Federal budget news | DV funding win + more

16 May 2024

Federal Budget

The Australian Council of Social Service has released its analysis of the federal budget, calling it: “A budget that has diagnosed the right problems but has failed to deliver the solutions we need.”

It notes that the government has failed to take action on the housing crisis, at a time when there is huge demand for social housing. It has also denied giving one million Australians an increase to their JobSeeker or Youth Allowance payments, choosing to deliver tax cuts to the wealthy instead.

These budget measures do little to help lift people out of poverty and many people will continue to face rising living costs.

New Domestic Violence Funding

Domestic Violence NSW has welcomed the NSW Government’s announcement of $230 million in response to the family violence emergency happening across the state. DVNSW described it as a “positive and substantial first step” that listened to calls from frontline workers. Part of this emergency funding will expand the Staying Home Leaving Violence program across all local government areas in NSW, allowing 4200 extra women access to support every year.

DVNSW is continuing to call for an additional $54 million per annum for existing domestic and family violence refuges to ensure that no victim-survivors are turned away and an additional 7500 social and affordable homes each year.

Portable Long Service Leave Submission

Thank you to everyone who has contributed feedback to the portable long service leave scheme. NCOSS has now submitted a response that incorporates the comments we received. Scroll down to read our recommendations and find the link to the full submission on our website.

Thank you to all those who contributed to the NCOSS submission on the NSW Government's proposed portable long service leave scheme.

You can read the submission here. Our key recommendations were:

1. The administrative burden on NGOs should be reduced. The reporting obligations should balance the needs of the Long Service Corporation for timely information, with the administrative burden placed upon sector organisations. NCOSS recommended that the proposed frequency of the returns be reviewed.

2. The NSW Government must increase sector funding to cover the additional cost of the Portable Long Service Leave Scheme levy. We noted that a failure to cover the increased costs risks the sector’s ability to sustainably provide high-quality community services, which undermines the very purpose of the Portable Long Service Leave Scheme.

3. The transition period must include a substantial investment in awareness raising, education and transition support. Based on sector consultation, there are high levels of uncertainty regarding the day-to-day functioning of the Scheme. To respond to this, the Long Service Corporation must invest in a comprehensive awareness raising and education program for the sector. We noted that this will require targeted approaches for First Nations organisation as well as regional/rural/remote organisations and culturally and linguistically diverse organisations.

Please contact Ben McAlpine (Director – Policy and Advocacy) at ben@ncoss.org.au, should you have any questions.

NCOSS is holding an online learning session for the NSW budget on 3 June from 10.30am-12.00pm.

The NSW budget is the most important annual political, economic and social document in the state.

Advocating for appropriate budgets – and scrutinising what's delivered – are important parts of NCOSS' work. Join us online as Catherine McGovern, Principal, Evaluate Consulting, gives a primer as well as refresher on the NSW Budget process.

Who should attend?

NSW not-for-profit peak body/sector leaders and workers, and relevant stakeholders who work with and across the NSW social services sector.

Staff who would like an introduction or refresher to the NSW budget
Sector ‘experts’ who would like to contribute knowledge, questions and ‘tips’.

View details and RSVP here.

Monaro Family Support Service ran a one-day ‘disaster scenario’ workshop in Cooma on 2 May attended by 25 community organisations in the Snowy Monaro.

Participants considered their organisations’ capabilities, resources and needs to support the community through a bushfire disaster, and were able to connect with representatives from emergency service and government agencies.

Service providers identified their local networks and connections as powerful tools to reach and support disaster-affected community members.

The CSDC project is led by NCOSS in collaboration with AbSec, LCSA and local services such as Monaro Family Support Service. The project is jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Government through the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund.

Let’s Get Packing

Launched on Friday 29 April, Let’s Get Packing features Emergency Kits for display in libraries and at community events throughout the Snowy Monaro. Each display kit has a box with contents for a household evacuation kit or ’go bag’, including a radio, torch, first aid kit, packing list, hygiene items, as well as information regarding what should be packed and where to find further information.

Let’s Get Packing aims to prompt people to prepare and put together their own emergency kits. Supported by Snowy Monaro Council and Anglicare, Let’s Get Packing will also provide emergency kits to 20 households with additional needs or particularly vulnerable to disaster impacts.

The NSW Government is currently holding an inquiry into community safety in regional and rural communities. NCOSS is developing our submission in consultation with members.

Separately, NCOSS is part of the lead group working together with 12 other organisations and calling on the NSW government to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility in NSW from 10 to at least 14.

Raise the Age NSW has developed a submission, which we are inviting members to read and sign.
The deadline for signing on to this submission is May 20.

If your organisation is making your own submission, we encourage you to sign on to this one too. This submission is specifically about raising the age but the terms of reference for the inquiry are broad.

Finally, many NCOSS members have joined the Raise the Age NSW partner network. If you haven't already, you can join here.

If you have any questions about the submission or campaign to raise the age in NSW or would like more information, please contact Emily at emily@raisetheagensw.org.au.

Inner Sydney Voice have organised a social and community service worker recognition celebration event.

Let’s highlight the importance of your work during this cost of living and housing crisis – and celebrate the wonderful social and community services workers in Central, Eastern and Inner West of Sydney, who keep our communities well and connected, including: child, youth, family, community, domestic violence, aged care, homelessness support and refuge workers.

Refreshments, lucky door prizes, networking and more.

Tuesday 28 May 2024. 10am-12pm.

Click here to register.

Building on the inaugural NIDR Summit 2023, the NIDR Gathering 2024 is a multi-day immersive event showcasing Indigenous excellence and leadership in emergency and land management and disaster resilience across Australia.

This unique gathering will take place in Lismore, Bundjalung Country, and will bring together Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers, emergency management practitioners and agency executives to build awareness, share knowledge, connect and create and support an Indigenous-led conversation on disaster resilience.

Across the three days, guests will be invited to join keynote addresses, panel discussions, workshops and on Country activities, and will have the option of onsite camping.

24-26 September, Lismore Showgrounds.
Register here.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar has announced the Wiyi Yani U Thangani project has moved from the Australian Human Rights Commission into a new home at the Australian National University.

Now known as the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations Gender Justice, this multiyear systemic change project aims to capture and respond to the strengths, aspirations and challenges of First Nations women and girls.

Find out about their new institute and visit their website here.

The ACOSS Post Budget Event is the key annual event for civil society and the community services sector, providing a space for attendees to receive briefings on key budget measures and their likely impacts on people experiencing poverty and inequality.

The event will be addressed by Treasurer Jim Chalmers, followed by a comprehensive ACOSS analysis, closing with a panel discussion where speakers will share their expertise and perspectives on the Budget and economy.

Date: Fri 24th May 2024
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm AEST
Location: Aerial UTS Function Centre, Ultimo NSW 2007, Australia

Register now.

Movember’s Indigenous Men’s Wellbeing Innovation Initiative Grant

Closing Date: 31 May

Movember are seeking Expressions of Interest for the Indigenous Men’s Wellbeing Innovation Initiative, which will provide grant funding and capacity building opportunities to empower Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander-led organisations to develop, implement and evaluate innovative programs/interventions to improve Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander men’s social and emotional wellbeing.

For more information, please visit the grant information page.

The Ian Potter Foundation Community Wellbeing
Closing Date: 7 June

In the Community Wellbeing program area, the Foundation seeks to identify and support those organisations which have well thought out projects that seek to help vulnerable members of the community to overcome the challenging circumstances in which they find themselves.

The Foundation only considers grant applications for multi-year grants for a minimum of $100,000.

For more information, please visit the grant information page.

National Disability Conference Initiative
Closing Date: 20 May

This grant opportunity provides grants to conference organisers to assist people with disability to participate in nationally-focused, disability-related conferences held in Australia. Grants will support eligible conference organisers to provide accessibility measures that will maximise the inclusion and participation of people with disability at their conference.

For more information, please visit the grant information page.

Some of the latest from our Jobs Board:

Centre Coordinator - Bankstown Wellness Centre (Inner West Sydney) - Older Women's Network NSW - VIEW JOB

Burwood WDVCAS Hearing Support Worker (Inner West Sydney) - CABL - VIEW JOB

Community Support Worker (Western Sydney) - Auburn Asian Welfare Centre - VIEW JOB

Case Worker, Group Work Coordinator (South East Sydney) - Kingsway Care - VIEW JOB

Counsellor (Inner West Sydney) - Leichhardt Women's Community Health Centre - VIEW JOB

Playgroup Lead/Educator (Western Sydney) - Greenacre Area Community Centre - VIEW JOB

Community Services Worker AOD (Southern Highlands) - WHOS - VIEW JOB

Practice Lead, Advocacy Programs (Inner City Sydney) - Senior Rights Service - VIEW JOB