NCOSS eNews - re-sent with Policy Tracker links

9 February 2023

It’s great to see gambling reform taking centre stage as we head towards the March state election. In committing to rolling out a mandatory cashless gaming card by 2028, the Premier’s package, announced on Monday, is substantial. Rev Stu Cameron from Wesley Mission has called it an historic day. While there’s more we can do to reduce gambling harm – and certainly the 5-year timeframe seems to stretch out the inevitable – the NSW Government is to be commended for putting forward a comprehensive plan that will provide punters with tools to manage their gambling and make more informed decisions. Of course, the devil is in the detail and the makeup and independence of the Transition Taskforce will be critical to getting design and implementation issues right. We now need bi-partisan support for the approach, given its potential to curb addiction and lessen the harm inflicted on those who, too often, are already experiencing more than their fair share of disadvantage.

As well as cashless gaming, the NCOSS policy platform calls for an overhaul of ClubGRANTS, which NCOSS has been a part of since its inception in 1998. We did a comprehensive review of the scheme in 2020-21, focused particularly on the part NCOSS members play on Local Committees (which are, purportedly, an advisory and oversight mechanism). Our review found that the scheme’s design is fundamentally flawed because it makes Clubs the ultimate decision makers on how grants are allocated, by-passing the Local Committee process, and it allows them to prioritise and fund their own initiatives, or those of associates, without conflicts of interest being appropriately managed. We also found that the requirement that the grants contribute to improving living standards for low income and disadvantaged people is often not met, that accountability and reporting requirements are lax, and that the regulator is passing on to Clubs the dollar-for-dollar tax rebate for grants they make though the scheme, without checking their compliance with the rules. The legislation prohibits the regulator from granting a rebate if Clubs don’t comply with the scheme Guidelines.

Ultimately, poor scheme design, laissez faire operation and inadequate regulatory oversight have given the impression that Clubs are disbursing their own money to worthy community projects out of the goodness of their hearts. This buys them enormous cachet and is a powerful public relations tool, when the reality is that the scheme has been established by the Government, operates under Ministerial Guidelines and is funded through foregone tax revenue. Not only do Clubs benefit from tax concessions, they also benefit from being able to direct grants back into their own coffers, at the expense of cash-strapped frontline community organisations.

Our review put forward sensible recommendations to improve the scheme’s administration. When it was clear there was no appetite to move quickly on our concerns, we asked to be officially removed from the scheme – something that still hasn’t happened. While we’re not talking about enormous sums of money, the principles still matter. A taxpayer-funded grants program that puts Clubs’ interests ahead of the public interest, doesn’t meet community standards for integrity, and buys clubs credibility as good corporate citizens shouldn’t exist. Like the use of cash to play the pokies, the ClubGRANTS scheme in its current form has had its day and must be brought into the 21st century.

Our sector colleagues – including Homelessness NSW, CHIA, DVNSW and Sydney Alliance – have been hard at work organising a slew of important public events which will be an opportunity to hear from, engage with and challenge our political leaders on their policy solutions to the pressing social issues we are facing. You can find out more about these not-to-be-missed events below.

And finally, in more election news, NCOSS has launched its Policy Tracker. This is a quick and easy way for members to keep up-to-date with the latest policy-related announcements from political parties and candidates related to the NCOSS Policy Platform. It is organised according to our three themes of Immediate Cost of Living relief, Targeted Support for the most Vulnerable and A Strong and Sustainable Sector. We will keep this updated as best we can, but if you know of an announcement that we appear to have missed, please shoot us an email at advocacy@ncoss.org.au.

The NCOSS Policy Tracker will capture announcements from NSW Labor (Australian Labor Party NSW branch), NSW Coalition (Liberal-National) and The Greens NSW that align with the NCOSS Policy Platform.

The NCOSS Policy Platform 2023 sets out recommendations for the next NSW Parliament to address some of the most pressing issues in our communities. You can read about our platform Working Together for a Fairer NSW, and access advocacy resources, here.

Where relevant, we will include significant policy announcements from independent candidates and other parties.

We have worked hard to collate the current policies. However, if you spot one that we have missed or which has been updated, please email us at advocacy@ncoss.org.au, and we'll add it to the tracker.

Explore the policy tracker here.

AbSec
National Apology Day
13 February 2023
Alongside AbSec member organisations, allies and supporters, we’ll be occupying Martin Place on National Apology Day (13 February) to call for the full implementation of the Family Is Culture recommendations, the formation of a new child protection system built on Aboriginal self-determination, and the creation of an independent child protection Commissioner.
To get involved, click attending. For more information, please email events@absec.org.au

The peak social services body in NSW has welcomed the NSW Coalition’s announcement today to make every poker machine in NSW cashless by 31 December 2028. NCOSS CEO Joanna Quilty said the Coalition’s policy has the potential to make a real difference in the lives of NSW citizens impacted by gambling harm.

“We commend NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet’s commitment to gambling reform,” Ms Quilty said.
“I implore the Premier to ensure that people with lived experience are involved in the design and implementation process, and that the taskforce consults with communities, social services dealing with the fallout of gambling harm, and others who have been impacted.

“We now need bi-partisan support for the approach, given it has the potential to curb addiction and lessen the gambling harm we see in NSW.”

Read the NCOSS media release.

Frontline family violence support organisations are urging the NSW Government and Opposition to commit to building much-needed social housing for women fleeing family violence situations. According to the data, of clients who were homeless when they commenced receiving SHS support, only 37% were able to be provided with housing. In response, NCOSS and Domestic Violence NSW (DVNSW) are urging NSW political leaders to commit to construct social housing for women in family violence situations.

“As a first step, the incoming NSW Government should focus on problems we can and must solve now like providing homes for the 4,812 women and their children experiencing violence,” Ms Quilty said.

Read the full NCOSS and Domestic Violence NSW joint media release.

THOUSANDS of women are returning to violent partners because they have nowhere else to go. Modelling commissioned by NCOSS highlights that, in 2021, an estimated 2402 women across NSW returned to live with a violent partner because of lack of an affordable alternative and a further 2410 became homeless because they couldn’t find a safe home after leaving violence.

The NCOSS research has been released as the government pledged to treat domestic violence victims as first home buyers – even if they have already owned property with an ex-partner – if Dominic Perrottet is re-elected. Victims could also access interest-free loans for a bond to secure a rental property without having to meet eligibility criteria.

The research has led to frontline family violence support organisations urging the state government and opposition to commit to building much-needed social housing for women fleeing family violence situations. The calls come in the lead- up to the March election, and as more than 50,000 people languish on the social housing waiting list.

Read the Sunday Telegraph article.

An opportunity for a legal practitioner working in non-government legal assistance services, or the broader not-for-profit sector, to complete a period of residency at the University of Sydney Law School.

With the support of the Kim Santow Law and Social Justice Fund, Sydney Law School offers frontline legal assistance lawyers an opportunity to be appointed as Social Justice Practitioner-in-Residence (SJPR). In that role, they will be able to reflect on their professional practice with the benefit of distance and time, to explore ways to improve their practice and/or the system within which they work and share their knowledge and insights more widely.

You are invited to apply if you are a legal practitioner who is employed in non-government legal assistance services (Family Advocacy and Support Services; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services; Community Legal Centres; Specialist domestic violence services and health justice partnerships; Family Relationship Centres; and Family Violence Prevention Legal Services) or in the provision of legal assistance services through the broader not-for-profit sector.

You are welcome to apply if you have been employed in non-government legal assistance services but are not in current or stable employment. You must have completed a law degree and have at least one year’s post-admission experience in Australia.

Read more

Hoarding and Squalor impacts approximately 6% of the Australian population and the impacts for people living in these environments can be catastrophic. Hoarding is characterised by the excessive acquisition of items and the level of distress associated with discarding, resulting in the accumulation of items to such an extent that it limits the person’s ability to use the rooms in their home for its intended use i.e. sleep in their bed, cook in their kitchen, having somewhere to sit and relax.

Hoarding is a complex mental health condition that is often misunderstood but is a form of crisis that without intervention, will continue to worsen over time. Due to the very nature of hoarding, it has many levels of risk, including the removal of children from unsafe premises, loss of tenancies, that can result in homelessness, fire, falls and trip hazards. As well, people can also be living in environments that have mould, (including black mould), mildew, vermin and insect infestation, as well as decomposing food items and in some cases, the hoarding of animals.

If you would like to know more about hoarding, please visit our website insideoutrecovery.com.au or give us a call on 0499 326 192 or send us an email to insideout.recovery@outlook.com

Supporting children and young people with disabilities in out-of-home care
28 February 2023
Children and young people with disabilities are overrepresented in out-of-home care (OOHC). This webinar will have a focus on the prevalence, characteristics and outcomes of children and young people with disabilities in OOHC and the support services available to them and their carers. The session will be chaired by Anne Campbell (Deputy Secretary, Strategy, Policy and Commissioning).
Register here

2023 NAIDOC Local Grants Opportunity
Close 17 February 2023
The 2023 NAIDOC Local Grants aims to assist with the cost of activities being held during NAIDOC Week 2023 (2 - 9 July) that celebrate First Nations’ histories, cultures, achievements and continuing contributions to our country and society. Activities should align with the 2023 National NAIDOC Week Theme For our Elders.
Read more

The Specialist DFV Programs National Open Grant
Close 23 February 2023
Applications are now open for a national grant round in partnership with the Australian Communities Foundation for specialist programs for key communities affected by domestic and family violence in Australia.
Read more

Return to Work Grant Program
No end date
The Return to Work Program is for women who have been unemployed for one month or more and intend to return to work as an employee within 6 months.
Read more