NSW Budget Resources | FONGA Reportback

13 June 2024

Post Budget Breakfast

The NCOSS Post Budget Breakfast will be held on June 25. This is an important event in the annual calendar. The Treasurer, the Hon Daniel Mookhey MLC, and the Shadow Treasurer, the Hon Damien Tudehope, MLC will address the room, followed by a panel of social sector leaders. This is a great opportunity to discuss the issues that are important to the NSW social service sector and the people we support. Please join us.

If you aren’t able to join us in person, you can register to watch the livestream.

For the full program and registration, please follow this link.

Portable Long Service Leave

The NSW Government’s portable long service leave scheme has been introduced to parliament this week. This will be a huge win for workers in our sector because they will be able to enjoy the benefit of long service leave, even if they switch employers within the sector.

We are still advocating strongly to the NSW Government to ensure that financial costs and administrative burden on social service organisations are minimised.

Zest Awards

Congratulations to the Western Sydney Community Forum for hosting their annual Zest Awards at the end of May, recognising excellence and achievement in the community sector in Western Sydney.

NCOSS was proud to support the ZEST Awards. It was a fun night and wonderful to see so many worthy people nominated and recognised for the important work they do in Western Sydney.

What does this mean for the people you support?

By the end of the year, all major network carriers will close their 3G networks, impacting several thousand Australians and especially those in low-income households. TPG Telecom/Vodafone closed their 3G network in January, while Telstra and Optus are expected to close theirs in August and September, respectively.

Before these closures, all 3G network users will be required to replace their digital device in order to access 4G or 5G networks. Some 4G devices may also be affected. NCOSS is also aware that these changes are not limited to mobile phones but may include medical alarms as well. These impacts are extremely worrying for those already experiencing hardship as the costs associated with upgrading and replacing digital devices will place a huge burden on them.

All major carriers have provided notice to their customers to allow sufficient time to upgrade, however if you are aware of anyone on a 3G network, it is recommended you double check with them.

The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) has put together a FAQ on what to expect and how to prepare for these closures. The main advice is for customers to contact their service provider as soon as possible if they have any concerns about the capability of their device.

NCOSS has also received the following advice:

Telstra and Optus customers can text ‘3’ to 3498 to check whether their device will be affected by the closure.
Customers may be eligible to receive a free handset from mobile providers to ensure they remain connected to the network. Please contact the service provider directly.
Customers should check upgrades and emergency calling (000) before 31 August 2024.

The Forum of Non Government Agencies online meeting was held on Friday, June 7. Megan Nicholson gave a project update from the Community Sector Disaster Capability Project, which was a trial project to show the role NGOS can play in preparing the local community for disasters and reducing the impact of disasters on the most vulnerable. This project is ending in June, with an extension of the project dependent on continued funding.

ACOSS Deputy CEO and Director of Policy Jacqui Phillips gave an analysis of the federal budget, which she described as tinkering, not transformative. Although it identified the major challenges facing the country, including unemployment, housing, climate change and cost of living, none of the budget measures addressed these in a substantial way.

The meeting also heard updates from LCSA, FAMS, Inclusive and Diverse Communities, LEAD and Western Sydney Community Forum.

Taliya Tuinono from AbSec used the ‘member spotlight’ to speak about their recent projects and the upcoming AbSec conference later this year.

The next FONGA will be held on 2 August and will focus on housing. Please contact sarah@ncoss.org.au should you wish to receive calendar invitations with Zoom links for upcoming FONGA meetings.

The draft TEI Program Specifications have been updated with findings from the Targeted Earlier Intervention (TEI) and Family Connect and Support (FCS) program evaluations, insights and learning from DCJ commissioned evidence reviews and program implementation. They detail the intended program outcomes, target groups, activities and requirements of providers delivering TEI services.

Key changes to the Program Specifications include:

Integrating the TEI and FCS programs into one early intervention program (new program name to be determined)
Streamlining and simplifying DEX reporting
Embedding evidence in the program
Increasing the focus on flexibility in the program
Strengthening the program’s commitment to cultural safety
Including TEI service system outcomes and program requirements
Increasing the focus on early intervention.

You can provide your feedback on the specifications by 16 August 2024 via the online submission form here or by emailing TEI@dcj.nsw.gov.au. In addition, DCJ have developed list of Frequently Asked Questions to support organisations with any questions they may have.

Neha and Andrea from the policy team had the opportunity to attend the ACWA conference last week. It was great to catch up with many of our colleagues from across the sector for an informative couple of days.

We started the first day with Professor Darcey Merritt, University of Chicago who talked about the traumatic impacts related to racialised poverty and systems oversight. The day also included a panel discussion on the urgent changes we need to make to reduce the number of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children who come into contact with the child protection system.

The day ended with a welcome reception which gave NCOSS CEO Cara Varian a chance to meet a number of our members in person for the first time.

Day 2 focused on the intersection of domestic violence and abuse and child protection. It highlighted the nuances of poverty where women wanting to escape DFV are forced to choose between homelessness and the risk of having their child taken away from them or staying in an abusive relationship in order to protect their children.

Since 2013 Youth Action has held the annual NSW Youth Work Awards to recognise and celebrate all the exceptional work of youth services and the youth sector across the state.

Nominating an individual, program or service is a way for you to publicly highlight their outstanding achievements with young people.

Award winners will receive a $300 cash prize. There is also the Hall of Fame category to recognise people who have worked in the youth sector for over 15 years.

Nominate someone for the Youth Work Awards here.

Future Women Jobs Academy is a free online program designed to boost women's workforce participation, job readiness and economic security in NSW.

The program will support 1000 women over a two-year period to equip them with the necessary supports to enter, progress and succeed in paid employment and build careers that benefit them for the long-term.

The program is particularly focused on providing access to:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait women
women from culturally diverse backgrounds
women with disability
women living in regional, rural, and remote areas.

To be eligible to apply, you need to be living in NSW and over 18 years of age, be unemployed, working in insecure, casualised or part-time work or working in a minimum, or low wage role.

Apply to the Future Women Jobs Academy here.

Youth Action has been invited to host a roundtable with The Hon. Kate Washington, Minister for Families and Communities, and Minister for Disability Inclusion with a representative group of our Organisational Members at 10am on Wednesday 26 June.

In the lead up to the Roundtable, Youth Action will be holding three online forums so the youth sector can have the opportunity to tell us what they would like the Minister to know about their work.

If you have not already registered, please register to one of the online forums today to have your say. Click on the link to register for your chosen session.

Tuesday 18 June 10am – 11am

Wednesday 19 June 10am – 11am

Thursday 20 June 10am – 11am

Post Budget Breakfast
NCOSS
25 June, NSW Parliament House and online
$55-$85 | Register here

The NSW Treasurer, the Hon Daniel Mookhey MLC, will hand down the Budget on Tuesday, 18 June 2024.

In this challenging fiscal environment – and with the inequality divide in NSW deepening – there has never been a more important time to come together and discuss priorities for the future.

Join us to hear from the Treasurer and Shadow Treasurer, the Hon Damien Tudehope, MLC followed by a panel of social sector leaders on the issues that matter to the NSW social service sector and the people we support.

Macarthur & Wingecarribee Agency Exchange Day
Sector Connect
27 June, Western Suburbs League Club
Free | Register here

The Macarthur & Wingecarribee Agency Exchange Day is an annual event that offers a unique opportunity for services to showcase and network. You can explore opportunities and referral pathways for the most vulnerable in the community.

Who should attend?

Community Service Employees
Community Service Organisations
Volunteers & Students
Services that work with the community sector

On the Run (Accidental) Counselling
LEAD Professional Development Association

8 August, Tamworth Powerhouse Hotel
$260-$325 | Register here

While you are not a formally trained counsellor, do you often find yourself in situations where you need to respond to someone’s distress, concerns, or strong emotions?

Whether it’s a colleague under pressure, a parent navigating challenges, or a child and family facing difficulties, these “accidental counselling” moments can be challenging to navigate.

This full-day transformative workshop is designed to equip you with the tools to become a more effective and empathetic communicator, responding appropriately to those who are distressed.

Protecting Professional Resiliency
LEAD Professional Development Association
6 August, online
$45-$60 | Register here

This online workshop is designed to introduce professionals who are not therapists to solution-focused thinking as it was originally developed by Insoo Kim Berg and Steve de Shazer and teach them how to use these principles to prevent and reverse professional burnout.

You will learn to identify signs of professional burnout and stress and develop an “emergency roadside repair kit” to assist them in preventing the potential negative impact.

You will also learn protective factors and how to use solution-focused thinking to decrease and address potential stress in the workplace.

NSW Government Youth Opportunities Grant
Closing Date: 15 July 2024

The Youth Opportunities program provides one-off, time-limited grants to incorporated not-for-profit community organisations and local government councils in NSW. Funding is for new projects that enable marginalised young people,aged 12 to 24, to lead and participate in their communities.

The Youth Opportunities program requires applicant organisations to have spoken with marginalised young people and involved them in developing the project proposal prior to submitting a grant application.

For more information, please visit the grant information page.

Australian Government National Women’s Alliances Funding
Closing Date: 3 July 2024

The Australian Government is inviting applications for funding to provide expert gender advice to Government and ensure women’s voices inform implementation of Working for Women: A Strategy for Gender Equality (the Strategy).

This grant opportunity will establish a network of up to 6 civil society organisations to provide collaborative, intersectional, evidence based gender expertise and strategic advice to Government to inform ongoing progress of the Strategy’s outcomes. Advice will focus on elevating the lived experiences of women in all their diversity and bringing together the expertise of the women’s sector and expert stakeholders. Cross alliance collaboration will be a central feature of the program, to ensure advice to Government is intersectional and prioritised.

For more information, please visit the grant information page.

Some of the latest from our Jobs Board:

Arabic Seniors Group Coordinator (South West Sydney) - Arab Council Australia - VIEW JOB

Direct Service Counsellor/Project Officer (Sydney Wide) - NSW STARTTS - VIEW JOB

Carer Support Practitioner (South West Sydney) - Anglicare - VIEW JOB

Neurofeedback Specialist Counsellor (South West Sydney) - NSW STARTTS - VIEW JOB

Family Connection and Mentor Support Worker (Liverpool) - Anglicare - VIEW JOB

Case Worker (Inner West Sydney) - The Gender Centre - VIEW JOB