh.

Read the decision. Read the report in the Community Advocate. Image seen on the National Museum of Australia's website.

Every year, the Council on the Ageing (COTA) NSW conducts a state-wide survey to understand what people 50+ think about key issues. The information gathered from these surveys informs our policy and advocacy activities and can help shape government decisions relating to older people.

This year, COTA NSW is interested in hearing about your experiences in navigating different systems to obtain information or to organise services for yourself or family members.

The survey will take around 15 minutes. The closing date is 10 September 2023.

NSW Youth Work Conference and Awards 2023
Youth Action
26 and 27 October

Youth Action has opened registrations for the Listen, Learn & Celebrate NSW Youth Work Conference to be held at the Australian Theatre for Young People 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.

If you wish to nominate a service, program, or individual, nominations have been extended to 5pm Monday 21 August. Nominating an individual, program or service is a way for you to publicly highlight their outstanding achievements with young people. Make your nominations here.

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

Cultural Connections for Child Protection Professionals
AbSec LDC
17 August or 20 September or 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 1-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

Lessons in Disaster Training (LID)
Train the Trainer (TTT)
Gender and Disaster Australia
LID - 28 August, 9am - 4pm at The Rocks. Free

TTT - 29-30 August. Free

Gender and Disaster Australia are offering their highly-regarded training for free!

Lessons in Disaster
The Training comprises four sessions:

Session 1: Gender and Emergency – The Evidence
Session 2: The impact of gendered expectations – Individual, Community and Organisational
Session 3: The disaster made me do it: The social reconstruction of sex, gender and sexuality
Session 4: Working towards change – Workshop

Train the Trainer

Gender and Disaster Australia is also offering the two-day intensive program in Sydney on 29-30 August 2023. To register, first submit an EOI for review.

For more information contact Melesa or visit Gender and Disaster Australia.

How to Draft a Volunteer Agreement
Justice Connect - Not-for-profit Law
Tuesday, 5 September. 12.45 - 2pm AEST. Online. $49 - $85

A good volunteer agreement will ensure your volunteers are clear about their role, rights and responsibilities. It will help establish and maintain effective relationships with your volunteers and keep everyone safe.

Whether you’re looking for an update on current best practice for volunteer agreements, tips for reviewing existing agreements, or guidance on starting from scratch, Justice Connect's Not-for-profit law team is here to help. We’ll explain the legal issues you can manage and avoid by using a volunteer agreement, and will walk you through some of the key topics your agreement should cover. You’ll walk away with our recently updated template volunteer agreement – to save you time getting the result you need.

Register here.

LivingWorks Suicide Prevention Skills Training Programs
Until 20 June 2024

LivingWorks has been awarded state-wide funding by NSW Health, to enable every NSW community member to access suicide prevention skills training free of charge until 20 June 2024. They're offering the Start (90 minutes, self paced, online), SafeTALK (4 hours, in-person), and ASIST (2 days, in-person) programs.

ASIST is also available Indigenous-ASIST (I-ASIST) and LGBTIQ+ ASIST. Please note that I-ASIST also includes a 2 hour community consultation on the day before the I-ASIST training.

Direct enquiries to Tim Day.

NSW Seniors Festival Grants program
Closing Date: 28 August 2023

The NSW Seniors Festival Grants program provides $200K in funding for community programs and activities that enable older Australians to remain active, healthy, and engaged during the NSW Seniors Festival.

The grants program is a key part of the 2024 NSW Seniors Festival. The festival will run from 11 - 24 March 2024.

The NSW Seniors Festival Grant program encourages Seniors in NSW to enjoy new experiences, continue learning, stay active and connect to their communities. There are two funding levels that applicants can apply for:

Up to $5K for local community programs and activities.
More than $5K - $10K to local government organisations for large scale community and regional programs and activities – funding is available to local government organisations only.

Projects must be located within NSW and conducted between 11-24 March 2024.

More details here.

Strengthening Social Cohesion
Community Grants
Closing Date: 28 August 2023

Natural disasters, the COVID-19 pandemic, and economic uncertainty have tested the resilience of our communities, given rise to mis- and disinformation, extremist views, and conspiracy theories. In turn, this has contributed to a loss of trust in our democratic institutions.

The NSW Government recognises the potentially divisive impact of hate, fear, and division on its communities. It seeks to improve social cohesion and prevent violent extremism. Socially cohesive communities are more resilient to, and recover more quickly from, shocks and stresses, whether a pandemic, a flood, or an act of violent extremism, or extremist hate.

The Premier’s Department is looking to fund 3 not-for-profit organisations a maximum of $50,000 (including GST) each, to lead innovative community projects that address and challenge the:

proliferation of racist ideas, attitudes, and worldviews
promotion of hateful and extremist ideologies and vilification of vulnerable population groups
promotion of conspiracy theories.

Partnership projects and projects that demonstrate strong collaborative relationships are encouraged.

The funding of this grant is a one-off payment, with the project needing to be completed by November 2024.

This program is administered by Premier's Department.

More information here.

Some of the latest postings on our Jobs Board:

Service Support (Blue Mountains) - Mountains Community Resource Network - VIEW JOB

Care Coordinator (Western Sydney); Senior Youth Engagement Specialist (Southern Highlands); Support Worker (Inner West Sydney) - St Vincent de Paul Society - VIEW JOB; VIEW JOB; VIEW JOB;

Events Officer; Digital Marketing Officer; Executive Support Administrative Project Officer (South West Sydney) - STARTTS - VIEW JOB; VIEW JOB; VIEW JOB

Child Care Worker (Diploma); Childcare Worker (Cert III) (Sydney CBD) - City of Sydney - VIEW JOB

Placement Coordinator, OOHC (various locations) - Professional Individualised Car (PIC) - VIEW JOB

Program Officer, Aboriginal Community Engagement (Sydney) - Hepatitis NSW - VIEW JOB

Senior Practitioner (Western NSW) - Survivors And Mates Support Network (SAMSN) - VIEW JOB

Senior Clinician, Post Separation Services; Senior Clinician, Therapeutic Service; Director Operations, Clinical and Community Programs (ACT) - Relationships Australia, Canberra & Region - VIEW JOB; VIEW JOB; VIEW JOB

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 (which goes out every fortnight on Thursday). Deadline for content is 5.00pm Monday, week of publication. Next deadline is 5.00pm Monday, 21 August 2023.