21 December 2023

Welcome to Cara Varian

As you would have seen on Monday, the NCOSS Board has announced the appointment of Cara Varian as the new CEO of NCOSS, who will commence in the role on Monday 29 January 2024. I’m very excited to welcome Cara to NCOSS and look forward to working with her to eradicate poverty and disadvantage in NSW!

Cara brings decades of experience across the not-for-profit, public service, political and corporate sectors. Cara has a deep understanding of the social services sector, joining us from education charity Harding Millier Education Foundation as its Founding Managing Director. Cara has transformed the Foundation over the past eight years from an idea into a charity that has delivered more than $20 million in scholarships to high potential Year 9 girls from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Cara has strong public policy skills and an in-depth understanding of the machinery of government, having worked in both the Federal and NSW Parliaments. She has been an adviser and Chief of Staff for Ministers and an Opposition Leader, demonstrating important negotiation and advocacy skills that will be of great benefit to NCOSS and its members.

In the announcement, Cara shared the following message: “I am thrilled to be joining and leading NCOSS in the new year. I am deeply committed to the values that the organisation represents including equity, justice, participation, and respect. I believe that these values are essential to creating a more just and equitable society for everyone in New South Wales. NCOSS plays an essential role in raising the voices of those members of our society who are often not invited to the decision-making table. Equally important is its duty to hold the NSW Government to account on matters that impact its members. I look forward to meeting the wonderful NCOSS members who dedicate their lives to helping others, and working with you to build upon the strong foundations of this effective and influential peak body.”   

Please join me in warmly welcoming Cara to this position.

Holiday shutdown period

The NCOSS office will be closed on December 25 and reopens on January 8. During this time, our team will be taking a well-deserved break.

Wishing you a relaxing close to 2023

This will be our last eNews for 2023 – another year which has been a hard slog for our sector and the individuals, families and communities we work with and for. The NCOSS team wishes you and your loved ones a relaxing end to 2023.

As a final note, I want you all to know that I, and the entire team at NCOSS, are fully committed to working towards our shared goal – a NSW free from poverty and disadvantage. We look forward continuing our work together next year.

See you in 2024!

Yesterday, we released our latest research – Beyond Roads and Bridges: Critical social infrastructure for South West Sydney. Undertaken for us by Impact Economics and Policy, the report reveals substantial investment is required by 2041, with South Western Sydney’s population expected to boom by 30 per cent.

The modelling shows by 2041 in South West Sydney there will be:

13,768 additional households facing severe rental stress
5,620 more women experiencing physical or sexual violence each year
1,728 children at risk of significant harm each year

To respond to this need, up to $3bn in additional funding for critical social infrastructure will be needed each year by 2041, including social housing, domestic and family violence supports, and community mental health supports.

NCOSS thanks Dr Angela Jackson and Brad Ruting for their high-quality work, all those peak organisations that provided input on the report, and the front-line organisations that provided important case studies. We will use this in the new year to advocate for significant investment in social infrastructure in South West Sydney, and across NSW. Without it, we risk entrenching deep poverty and disadvantage across the community.

You can read the coverage in the Sydney Morning Herald here

A new report released by NCOSS explores the impact of the Mirrung wellbeing hub located in Ashcroft Public School. Mirrung supports the education and wellbeing of children through an integrated whole-of-family approach, to allow students to achieve their learning potential regardless of their background.

Some of the ways Mirrung has supported students is by:

Providing NDIS-funded services onsite at school, so students can easily access therapies without missing school.
Offering after school programs in dance, sports, piano, science and creative arts,
Conducting wellbeing programs to build confidence of young people and support students experiencing anxiety
Supporting parents and carers in the school community through offering classes in conversational English, first aid, Zumba, painting, tenancy rights and parenting.

Leaders from other schools and the Department of Education have already shown significant interest in Mirrung’s evidence-based design and its progress so far.

Read the full report here.

Our NCOSS team was happy to join the Mirrung team at Ashcroft Public School to celebrate the end of the school year with a BBQ and concert. The pride students had in their school was evident as they performed songs and dances for their families. It was a great way to end the school year.

What is happening?

Membership underpins NCOSS’ success. If you look at our 2022/3 annual report NCOSS_AnnualReport-2022-2023 you’ll recognise the achievements and positive outcomes for the sector that are only possible because of our vibrant and diverse membership base.

In the coming year we want to consult members about:

What is working well?
What could be done differently or improved?
Membership fees and structure
The benefits and value of maintaining your membership.

How can I get involved?

We want to hear from everyone. We know how busy you all are, but please get involved if you can. You’ll be helping build a stronger NCOSS and a better understanding of what members value and want.

In phase one we will be seeking expressions of interest for participation in focus groups, and interviews.

In phase two we will test what we have learnt with surveys.

It would be great to hear from a wide range of members

When is this happening?

The consultations and surveys will happen in the first quarter of 2024; then presented to the Board for consideration and decision. Participate and ensure your voice is heard.

How can I find out more?

Information and dates will be circulated in 2024. We’ll keep you posted.

For more information contact David Gbogbo david@ncoss.org.au You can register your interest via the link here: membership-review-expression-of-interest.

Dates for FONGA (Forum of Non Government Agencies) meetings for 2024 are now set as follows:

Friday 2 February
Friday 5 April
Friday 7 June
Friday 2 August
Friday 4 October
Friday 29 November

FONGA is comprised of leaders of non-government organisations in the community and health sectors providing services to people experiencing disadvantage in NSW. Services represented include ageing, disability, youth, women, domestic violence, housing and justice. FONGA meetings offer an opportunity for information sharing, problem solving, innovation and collaboration on shared challenges across the sector and vulnerable communities.

Contact sarah@ncoss.org.au should you wish to receive calendar invitations with Zoom links for upcoming FONGA meetings.

Here's your chance to become someone's favourite person if you win not one, but TWO tickets to see Taylor Swift at her much-anticipated Australian leg of The Eras Tour in Sydney, 26th February. And as if that wasn't exciting enough you will also win an amazing spending spree with Westfield (think a new outfit, shoes and makeup for the big night and maybe a brand new sound system to listen to your favourite Taylor tunes) AND a fantastic $4240 gift card with Flight Centre. Use this to book your flights, accommodation and transport to travel in style to the concert - the choice is yours!

The raffle ends Sunday January 14 at 23:59am AEST. 100% of all raffle proceeds will go to supporting Women's Community Shelters. We work with local communities to provide emergency crisis accommodation and wrap-around support for women and children escaping homelessness, domestic and family violence.

Enter here: Raffle in support of Women’s Community Shelters | Women's Community Shelters (supporterhub.net)

In ACYP’s 2023 polling, cost of living became the number one issue for young people aged 10 to 24 years in NSW for the first time, with over a third (35%) mentioning this issue unprompted – up from just 4% in 2021. It is also the top issue that young people would like to see more support from Government.

Overall, more than 2,000 children and young people across NSW engaged in the project, with the report finding that children and young people are facing pressure to meet basic needs and make choices impacting their futures.

Across ACYP’s consultations, the key area that young people wanted government to focus its efforts on was housing. This referred to both supporting young people’s ability to buy their first home and reducing the cost of rent. ACYP’s polling also found that 76 per cent of young adults reported that the proportion of income they spent on housing had increased in the past 12 months.

Read the full report here: ACYP | Cost of Living Report (nsw.gov.au)

We could be in for one of the hottest summers on record. For people living in poorly designed
homes who aren’t able to run fans and air-conditioning that could mean that they’re facing indoor temperatures of over 45 degrees.

ACOSS is running a survey in partnership with the First Nations Clean Energy network capturing the impacts of heat on people experiencing financial stress, to form the basis of a national report and state and territory snapshots, to be shared with the media and politicians.

The survey results, the story telling and follow-up public engagement will help put pressure on governments to mandate minimum energy performance rental standards and increase funding to support deep retrofits (thermal efficiency, electrify and small-scale renewables) for low-income housing.

Take the survey here: https://efcee0ql45h.typeform.com/to/MAgsiBls

Seniors Rights Service has undertaken a research project; The Boarding House Project, to investigate and address the issues currently being faced by older people living in boarding houses across New South Wales.

With the limited statutory protections that exist for boarding house residents, it is imperative that this particularly vulnerable group of people are aware of their rights and responsibilities. Through The Boarding House Project, we aim to collaborate with other local stakeholders to engage with more boarding house residents to provide community legal education resources and seminars. Additionally, as we reach more boarding house residents, we aim to deliver free and confidential personalised casework, advocacy, and legal services.

We are looking to partner with local services to reach out to older people living in boarding houses across New South Wales in order to identify the main issues they are facing and to assist them to overcome such issues.

If you would like the Seniors Rights Service Boarding House Project to visit a local service near you, please call us on (02) 9281 3600 or 1800 424 079 or email our Boarding House Project Officer on lsaba@seniorsrightsservice.org.au.

Have an opinion on buses? The Bus Industry Taskforce would like to hear it.

The Bus Industry Taskforce is seeking feedback from bus users across the state to ensure that services better meet community needs.

Share your thoughts on what’s working or not working in your area:

Do you have access to bus services?
Would you like more bus services?
Are you currently catching a bus? If not, why not?
Are there barriers to you catching a bus e.g. there is no bus in your area?
What is your experience of buses so far?
Do you have an opinion on where bus stops are currently located?
Would you like the buses to come more frequently?

To provide your feedback, you can register to attend a Bus Passenger Forum in your local area, or visit haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/bus-industry-taskforce where you can complete an online survey or lodge a submission.

This page has translation capability and feedback can be submitted using a preferred language.

Your opinion is really important. Tell the Bus Industry Taskforce how to improve bus transport in your area.

The Heat and Health Research Incubator at The University of Sydney, in collaboration with community partners, have developed the HeatWatch app. The HeatWatch app allows users to estimate a personalised heat health risk. It also provides science-backed cooling strategies that are easily implementable. Its design and features are shaped by direct consultations with community members via focus groups, ensuring a user-friendly and practical tool for heatwave health risk management.

In recent times, heatwaves have become more intense, frequent, and prolonged — a trend that
will escalate in the foreseeable future. As NSW's population continues to grow and age, it is crucial
to safeguard the most vulnerable from the detrimental health effects of extreme heat, reinforcing
the importance of the HeatWatch application.

Download the HeatWatch app here: Home (sydney.edu.au)

Legal Empowerment Course for refugees, people seeking asylum and migrants
Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education
Western Sydney area
Free | Register here: Free Legal Empowerment Course (jotform.com)

The purpose is to empower multicultural communities in NSW by increasing their core legal knowledge and associated skills. The program also aims to foster integration and encourage the participants to advocate for their own rights and interests as well as pursue professional and personal goals, using the information and techniques they learn during the sessions.

The exact location, dates and time will be decided after consultation with the registered participants.

Diploma of Leadership and Management RPL workshop
Centre for Community Welfare Training
Tue 23 Apr - Tue 14 May 2024
Register at: https://www.ccwt.edu.au/course/BSB50420RPL

This nationally recognised qualification is for those who are managers/supervisors in community sector organisations.

There are twelve (12) units of competency needed to complete your Diploma of Leadership and Management. In the RPL Get Recognised workshop you will undertake 10 units, including the 6 core units that must be done. You will then select 2 units to undertaken as electives.

Gambling Harm Minimisation
Centre for Community Welfare Training
Wed 13 March, 2024
Register at https://www.ccwt.edu.au/course/CLNT400

The NSW Office of Responsible Gambling are collaborating with the Centre for Community Welfare Training (CCWT) to offer specialised gambling harm minimisation training for social workers, counsellors, and other community sector workers.

The course is 3.5-hour online workshop that aims to provide participants with strategies for working with clients who are experiencing negative impacts from gambling.

Organisations who are interested in arranging specific sessions for larger groups are welcome to contact me directly, or you may reach out to Jen Reid at CCWT: jen@acwa.asn.au. We are both eager to discuss how we can tailor this training to meet your unique needs and those of the communities you serve.

Families with Children & Centrelink – online training
Welfare Rights Centre
Tuesday 6th February 2024, 2.00 – 4.00pm AEDT
Free| Register here: https://welfarerightscentre.org.au/civicrm/event/info/?reset=1&id=8

This session will outline Centrelink payments targeting families with children, including Parenting Payment, Family Tax Benefit, Parental Leave Pay, Dad and Partner Pay, Carer Payment and Child Care Subsidy.

We will explain how people needing further support may access a Centrelink Social Worker, and what they can do if a claim is rejected, payment is stopped, or a debt is raised.

Centrelink Debts – online training
Welfare Rights Centre
Thursday 7th March, 2024, 2.00 – 4.00pm AEDT
Free| Register here: https://welfarerightscentre.org.au/civicrm/event/info/?reset=1&id=9

This session is designed to provide practical information for community workers and volunteers wanting to assist clients with Centrelink debt matters. We will cover how to appeal decisions that are incorrect or seem unfair, and the type of circumstances in which a debt can be waived. They will also address negotiating repayments, garnishee actions, possible criminal prosecution, and more.

SilverChef Community Grants Program
Closing Date: 31 March 2024

The SilverChef Community Grants Program is open to eligible Australian community groups that use hospitality or food services to help disadvantaged or under-served members of their local community.

Each quarter we invite eligible community groups — specifically those who use hospitality to support disadvantaged or under-served communities — to apply for grants of $5,000 each.