Thursday 29 September 2022

29 September 2022

Dear Colleagues

It’s hard to believe that we’re already in the last week of September 2022.

Concerningly, NSW is – yet again – facing floods with another La Niña summer ahead. Already, there’s devastation in areas like Gunnedah, Tamworth, and Dubbo, while Northern Rivers communities are bracing for further inundation. If the warnings play out, this will be the fourth summer in a row that NSW is marked by flood disasters. Our thoughts are with sector organisations in North and Western NSW as they continue to support their communities. Frequent severe weather events and compounding social and financial issues are making for tough times.

The priority is to ensure the safety of yourselves, your staff and clients. If you have concerns regarding meeting your contract obligations, you should reach out to your contract manager. 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 at info@ncoss.org.au.

Independent Flood Inquiry

We’ve had some good discussions with the Secretariat of the Independent Flood Inquiry, following a letter we sent on 30 August and which was reported in our 1 September eNews. They acknowledged that involving place-based sector organisations in the disaster management cycle was an essential part of improving the state’s disaster management system, and sought our advice on how the sector could be embedded in the legislation establishing the NSW Reconstruction Authority and in the governance of the system more generally.

We sent them our views, emphasising the immediate and long term additional resources sector providers would need to perform these roles, especially in high-risk areas. We also flagged that we’d be happy to work with the Department of Premier and Cabinet’s implementation team in the Project Management Office, when it takes over from the Secretariat at the end of the month.

Aftershock

In coming days, we’ll be releasing the third report of our Aftershock series, quantifying the impacts of the pandemic and rolling natural disasters over the last few years on the people of NSW. This report will focus on housing security. Years of underinvestment means the impact is big, but the opportunities to reduce costs are bigger.

Countdown to the NSW election

Six months out from the NSW election, we’ve been speaking with fellow peaks, our members and social service sector organisations on the ground, to identify our key asks. There is certainly no shortage of issues, and no shortage of opportunities the next incoming Government could address. We’ve had some robust engagements with our regional members and First Nations members and friends. See below for more information.

As part of our engagement with the Government and Opposition leading up to the election, we have arranged for Minister for Families and Communities, the Hon Natasha Maclaren-Jones MLC, to attend our next Forum of Non-Government Agencies (FONGA) meeting on 7 October and talk with the sector about key election priorities. If you are an NCOSS member and would like to attend this meeting, please contact sarah@ncoss.org.au.

NCOSS ‘Vision, Voice, Value’ 2022 Conference, 17 - 18 October

We're getting ever closer to our ‘Vision, Voice, Value’ conference, which will be held during the 20th anniversary of Anti-Poverty Week which runs from 16-22 October 2022.

Just because we’re at capacity for attending in person, doesn't mean you have to miss out. You can join our waitlist, attend online and may even choose to host a watch party. However you participate, it’ll be great to see you there!

Regional Members Meeting
Every quarter NCOSS members from regional NSW meet to discuss regional issues. We urge all our regional members to get involved. The most recent meeting on Tuesday 13 September was a special meeting to review the NCOSS election platform. Conversation was robust and included points for consideration about our family support recommendations, and around how we are going to put a spotlight on issues for young people.

Contact francesca@ncoss.org.au for more information about Regional Members Meeting or advocacy@ncoss.org.au for further input into our election platform.

First Nations Election Platform Review
A small group of First Nations members and friends, covering services in the Northern Rivers, Western NSW, and the Shoalhaven, First Nations academics, and Aboriginal peaks met on Wednesday 21 September to provide input into the NCOSS election platform. Several key discussions were held around the narrative behind the recommendations - embedding the principles of First Nations self determination and the voice of communities into all the recommendations. Discussion was wide ranging and brought up many issues for NCOSS to consider.

Contact francesca@ncoss.org.au to provide further input or to get on to the NCOSS First Nations mailing list.

Building Resilience for Emergency Responses Project
The NCOSS report The Other Frontline: The essential role of place-based NGOs during the Delta and Omicron COVID-19 outbreaks in NSW details the findings of Phase 1 of our Building Resilience for Emergency Responses Project.

The report documents NGOs’ common experiences and challenges through these difficult times and analyses how and why social sector organisations often played such a critical role in supporting impacted communities and the public health response. It points to policy initiatives to integrate the community sector into emergency responses, leading to better outcomes for communities impacted by crises.

Poverty affects far too many Australian children and families, diminishing their lives now and in the future. More than 1 in 6 children in NSW live below the poverty line.

This Anti-Poverty Week we are calling on our leaders to commit to halving child poverty by 2030. Help us urge all Parliamentarians to legislate to halve child poverty by 2030 with measurable targets and actions to achieve this goal. Download the Halve Child Poverty Pledge, take a photo of yourself holding it and post it on social media. Make sure to tag @antipovertyweek and use these hashtags #EndChildPoverty #AntiPovertyWeek #APW22.

In our next eNews, NCOSS will be sharing a social media toolkit that can be used to highlight the issues faced by vulnerable children and provide a call for action to alleviate child poverty in Australia. If you are holding an APW event share the details with NCOSS via email advocacy@ncoss.org.au so that it can be placed on our events calendar.

Anti-Poverty Week is imploring all to sign the pledge in support.

The Australian Community Sector Survey provides a report on the sector in terms of current funding, demand for services, emerging needs and pressures, and priorities of the sector. It examines changes in the operating environment of community organisations, looks at how the sector is responding to community need, and puts a spotlight on major issues of concern.

Take part in the 2022 Australian Community Sector Survey to help us advocate for the future of the sector, the people it supports, and its staff. With a high response rate, we can help deliver long-lasting benefits for our sector.

The survey closes on Friday 7 October 2022.

Vision, Voice, Value: Charting a new course for the social service sector

NCOSS Conference

17 - 18 October 2022

After a tumultuous few years we are excited to bring you this conference to recognise the vital role of our sector. What have we learned? Where to next? In-person registrations are closed but you can join our waitlist or attend online.

Host a Watch Party as part of our Vision, Voice, Value conference. We'll contribute to your discussion facilitator, room hire and catering. You will also receive discussion guides and resources for your chosen conference sessions.

If you’re in Wagga Wagga/Murrumbidgee, Greater Western Sydney, Hunter, Newcastle and Central Coast – find out more about attending Watch Parties.

Special Offer for Conference Attendees
Australian Theatre for Young People is offering NCOSS conference attendees a 10% discount to watch 'Past the Shallows' a new production based on Favel Parrett's novel 'Keep Your Eyes on the Water'.

Attend after the conference at 6.30pm on Tuesday 18 October. Simply use the discount code NCOSS10 when you book. Click here for further information and to book your seat. See you at the theatre!

Blak Up!
Close 30 September 2022
Blak Up is a dedicated First Nations event for young people aged 16-35 years old designed to engage and ignite the fight for change and build Blak power.
Read more

Fams Roadshow
Regional Visits
5 September - 17 November 2022
Fams have been working closely with many of you through the SSTF on DEX reporting and data quality and we are keen to share what we have learned collectively through these online sessions. We have been able to identify the common mistakes across reporting and also what is working well and what isn’t.
Read more

BCA Elections
Blind Citizens Australia
4 October 2020
Are you interested in a leadership role with BCA, either as a director of BCA, state representative on the National Policy Council or for members based in New South Wales?
Read more

Take Heart

Film Screening & Fundraiser

8 October 2022

Take Heart is a powerful and provocative documentary narrated by Stan Grant of the stories of four First Nations children in remote communities grappling with Rheumatic Heart Disease – a largely invisible, but preventable, disease. The film is a call to our government to listen and fund the community-led services that will prevent RHD, especially for our First Nations children.
Read more

Carers NSW
Annual Conference
12 October 2022
This conference will explore how important the use of language is when talking about carers, while also taking a deeper dive into some of the impacts that the caring role can have on individuals, families, communities and workplaces.
Read more

National Carers Week

Carers Australia
16 – 22 October 2022
Carers make an enormous contribution to our community as well as our national economy. National Carers Week provides you with a chance to show your appreciation for Australia’s 2.65 million carers.
Read more

Social Impact Hub
Scaling Impact Showcase
19 October 2022
Scaling Impact focuses on addressing the needs of social start-ups at a crucial point in their development – the inflexion point between building on a proven track record and preparing to take on impact investment.
Read more

NSW Youth Work Awards
Conference
17 - 18 November 2022
The Awards is a great time to celebrate the amazing work the Sector has achieved this year. We hear so often from young people that what makes a real difference in their lives is the worker who cares, and it is important to honour that. The Awards is a fun celebration for everyone to mingle and hear about some of the outstanding achievements across the Sector.
Read more

Shelter NSW
2022 AGM
24 November 2022
As a valued supporter of Shelter NSW, we would like to extend an invitation to you to attend our Annual General Meeting to reflect on the year that was and look ahead to our plans for 2023. All members are invited and encouraged to attend.
Read more

Indigenous Higher Education Curriculum Conference
UTS Conference
29 - 30 November 2022
The purpose of the conference is to highlight that Australian universities are progressively embedding Indigenous perspectives into higher education curriculum to provide students with Indigenous graduate attributes to work with and for Indigenous Australians across their chosen professions.
Read more

ACCESS
Women's and Girls' Emergency Centre
ACCESS is a free personalised mentoring program developed by Women's and Girls' Emergency Centre to support you to identify your strengths, build self-confidence and set goals for the future.
Read more

Careers
Reconciliation Australia
Reconciliation Australia will provide you with a unique experience working in the not-for-profit sector. You will work closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous organisations, individuals, senior executives and working groups from a range of sectors.
Read more

E-Learning
100 Families WA
This is a lived experience informed and led, interactive, e-learning program from 100 Families WA. This self-administered e-learning can be completed in full or in part.
Read more

Employment Law
Marrickville Legal Centre
Develop your skills and learn what it’s like to work in a community legal centre.
Read more

Performance Outcomes
Network of Drug and other Drug Agencies
4 October 2022
Join us and help to develop the system for collecting performance measurement information across the NGO AOD sector.
Read more

SAFE Series

Office of the Children's Guardian
5 October 2022
The OCG runs free webinars to assist early childhood educators in the development of skills and understanding of protective behaviours program within their Early Childhood setting.
Read more

Working with Women Engaged in AOD Treatment
3 November 2022
This workshop will discuss the unique experiences and perspectives of women accessing AOD services and will explore best practice responses to survivors/victims of domestic and family violence within the context of AOD treatment.
Read more

Digital Devices Grant
Be Connected
Close 10 October
Our $5,000 Digital Devices Grant helps community organisations build a device loan library to help the people they support to stay connected at home or on the move.
Read more

The Aboriginal Affairs NSW Community and Place Grants Program
Aboriginal Affairs
Close 14 October
This grant aims to support one-off projects which include programs, equipment, vehicles and infrastructure developed by local Aboriginal communities and with local community support to drive change and contribute towards the 17 socio-economic outcome targets under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
Read more

Building Digital Skills
Be Connected
Close 31 October
This program aims to support older Australians to improve their digital literacy skills and confidence using electronic technology.
Read More

Community Support Worker – WHOS VIEW JOB

Volunteer Directors – Connect: Inner West Community Transport Group Inc. VIEW JOB

Case Manager – Anglicare NSW South VIEW JOB

People and Culture Coordinator – Seniors Rights Service VIEW JOB

Equitable Learning Facilitator – UNSW VIEW JOB

Homelessness Caseworker – YWCA Australia VIEW JOB

Community Fundraising and Events Coordinator – Bobby Goldsmith Foundation VIEW JOB

Save Sorry Business Campaign Coordinator – Financial Rights Legal Centre VIEW JOB

Case Worker – Macarthur Family & Youth Services VIEW JOB

Social Support Worker – Family Advocacy and Support Services VIEW JOB

Redress Case Worker - The Women’s Activities and Self Help House VIEW JOB

Case Worker – The Women’s Activities and Self Help House 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 or PDF to info@ncoss.org.au.

We will endeavour to add to the next edition of NCOSS e-News (goes out every fortnight on Thursday). Deadline for content is 12pm Monday, week of publication. Next deadline is 12pm Monday, 26 September 2022.