Thursday 15 September 2022

Dear Colleagues,

This week we released the latest report in our Aftershock series, quantifying the impacts of the pandemic and rolling natural disasters over the last few years on the people of NSW. The latest release is focused on domestic and family violence (DFV) and estimates that an additional 60,000 women in NSW experienced DFV for the first time in 2020, while 46,000 experienced an escalation in violence. The estimated costs, including the impact on the NSW economy up to 2025, is $24.6 billion.

It’s a massive number and it includes immediate health costs for the individuals affected and those arising from ongoing health conditions such as anxiety, depressive disorders and alcohol issues; lost productivity from time off work and loss of income; intergenerational impacts on children; as well as flow-on costs to our social service, criminal justice, child protection and income support systems.

We also know that the modelling in the report is conservative, given it relates to the experience of the first wave of the pandemic in 2020 only. So it doesn’t capture the impacts of bushfires and floods – including those that have devastated parts of NSW this year – and the further COVID lockdowns that happened in 2021. All of which would have exacerbated the prevalence of domestic and family violence across communities in NSW.

The report highlights that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and women with a disability are disproportionately impacted; and that frontline NGOs are buckling under the weight of rising demand. While additional DFV funding during COVID has been welcomed, it’s one-off nature belies the fact that these issues are ongoing and that long term solutions are required. As well as boosting core funding to frontline services, increasing supply of social housing is the other urgent need demanding action.

Currently, NSW spends less than half of the investment that Victoria commits towards DFV services; and about a third of the per capita spend. The report estimates that the NSW government would need to increase spending by $500m per annum to catch up. There is some regionalised data in the report, and we encourage you to use the findings and recommendations in your local advocacy efforts to ensure that the needs of those who are most impacted, along with adequate resourcing for our sector, are front and centre as we head towards the 2023 state election. You can read our media release here, and read (and share) some media coverage of the report below.

Follow the Dollar reforms

NCOSS has also recently made a submission to NSW Treasury as part of its consultation on proposed Follow the Dollar reforms. These would expand the powers of the NSW Office of the Auditor General to undertake performance audits of Non Public Sector Entities, including for-profit companies and non-profit NGOs contracted to deliver essential services.

As well as pointing out that the consultation timeframe has not enabled us to talk to our members nor give adequate consideration to the issues, we made the point that now is not the time to focus on these reforms.

While the sector supports accountability, transparency and the effective use of taxpayer’s money, addressing the flaws with the system within which NGOs operate should be the priority. Adequate indexation; longer term, fairer contracts; recognition of the real cost of service provision; and streamlining onerous and duplicative administrative and regulatory processes are some of the systemic fixes required before interrogating the performance of NGOs who have gone above and beyond during the last two and a half years to be there for their communities.

ACOSS survey of the Australian Community Sector

The annual ACOSS survey of the Australian Community Sector is now open. With a new federal landscape, there is an exciting opportunity to advocate for a better deal for our sector and insights from the survey will help inform this. And if we get enough responses from NSW, we will have access to informative state-based data. So please complete the survey – more information below – and encourage your colleagues to do the same. It’s open until 23 September.

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

We're excited that in-person registrations for our conference have reached capacity! But that doesn't mean you have to miss out. You can join our waitlist or attend online. Maybe you’d like to host a watch party? However you participate, we’d love to have you there!

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 23 September 2022.

The Sydney Morning Herald
13 September 2022
A stark rise in domestic and family violence during the COVID-19 pandemic will cost the NSW economy more than $3 billion by 2025, according to new research that estimates 60,000 women experienced abuse for the first time in 2020.

The new study was commissioned by the NSW Council of Social Service and other peak bodies, including Domestic Violence NSW, and found close to 5000 women faced either staying in a violent relationship or homelessness due to a lack of affordable housing.

NCOSS chief executive Joanna Quilty warned while the results of the research were chilling, the prevalence of domestic violence is now likely even higher, given the results were based on the first year of the pandemic alone, and before the devastating NSW floods.

Read the article here.

ABC News
12 September 2022
July's Cost of Living Report from the New South Wales Council of Social Services found more than 880,000 people were living below the poverty line. The report detailed the steps low-income families had been forced to take to survive, including skipping meals and not buying medication.

NCOSS chief executive Joanna Quilty said with government support services increasingly being moved online, the lack of access had created a digital literacy gap that was especially heightened among older people and those with English as a second language.

Read the article here.

Planning & Preparing for Community-led Disaster Recovery

Webinar

29 September 2022

This practical and interactive workshop will utilise two of the Building Resilience for Emergency Responses project's key resources; A guide for local organisations and Workbook for community-based organisations to help organisations plan and prepare for their contibution to disaster recovery and resilience in their community.

Read More

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.

Watch Parties

NCOSS Conference

17 - 18 October 2022

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.
Sign up here.

Post Separations Services Manager - Relationships Australia Canberra Region - VIEW JOB

Criminal Solicitor - Women's Homelessness Prevention Service - VIEW JOB

Case Managers - Blacktown Women's and Girls Health Centre - VIEW JOB
Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Workers - Blacktown Women's and Girls Health Centre - VIEW JOB
Women's Community Development Worker (Afghan Community) - STARTTS - VIEW JOB
Food Services Program Officer - Northern Beaches Council - VIEW JOB
Ageing and Aged Care Project Officer - LGBTIQ+ Health Australia - VIEW JOB
Vulnerable Women Specialist Case Worker - Illawarra Legal Centre Inc. - VIEW JOB
Administration Bookkeeper - Illawarra Legal Centre Inc. - VIEW JOB

Legal Intake Worker - Illawarra Legal Centre Inc. - VIEW JOB

Assistant Principal Solicitor - Illawarra Legal Centre Inc. - VIEW JOB

Manager: Homeless Services - The Haymarket Foundation - VIEW JOB
Capacity Building and Support Officer - MDAA - VIEW JOB
Community Engagement and Special Projects Manager - Seniors Rights Service - VIEW JOB
Child Support Case Worker - Aboriginal Women & Children's Crisis Service - VIEW JOB
Housing Officer - Mission Australia - VIEW JOB
Contact Supervisor - Western Sydney Community Legal Centre - VIEW JOB
Aged Care Advocate - Seniors Rights Service - VIEW JOB
Civil Solicitor - Western Sydney Community Legal Centre - VIEW JOB
Case Workers - Parramatta Holroyd Family Support - VIEW JOB
EOI Board of Directors - Aboriginal Women & Children's Crisis Service - VIEW JOB
Policy Officer - STARTTS - VIEW JOB
Family Advocacy and Support Worker - Western Sydney Legal Centre - VIEW JOB
Case Manager - Anglicare NSW South, NSW West and ACT - VIEW JOB

View all Community Jobs Here

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.