ACT Council of Social Service Inc.

Annual Report 2012-13

ACT Council of Social Service Inc. (ACTCOSS).............................................3Acknowledgement of traditional custodians................................................3Vision..........................................................................................................3Values.........................................................................................................3Goals..........................................................................................................3About ACTCOSS........................................................................................42012-13 highlights.......................................................................................4

President’s report..............................................................................................6

Director’s report................................................................................................7

ACTCOSS staff..................................................................................................9Our evolving staff team...............................................................................9

Advocacy.........................................................................................................11Housing & homelessness.........................................................................11Justice & corrections.................................................................................12Social determinants of health....................................................................12Poverty & exclusion..................................................................................13National engagement................................................................................14

Reconciliation..................................................................................................16Gulanga Program......................................................................................16Reconciliation Action Plans.......................................................................17Development of protocols for working with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples & communities...............................................................17National & local events.............................................................................18

Sector development........................................................................................19Sector sustainability..................................................................................19Training & development............................................................................20Home and Community Care (HACC)........................................................21

Membership engagement...............................................................................23Publications & information sharing............................................................23Input to advocacy......................................................................................23

ACTCOSS biennial conference 2012: Vision, Values, Votes....................24ACT Community Sector Awards 2012......................................................25Member survey.........................................................................................25Strategic Plan renewal..............................................................................27

Publications & media 2012-13........................................................................28Publications...............................................................................................28Comments, submissions & policy statements...........................................28Newsletters...............................................................................................29Media releases..........................................................................................29Media outlets.............................................................................................29

Networks, working groups and seminars.....................................................30ACTCOSS committees, advisory groups & networks...............................30Auspices...................................................................................................30COSS network..........................................................................................30ACTCOSS seminars & workshops...........................................................31

Gulanga Program.............................................................................31Building Better Boards: The ACTCOSS Governance Workshop Program............................................................................................32Home and Community Care.............................................................32

ACTCOSS forums.....................................................................................32External committees & forums..................................................................32

ACTCOSS General Committee.......................................................................36

ACTCOSS members 2012-13..........................................................................38Member Organisations..............................................................................38Affiliate Members......................................................................................42Associate Members..................................................................................42

ISBN 978-1-921651-76-2 (electronic version)

© ACT Council of Social Service Inc. 2013

This work is copyright. Apart from use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without the prior written permission of the ACT Council of Social Service Inc. Requests and inquiries should be addressed to:

1/6 Gritten Street, Weston ACT 2611Ph: 02 6202 7200Fax: 02 6288 0070Email: actcoss@actcoss.org.auWebsite: www.actcoss.org.au

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ACT Council of Social Service Inc. (ACTCOSS)

Acknowledgement of traditional custodiansACTCOSS acknowledges Canberra has been built on the land of the Ngunnawal people. We pay respect to their Elders and recognise the strength and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and their ongoing contributions to the ACT community.

VisionTo live in a fair and equitable community that respects and values diversity and actively encourages collaborations that promote justice, equity, and social inclusion.

ValuesACTCOSS is committed to operating in a way that reflects its values and underpinning principles. These include a commitment to:

A human rights approach

A social justice framework

Social inclusion and participation

Reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Collaborative and collective action

Sustainability

Goals A community in which all people have the opportunities and resources

needed to participate in and benefit from social and economic life

A dynamic, collaborative and viable community sector

A well governed and managed peak body, representing a strong and diverse membership, and actively engaged with the groups we represent

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About ACTCOSSThe ACT Council of Social Service Inc. (ACTCOSS) is the peak representative body for both community organisations providing services and support for low-income households and for people experiencing disadvantage in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). ACTCOSS has been a voice for the ACT Community since 1963. The role of ACTCOSS is to:

Provide a voice for and with people living with disadvantage and inequality

Make explicit and pursue a social justice agenda by leading policy research and advocacy

Undertake community sector support and development for a professional and influential community sector that is undergoing significant reform

ACTCOSS is a membership-based organisation, with a diverse membership that includes other peak bodies, advocacy and consumer groups, service providers, mutual support and self-help groups as well as individuals who share our vision and values.

ACTCOSS is a member of the nationwide network of Councils of Social Service (COSS), that includes each of the state and territory Councils and the national body, the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS).

Strategic direction and corporate governance of ACTCOSS is provided by the General Committee comprised of respected leaders from our membership. The staff are drawn from a wide range of backgrounds and contribute their skills and knowledge to the social policy and sector development work of ACTCOSS. This work is also sustained by the talents, expertise and commitment of numerous community-based networks.

ACTCOSS receives the largest proportion of our funding from the ACT Government Community Services Directorate (CSD). The Gulanga Program receives funding under the National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA), which is jointly funded by the ACT Government and Australian Government. We also receive funding from ACT Health to support organisations and workers who provide services under the ACT Home and Community Care Program (HACC) which is a joint Commonwealth and State/Territory program.

Our advocacy and sector development are supported by financial and in-kind support from members, individual supporters and private sector organisations that share our vision and values.

2012-13 highlightsHighlights during 2012 -13 include:

Provision of 17 reports, submissions and publications

Building advocacy partnerships across gender-specific and specialist trauma services in

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relation to funding cuts to housing and homelessness services

Advocacy to improve human rights and social outcomes in the justice and corrections systems

Running the biennial ACTCOSS conference ‘Vision, Values, Votes’

Expansion of our membership engagement strategy

Development of resources to support community organisations to respond better to the needs and expectations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

The rollout of increased individual consultancy to support community sector organisations with governance and strategic planning

Refresh of corporate governance training to align with the requirements of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, members’ needs and best practice

Revision of the ACT Social Compact together with the Joint Community Government Reference Group

Increased public profile including through broadcast media and building our social media engagement

Building our partnership with Jobs Australia

Completing the Pre-qualification framework which enables ACTCOSS to continue to receive and seek Community Services Directorate funding

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President’s reportJenny Kitchin, Director of Community Services, Anglicare ACT

It is a great honour and privilege to be sitting in the President’s seat for the 50th year of operation for ACTCOSS. I have been on the General Committee at various times over the past 25 years and have seen not only the organisation go through many changes but also the community sector. In all its permutations and challenges ACTCOSS has survived and thrived as an agency strongly advocating for its members and the community sector more broadly.

Our new Director, Susan Helyar, has continued with the comprehensive and far reaching work of Ros Dundas who left us at the end of 2013. Susan has a high profile with the ACT government working in partnership on community sector reform projects and changes to funding programs. In a short time her views have become actively sought by both bureaucrats and Ministers. Concurrently she has also been a solid advocate for both citizens and organisations in the areas of housing, income support, pay equity and community transport. Likewise, the media continues to see the Director as a key source of valuable commentary, enabling ACTCOSS to have a strong public voice on many issues.

ACTCOSS has been a key player in the ongoing development of the Community Sector Leaders Forum which has and continues to bring 40-50 leaders of community sector agencies together to hear about and discuss strategic issues facing the sector, e.g. values of profit versus not-for-profit agencies; the future of the community sector; the pros and cons of collaboration; and financing for social innovation. ACTCOSS has picked up on a number of these areas to follow up with specific training and seminars, always seeking to further strengthen capacity in the sector.

Engaging the membership has been and will continue to be a focus of ACTCOSS’ thinking as we grapple with how to utilise the expertise of our consumers and agencies. Our policy forums, training sessions, information seminars, newsletters and regular notices have attracted varying levels of involvement and interest. We believe there are far more ideas and input we can harness which we will continue to find ways of seeking.

The President’s work can only be done with an active General Committee and I thank the members, both current and outgoing, for their input, expertise and wisdom. In addition I would like to thank the Executive team who have been a wonderfully competent team from which Susan and I can draw advice. I also want to thank the staff for their tireless, quality work behind the scenes which has led to excellent publications, submissions, policy development and hosting of events.

Lastly ACTCOSS wants to thank all the workers in services across the community for the wonderful work you do; and for consumers for the experiences you share with us, which constantly drive us to try and do things better and differently.

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Director’s reportSusan Helyar, Director, ACT Council of Social Service Inc.

In 2013 ACTCOSS marks fifty years of bringing people across Canberra together to advocate for social justice in our city and our nation. The staff team continue to build ACTCOSS’ proud record of sharing hard truths about the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable Canberrans, advocating to decision makers in government, in services, in the business sector and in the community more broadly to pay attention to the concerns we raise, and building the strength, capacity and connectedness of organisations that support people all over our city to live life with dignity.

This year could be described as one of continuity through change, with many fond farewells and warm welcomes. Through significant leadership changes, the General Committee and the staff team have kept ACTCOSS functioning well—progressing key pieces of work, sustaining our engagement with members and supporting new team members to settle into their roles. Thank you.

This year has also been one of renewal. We renewed our primary funding agreement and began the journey towards outcomes-based funding arrangements, away from activity-based requirements. We revised our ACT Budget analysis report and forum. We consulted with members about renewal of the ACTCOSS Strategic Plan. We reviewed our communications with members, embedded a new management team and refreshed our suite of training and development resources.

There have been many challenges facing community sector organisations—providers, consumer groups, peaks and citizen associations—over the past twelve months. All our member organisations, as diverse and unique as they are, face an operating environment that is complex. Many organisations have limited capacity to deal proactively with the global, national and local factors that are driving change. Our advocacy related to operations of community-managed organisations continues to be a vital part of our agenda. We maintain this focus because we believe community-managed organisations provide essential and unique mechanisms for people to come together to express their views, share their concerns, have their needs met and articulate their aspirations for the future. It is vital we support these organisations to maintain their strength and relevance in a changing environment and grow their role in building our community, in political debate and in the economic life of Canberra.

We have also had many things to celebrate in 2012-13. We saw many of the advocacy priorities outlined in our Election Strategy and Budget Submission adopted by the new government elected in October 2012. Our conference was described by members as the best ever. We secured funding to extend the work of the Gulanga Program. We saw funds flowing to organisations with the lowest wages to support implementation of the Equal Remuneration Order that recognised the work of staff in the sector had been undervalued. We supported preparation in the ACT for the launch of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. We have expanded partnerships with peak bodies, members and sponsoring organisations.

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This annual report provides clear evidence that over the last twelve months we have successfully strengthened our foundations and are well placed to sustain and expand our work on behalf of our members and community.

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ACTCOSS staffDirector:

Susan Helyar (from Feb 2013)

Roslyn Dundas (until Dec 2012)

Deputy Director:

Wendy Prowse (from Apr 2013)

Kiki Korpinen (until Apr 2013)

Gulanga Program:

Keith Brandy

Julie Butler

Policy & Sector Development:

Adele Williams (until Jun 2013)

Nadia Osman

Natalie Oliver (until Sep 2012)

Mike Duval-Stewart (Nov 2012-Mar 2013)

Project Officers:

Julia Gilchrist (from May 2013)

Admir Meko (from Apr 2013)

Organisational Services:

Lisa Wells

Suzanne Richardson

Our evolving staff teamIn December 2012, Roslyn Dundas moved on from her role as Director to take up a role in a national peak body. Susan was very grateful Ros returned to ACTCOSS when she started in February 2013 to provide advice and guidance. Kiki Korpinen, Deputy Director, filled the role of Director for several months, nurtured the staff team and advised the General Committee through the transition period between Directors. Kiki too provided valuable advice and guidance to Susan as she took up her role. In April 2013 Kiki moved to the Deputy CEO role in the Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service. This move recognised Kiki’s leadership of reconciliation work in ACTCOSS and the sector more widely. We value our continued professional engagement with Kiki in her new role. Wendy Prowse joined ACTCOSS in April 2013 in a temporary

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role initially, and was appointed Deputy Director in July 2013. We also enjoyed welcoming two project officers to our team, Julia Gilchrist and Admir Meko, who worked with us during this critical lead-up time to launch the National Disability Insurance Scheme in the ACT in 2014.

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Advocacy

Housing & homelessnessAffordable housing and homelessness services have continued to be a key policy and advocacy issue for ACTCOSS over the past 12 months. Key submissions during this time include:

A submission on the Homelessness Bill 2012 (August 2012)

A joint submission with ACT Shelter and

Youth Coalition in response to the Housing

ACT Operational Guidelines Review

(September 2012)

Comment on the Review of Current Homelessness Costing Structure: Proposing Alternative Costing Model Options Consultation Paper (December 2012)

A submission on the Letters of Offer to Non-Government Providers of Housing and Homelessness Support Services (June 2013)

ACTCOSS knows that more can be done to reduce homelessness. Our advocacy has focused on the need for a whole-of-government approach to reduce poverty, improve access to affordable housing and support to organisations working with people living with domestic violence, mental health and alcohol and drug problems with a key focus on prevention, early intervention, effective crisis response and support for recovery.

A number of ACTCOSS members were affected by the reduced Commonwealth National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA) funding to the ACT, especially gender and trauma-specific services. A key part of our response to these funding cuts was analysis of the cuts on access to, and quality of, services for women and children leaving violence.

Reducing homelessness and increasing access to affordable housing will improve social outcomes in many domains. As we said in our submission on funding cuts through NAHA:

Properly funding the housing and homelessness support system is a social justice issue. In a city as wealthy as Canberra it is unacceptable that we have around 1785 people who do not have a home to call their own. Homelessness is profoundly damaging to mental and physical health and to a person’s life chances. Well-resourced homelessness support services that can respond well to diverse causes and impacts of homelessness can support people to transform their lives for the better, and in turn transform our city into a place where everyone has the right and the opportunity to live a life of safety, dignity, respect and fulfilment.

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Justice & correctionsACTCOSS has continued to play a key role and maintain a high level of engagement on justice and corrections issues. This year has seen a number of key successes such as the rollout of the Throughcare Program which commenced in April 2013 and effective advocacy following the submission on the Human Rights Audit of Conditions of Detention of Women at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (October 2012). We have valued our dialogue with the Aboriginal Justice Centre on how to work collectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on reducing over-representation in the justice system.

ACTCOSS worked with two other peak organisations (the Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drug Association (ATODA), and the Mental Health Community Coalition ACT (MHCC)) and consulted with the Chair of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body to provide a submission on the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs Inquiry into the Value of a Justice Reinvestment Approach to Criminal Justice in Australia (March 2013). The submission strongly recommended adoption of a justice reinvestment approach in reform of criminal justice and social service funding arrangements and encouraged use of the ACT as a trial site.

We argued this approach would reduce human and financial costs in the community and improve outcomes for people at risk of entering, or with a history of involvement in, the justice system by:

Intervening early to address the social determinants of offending behaviours

Reducing imprisonment rates and the growth of prison population (including, and particularly for, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population)

Increasing public safety

Reducing expenditure on prisons

Reinvesting savings in measures that help to achieve the preceding aims

We also commented on the Strategic Framework for the Management of Blood-Borne Viruses in the Alexander Maconochie Centre 2012-2014 (October 2012).

ACTCOSS has continued our partnerships through the Community Integration Governance Group (CIGG), ACT Court Stakeholder Forum Meetings and Crime Prevention and Community Safety Forum Meetings.

Social determinants of healthThe social determinants of health (SDoH), as identified by the World Health Organisation, are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. These conditions are shaped by broader social, political, cultural, environmental and economic factors including the distribution of power and resources at local, national and global levels. The SDoH approach to policy

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acknowledges the role external factors such as employment, education, housing, transport and social inclusion have on one’s health.

Throughout the year ACTCOSS has remained engaged and has continued to use the framework of SDoH in our policy advocacy. In October 2012, ACTCOSS submitted a joint response as part of the COSS Network on the submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs on Australia’s domestic response to the WHO Commission on Social Determinants of Health report ‘Closing the gap within a generation’. In this submission we stated that:

We believe Australia requires an approach to health that starts where health starts, not just where it ends. Socially, economically and environmentally responsible public policy and action by government, community and private sectors underpins our health and well-being. Reducing poverty and inequality so that all individuals and communities can participate in and benefit from social and economic life improves health and wellbeing for everyone.

In 2012-13 we began a more detailed conversation with ACT Medicare Local, with the aim of building a stronger partnership around delivering better primary health care to people in the ACT who are disadvantaged and vulnerable.

ACTCOSS has been involved in a number of networks and forums that contribute to our understanding and engagement in health advocacy, including the ACT Medicare Local Population Health Reference Group, the ACT Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Strategy Evaluation Group, Canberra Living Conditions Sector Development Working Group and Forum which is focused on the issue of hoarding and squalor, Volunteering ACT’s Inclusive Volunteer Program Working Group, and the ACT Mental Health Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention, Implementation and Evaluation Working Group (PPEIIEWG).

Poverty & exclusionPoverty and exclusion are both a cause and consequence of disadvantage and vulnerability. ACTCOSS has maintained our long engagement in local and national public discussion about these issues.

This year the ACT began implementation of a comprehensive tax reform agenda that picked up on many of the recommendations about state, territory and local government tax reform from the Henry Tax Review of 2010. ACTCOSS welcomed this decision, because:

Building a sustainable revenue base for the ACT Government will enhance the capacity of the ACT to meet community needs now and in the future

Improving the redistributive capacity of the tax system should contribute to reducing the tax burden on lower-income households and sharing the wealth that is generated in our economy

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Shifting revenue collection away from transactions and focused instead on generating revenue from wealth creation will make the tax system more fair

Reducing levies on essential goods and services should cut the costs of living—for example, removing the levy on insurance premiums will contribute to improving the affordability of risk protection

The Spring edition of the ACTCOSS newsletter was framed around the topic of Poverty with a particular focus on:

The challenges that 30 per cent of families who are in the lowest income quintile face if they need to raise $2000 for an emergency

Factors that contribute to creating and continuing poverty such as poor health, unaffordable and inappropriate housing and not completing education

The impact of unemployment and/or limited income

The household stress that occurs from low income households paying high utility costs

ACTCOSS participated in a number of events during Anti-Poverty Week including the major event held at the Press Club in which the major political parties outlined ‘What we all need to do to make this community free of poverty’.

Another important event during Anti-Poverty Week was the launch of the ACTCOSS Cost of Living Report. Costs of living are a concern for many people, but we know that most households in Canberra have enjoyed increased income that outstrips increases in costs of living. The ACTCOSS report focused on the disproportionate impact of costs of non-discretionary expenses such as housing, utilities, food, transport and health care in households in the bottom 40 per cent income quintiles. We paid particular attention to the pressures that many Canberrans face who live on inadequate income support payments, especially people who are studying, unemployed and single parents.

This report has provided a firm foundation for advocacy throughout 2012-13, and has informed media commentary, policy analysis and responses to emerging social and economic issues.

National engagementSo many of the causes of poverty and inequality relate to Federal Government responsibilities. The COSS Network brings together the Council of Social Service organisations operating in every state and territory across Australia to advocate collectively for the social and economic reforms that will reduce poverty and inequality. Over this year work has focused on the campaign to raise the Newstart and Youth Allowances, and speaking out against reduced income support for single parents and their children, so people out of work can access the resources they need put a roof over their heads, feed and clothe themselves, and get around as they try and find paid work. We also

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collaborated on developing the ACOSS Federal election campaign, including ‘key asks’ that should be undertaken within the first 100 days of the new government.

The COSS Network has: maintained a strong national presence on issues such as housing and homelessness, tax reform, cost of living, an increase in the Newstart Allowance, and the impact of climate change on the vulnerable and disadvantaged; facilitated information about the ACNC and NDIS; and promoted the Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as our first peoples.

The collective voice of the COSS Network continues to highlight the persistent problem identified in the ACOSS Poverty in Australia research published in October 2012. This research found that 12.8 per cent of Australians are living below the internationally accepted poverty line. Some key statistics from this research are:

Over a third (37 per cent) of people whose main income is social security are living below the poverty line, including 52 per cent of people in households on Newstart Allowance

Two thirds of people on Newstart Allowance have been unemployed for more than a year

There are almost 600,000 children living in families below the poverty line

14 per cent of women were below the poverty line compared to 12 per cent of men

26 per cent of adults living in households below the 50 per cent poverty line came from a non-English speaking country

The reports and submissions provided and supported by the COSS Network identify the continued need to advocate that everyone be afforded the basic human right of an adequate standard of living.

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Reconciliation

Gulanga ProgramThe word ‘Gulanga’ is derived from the Ngunnawal language and means ‘we too, including you’. The Gulanga Program continues to build as a centre of excellence promoting reconciliation. It has continued to provide support to ACT community organisations and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers in the sector.

The Gulanga Program has provided regular training around Aboriginal Culture, History and Heritage delivered by Kerry Reid-Gilbert (Kuracca Consultancy) and Appreciation of Torres Strait Islander Cultural Awareness delivered by Benny Hodges (Wis-Wei Consulting).

In response to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment Seminar held in April 2012, the Gulanga Program developed a set of six good practice information sheets on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander recruitment and retention, and to complement this has now developed training sessions on the Recruitment and Retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, and also Racism in the Workplace. These have been very favourably received.

The training offered complements the Cultural Awareness Self-Assessment Toolkit (CASAT) for community organisations which is a key component of the Gulanga Program. The CASAT continues to be a popular resource. It was downloaded from the ACTCOSS website over 200 times this year. Organisations can receive support from the Gulanga team to implement the CASAT within their workplace and also have access to the CASAT Examples of Good Practice/Areas of Improvement which assists agencies to identify areas for improvement. The CASAT is also presented as part of the quality improvement training on Raising the Standard which is part of the ACTCOSS sector development program.

During NAIDOC Week ACTCOSS invited community service organisations to participate in a survey on ‘What does reconciliation mean to your workplace?’ Seventeen responses were received with Woden Community Service providing the winning entry, receiving a basket of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resources.

We have valued our dialogue with Reconciliation Australia this past year, in which we have explored opportunities to share development of reconciliation resources and support to the community sector.

The ATSIComSec Network, which has 43 members, meets bi-monthly and provides a peer-support and information-sharing forum for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers employed in the community sector. The meetings include guest speakers, presentations from workers and networking. The email component of the network continues to provide regular information to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Network members.

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The Gulanga Program is jointly funded by the Community Services Directorate (via the National Affordable Housing Agreement) and ACTCOSS self-generated funding. The success of the program has been recognised by the Children, Young People and Families Program in the Community Services Directorate who will be providing funding for the program to expand into this sector as of July 2013. ACTCOSS welcomes this recognition and looks forward to growing the Gulanga Program across the community sector.

Reconciliation Action PlansACTCOSS continued to focus on strengthening our own engagement and reconciliation practices with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, individuals and organisations including the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body. These relationships, along with the work we carried out collaboratively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, add enormously to our understanding of community needs and expectations, our analysis of social and economic policy and our advocacy messages. We thank all organisations and individuals for their generosity in sharing their knowledge.

ACTCOSS has also been steadily been working through our 2010-13 Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). We have made some progress towards the goals we set and in the second half of 2013 will begin development of our second generation RAP.

ACTCOSS has worked alongside a number of organisations to overcome the causes of division and inequality between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and others in the ACT, including through the use of the Cultural Awareness Self-Assessment Toolkit. We also facilitated a number of sessions for the Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug sector around reconciliation, workforce, recruitment and cultural awareness.

Development of protocols for working with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples & communitiesAt the ACTCOSS conference we hosted a plenary workshop on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander engagement. This hands-on workshop investigated how community organisations can better engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers, workers, and communities. After presentations from Brendan Church (Aboriginal Justice Centre, and ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body), and Paula McGrady-Swan (Nguru Program Coordinator, Canberra Rape Crisis Centre), we undertook a world-café-style dialogue in groups to explore our challenges and ideas. This workshop affirmed the need for, and fed into, the development of protocols for working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.

The aim of the protocols development process was to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to put forward their views on effective and appropriate engagement, rather than governments and non-Aboriginal and

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Torres Strait Islander peoples stating how they will engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

ACTCOSS worked with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community organisations and individual members of ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to draft the protocols. Kim Davison (Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation) and Diane Collins (ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body) successfully guided the process, ensuring content development and feedback from community and individual stakeholders was carefully documented and accurately reflected in the protocols tool. The writing up of the protocols was provided by ACTCOSS with ongoing support from Kiki Korpinen through the compilation of numerous draft versions.

The draft protocols were sent to the Secretariat to the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body for their consideration.

National & local eventsACTCOSS supported Relationships Australia to provide training opportunities specifically designed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers. In April, Raven Sinclair (Gordon First Nations, Southern Saskatchewan, Canada) presented on accountability as a paradigm for effective cross cultural communication, as well as discussing the notion of ‘presence’ as a self-care strategy. In June, Barbara Wingard (Dulwich Centre Foundation) presented on lateral violence.

Staff at ACTCOSS participated in a number of events during NAIDOC Week and Sorry Day, including the Bridge Walk. We have used our social media platforms and weekly e-notices to promote and support engagement in the Recognise Campaign, encouraging all Australians to support Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Since 2006 ACTCOSS has sponsored the NAIDOC award for the Canberra and District Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Sector Worker of the Year. The award recognises workers who are providing links between their organisation and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, or who have supported Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through their work in the community sector.

ACTCOSS congratulates Harold Chatfield as the 2012 NAIDOC Canberra and District Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Worker of the Year. Harold has been a resident of the ACT for over 20 years and is a key member of the Street to Home Program which is run through the St Vincent de Paul Society. Congratulations Harold, we all appreciate the important work that you do.

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Sector developmentThe past 12 months have seen significant changes in service provision and policy reforms at both a territory and national level. ACTCOSS believes that we have an important role in shaping the social service system that operates in our city and region, and service providers need support to respond to consumer expectations, maintain current levels of service provision and to evolve to meet increasing demand and complexity of needs.

Sector sustainabilityACTCOSS continues to play a key role working with consumer groups, service providers and government to identify risks to the sustainability of services provided to the community and respond to emerging needs. Peak bodies are uniquely placed to provide information, that government would otherwise be unable to access, about the positive and negative impacts of the changing environment on the strength and capability of the service systems which people in Canberra value and rely on.

ACTCOSS has been working with organisations and government around the critical need to invest in resources that assist both service providers and service users to operate effectively in the rapidly changing environment. ACTCOSS continues to advocate and work with both government and non-government funders to reduce unnecessary administrative, reporting and compliance tasks that take resources away from assisting our community.

The community sector has been investing its own funds through the Community Sector Reform fund and ACTCOSS has played a key role working alongside government to ensure the benefits from this investment will be realised for contributing organisations, and be sustained well into the future.

In May 2012 The Social Compact, which is the relationship framework between the ACT Government and community sector, was revised through the Joint Community Reference Group (JCGRG) and launched. A commitment was made by both sectors to work collaboratively to achieve common goals using this framework. In January 2013, ACTCOSS and the Community Services Directorate piloted a training program to inform workers across both sectors about the importance of the principles outlined in The Social Compact. Since then the training program has been revised and will be implemented further in the coming year.

ACTCOSS has taken a leadership role in the Joint Community Government Reference Group, with the Director as co-chair in 2012 and Darlene Cox (in her role of Vice-President) being co-chair in 2013. We have worked with the JCGRG on revising its Terms of Reference to sharpen and strengthen its work to promote effective relationships across government and the community sector.

Through the Community Sector Reform Advisory Group, we have advocated for public sector reform that will enhance consistency of administrative processes

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across portfolios, match compliance to risk, get rid of duplication in delivery of data, and reduce unnecessary reporting. We have supported the work of the team in the Community Services Directorate who have facilitated dialogue with the sector on red tape reform and led collaboration with the Federal Government on harmonising legislation across jurisdictions. In the coming year we look forward to this investment of time and resources delivering real improvements in public sector administration.

The Community Sector Reform Levy of 0.34 per cent on all CSD funding agreements has created a pool of funds to support development of resources that will be made available to community organisations to access consultancy support and other resources to build the strength and resilience of their organisation through this significant period of changes in regulatory settings and funding arrangements. ACTCOSS has worked hard to ensure these funds are used effectively. We have also pushed for transparent reporting back to the contributing organisations on the allocation of these funds. In the coming year we will continue to work as closely as we can with government to ensure a good return to the community of this investment in sector development.

Training & developmentThe community sector is incredibly diverse in size, capacity, capability and service models. ACTCOSS is proud to work alongside organisations of all sizes, from the very large to the very small. ACTCOSS has provided individual consultancy, group seminars and individually tailored training to our members and other community organisations over the past year. There has been a growing demand for individual consultancy around governance, risk management, business and strategic planning, change management, conflict resolution and quality improvement.

ACTCOSS continued to deliver regular training on building cultures of continuous quality improvement, using two tools developed for the ACT community sector—Raising the Standard and the Cultural Awareness Self-Assessment Toolkit. Our governance training was delivered in group sessions and via individually-tailored workshops for boards and management committees. We have also provided one-on-one consultancy sessions for member organisation CEOs to work through specific issues and challenges.

ACTCOSS develops our learning and development calendar around the needs of the sector and over the past year has offered training on human rights and public authorities, professional boundaries, working with vulnerable people, managing change (in partnership with Jobs Australia) and working with the Trans and Intersex community (in partnership with A Gender Agenda).

The Human Resource Network is a face-to-face quarterly meeting facilitated by ACTCOSS. The network provides an opportunity to discuss shared interests and to work together around key challenges such as sector reforms and the building of human capital within organisations. The generosity of members to share systems and resources is to be congratulated as this will continue to build the capacity and capability of the sector.

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Over the past year, 121 organisations accessed sector development activities provided by ACTCOSS with evaluations informing us that 98 per cent of respondents rated overall satisfaction of excellent or good and 2 per cent of respondents rated overall satisfaction as neutral.

Home and Community Care (HACC)ACTCOSS has continued to work with the Home and Community Care sector (HACC), facilitating and providing secretariat support for HACC Network and Working Group meetings throughout the year. The monthly network meetings continue to be a very successful forum with attendance growing year on year and averaging 25 people per event. A special thank you to all the members on the HACC Working Group who provide their ideas and support to make the networks such a success and also the to the community service organisations who so kindly offer to host networking meetings.

ACTCOSS has worked closely with executives, management and frontline workers to identify key concerns and risks to continuity and viability of service options for older people and people living with disabilities in the ACT. One particular event was a planning day in 2012 which identified key issues such as:

Flexibility in service delivery to ensure clients don’t fall through the gaps during this transitional phase

Strategies to capture data on clients who are outliers of the new service framework to inform future service provision

Enhanced collaboration and partnerships between services

Information on consumer directed care models

Exploring new business models

Recruitment and retention of staff

Flexibility and compliance in relation to the funding allocation split to services that support people over and under 65 years old

ACTCOSS has coordinated information forums on recruitment and retention, consumer directed care and bariatric care. A project was undertaken around improving the linkages between hospital social workers and HACC services to address gaps in communication, barriers to accessing services and continuity of care between the health care sector and community sector. Our aim was to reduce the risk of frail older people and people living with disabilities being discharged from hospital without proper support.

In May 2013 ACTCOSS facilitated a HACC Executive Forum with leaders from the ACT HACC and Disability Sector. This forum identified concerns that needed to be raised with the Commonwealth and ACT Government related to implementation of both the Living Longer Living Better and National Disability Insurance Scheme policy and funding reforms, such as:

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The need for consistency of ACT/Commonwealth administrations processes

Better communication with service providers including timely feedback on the data reported to funding bodies

Flexibility of use of resources across over/under 65s, with a differentiated approach across the three years of transition to the new frameworks with an aim of accurate funding and service targets by 2015

These key messages have been shared with our non-government advocacy colleagues working with the Federal Government on disability and aged care reform. We continue to work with the ACT Government to facilitate engagement of Commonwealth officials regarding these issues.

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Membership engagement

Publications & information sharingWe continue to review and improve our membership services, and have reorganised the timing and focus of communications with ACTCOSS members, to increase opportunities for feedback and advice on ACTCOSS activities and member experiences. We continue to publish the weekly ACTCOSS notices via email and have over 1000 subscribers. Our e-notices provide an important platform for sharing what ACTCOSS is working on and offering our members, for seeking input to our advocacy and sector development work, and keeping our readers informed about what is available in terms of learning and development, research and collaboration.

Our quarterly newsletter the ACTCOSS Update focused on the following topics in 2012-13:

Poverty

Collaboration and engagement

ACTCOSS and peak bodies

Delivering on the promise of choice and control

We value the contributions members make to our quarterly newsletter, because they support members to share our commitment to positive social change and collectively reflect on what we are learning, where we are going and what we need to focus on in the future.

ACTCOSS has hosted forums on key topics such as the ACT Election, ACT Budget, justice, homelessness, human rights, and human resources. We have convened meetings of the ACT Peaks, Home and Community Care & Disability Services, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Sector network. ACTCOSS also provides auspicing support to the Community Development Network (CD Net) and the Community Sector Leaders Forum. A full list of the networks, forums and committees that ACTCOSS participates in can be seen on page 22.

Input to advocacyACTCOSS conducts its own research to inform our formal submissions, other publications and public commentary on social and economic issues in Canberra. However, input from member organisations and individual members is essential if we are to offer unique and useful input to the public debate and decision-making processes. By bringing these perspectives into our advocacy work, we ensure issues affecting people living with poverty and excluded from their community, and the community-managed services that work with them, are represented clearly, respectfully and effectively.

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Submissions, reports and resources the organisation develops are (wherever appropriate) made publicly available on the ACTCOSS website and can be provided in hard copy on request.

Consultations are carried out on policy matters such as the annual ACT Budget as well as the follow up ACTCOSS Budget Snapshot, which is presented directly following the ACT Budget announcement. Advocacy on housing and homelessness, justice and corrections, climate change, health, issues impacting on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations, and community sector viability have all benefitted from member input over this past year.

ACTCOSS biennial conference 2012: Vision, Values, VotesACTCOSS held its biennial ACT community sector conference on 25 and 26 September 2012 at Rydges Capital Hill, Forrest. Framed around the theme ‘Vision, Values, Votes’, the conference explored how the community sector engages with political discourse and current issues impacting on people experiencing disadvantage. Over 100 community sector workers, consumers, government representatives, and ACTCOSS members attended each day. The conference was sponsored by CHC Affordable Housing and the ACT Government Community Services Directorate.

Guest speakers included Robert Fitzgerald, Chair of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) Advisory Board, who engaged us on the topic of the ACNC and sector reform. Dr Helen Watchirs, ACT Human Rights & Discrimination Commissioner, spoke about human rights in the ACT, including in corrective services and the Alexander Maconochie Centre. Andrew McCallum, CEO of the Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies, spoke about children’s welfare and evidence-based approaches to policy making. A presentation and discussion workshop explored Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander engagement, and finished with an inspiring talk from Dr Sam Prince on his work at One Disease at a Time and ‘following your dreams’.

Other workshop topics included the National Disability Insurance Scheme, affordable housing, sector viability and reform, The Social Compact and collaboration, media for a social purpose, and social return on investment.

Another key event included seven ACT Election candidates from five different parties who participated in the mystery box Q&A session. Each candidate drew a random question out of a box of questions collected from attendees and then had ten minutes to provide a response.

Attendees enjoyed entertainment from the Jumpin’ Gateway Singers choir and Bangouraké (Mohamed Bangoura), Master drummer from Guinea, West Africa.

The conference finished with a comedy debate addressing the topic, ‘Does Canberra care?’ After side-splitting arguments from each side, the audience decided that ultimately, yes, Canberra does care.

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ACT Community Sector Awards 2012At the conference ACTCOSS presented its biennial ACT Community Sector Awards, celebrating and acknowledging the achievements of community sector organisations and individuals. The winners of the awards were:

HESTA Healthy Workplace Award: Ivette Gonzalez (ACT Disability, Aged and Carer Advocacy Service (ADACAS)), for her research and introduction of ‘Healthy Heart Walks’ to the ADACAS workplace.

Partnership Award: Expanding Naloxone Availability in the ACT Committee for providing expert guidance and support to develop Australia’s first overdose management program that provides naloxone on prescription to potential overdose victims.

Partners include Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy (CAHMA); Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service; Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Association ACT; ACT Medicare Local; Burnet Institute; National Drug Research Institute; ACT Ambulance Service; ACT Government Health Directorate; Pharmacy Guild of Australia (ACT Branch); Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform; and Interchange General Practice.

bankmecu Little Feet, Big Steps Award: Street Law for its small team’s tremendous work providing legal advice and advocacy on a range of legal issues to people experiencing homelessness.

Embracing Change Award: Scouts Australia, ACT Branch, for pioneering a move from a manual, paper-based financial consolidation system to a cloud-based technology, thereby making fundamentals easier, management more transparent, and decision making improved.

ActewAGL Minor Miracle Award: Chris Stockman (UnitingCare Canberra City), for organising the first Homeless Connect event in Canberra, which assisted people experiencing disadvantage and marginalisation to find out about and access community services in a comfortable environment.

Highly Commended: Katherine Wills for her dedication to supporting her brother and his wife, both with intellectual disabilities, to fully experience and participate in their new parenting roles.

Congratulations to all award nominees and winners!

Member surveyACTCOSS conducted a member survey during November and December 2012. The survey was handed out at the Annual General Meeting and posted to all members. It asked about the services and benefits ACTCOSS provides, and stakeholder awareness, satisfaction, and preferences across ACTCOSS advocacy and sector development priorities.

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Of the benefits ACTCOSS provides to members, stakeholders most valued being kept informed about community sector news, and the access to advice and consultancy services.

According to respondents, we were doing well in advocating for and promoting issues around housing, justice and corrections, and the social determinants of health. There was some support for improving our focus on social equity in debates on climate change mitigation and abatement strategies.

Fifty per cent or more of respondents supported ACTCOSS focusing on the following social issues:

Justice and corrections

Housing affordability

Financial stress

Human rights

Reducing homelessness

Mental health

Costs of living

Services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander peoples

Services for multicultural communities

Transport

For our sector development work, responses suggested we were doing well in all areas, particularly in ensuring the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and cultures are recognised, respected and fulfilled in all activities of the sector, and facilitating development opportunities through training and individual support. Some opportunities for enhancement were identified in promoting understanding, consultation and cooperation amongst organisations, including government bodies.

Fifty per cent or more of respondents supported prioritising sector development in these domains:

Quality standards

Cultural awareness and training

Leadership

Risk management

Strategic planning

Collaboration and partnerships

Managing staff

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Policy and procedure development

Working with multicultural communities

Most respondents indicated they were aware of our services and would use them in the future. All respondents were satisfied with the communications they received from ACTCOSS.

Overall, stakeholders were happy with ACTCOSS’ performance in 2012, with one respondent summing it up:

ACTCOSS has performed extremely well in 2012, during very challenging climate in relationships of community organisations and government. We have felt connected and strongly represented by Roslyn and Kiki and the whole team of ACTCOSS. When nobody spoke out for fairness and effective consultation, ACTCOSS did! Thank you!

Strategic Plan renewalConsultation with members to develop the ACTCOSS Strategic Plan for 2014-2018 commenced in the second quarter of 2013 in preparation for the launch of a refreshed Strategic Plan at the AGM in November 2013.

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Publications & media 2012-13

PublicationsCommunity Transport Project,

Jun/Nov 2012

Care Planning in ACT HACC Funded Organisations, Sep 2012

Vision 2012: ACTCOSS Election Statement, ACT Legislative Assembly Election 2012, Sep 2012

ACT Cost of Living Report, Oct 2012

ACT Council of Social Service Annual Report 2011-12, Nov 2012

Formalising Partnerships Toolkit, ACTCOSS Edition, Feb 2013

ACTCOSS Budget Priorities, Mar 2013

ACT 2013-14 Budget Snapshot, Jun 2013

Comments, submissions & policy statementsSubmission on the Homelessness Bill 2012, Aug 2012

Comment on the Community Gardens in the ACT: Draft Site Selection Criteria for Future Locations Discussion Paper, Aug 2012

Comment on the Review of the ACT Mental Health (Treatment and Care) Act 1994 First Exposure Draft – Draft Amendment Bill, Oct 2012

Comment on the Strategic Framework for the Management of Blood-Borne Viruses in the Alexander Maconochie Centre 2012-2014, Oct 2012

Comment on the Review of the Gambling and Racing Control (Code of Practice) Regulation 2002, Dec 2012

Comment on the Development of a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan Discussion Paper, Dec 2012

Comment on the Review of Current Homelessness Costing Structure: Proposing Alternative Costing Model Options December 2012 Consultation Paper, Feb 2013

Joint Submission with ATODA and MHCC ACT on the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs Inquiry into the Value of a Justice Reinvestment Approach to Criminal Justice in Australia, Mar 2013

Submission on The Human Rights Audit of Conditions of Detention of Women at the Alexander Maconochie Centre, Jun 2013

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Submission on the Letters of Offer to Non-Government Providers of Housing and Homelessness Support Services, Jun 2013

NewslettersUpdate Issue 61, Spring 2012 – Poverty

Update Issue 62, Summer 2012-13 – Collaboration & engagement

Update Issue 63, Autumn 2013 – ACTCOSS & peak bodies

Update Issue 64, Winter 2013 – Delivering on the promise of more choice & control

Media releases‘Vision required to earn votes’, ACT Election 2012 – 24 Sep 2012

‘Community champions gaining recognition’, ACT Community Sector Awards 2012 – 25 Sep 2012

‘Living costs loom large’, ACT Cost of Living Report – 18 Oct 2012

‘ACT Council of Social Service appoints new Director’ – 9 Jan 2013

‘Youth homelessness matters’ – 10 Apr 2013

‘One step forward, two steps back’, joint release with Youth Coalition of the ACT on Gonski Reforms – 15 Apr 2013

‘Secure future, but not for all’, 2013 Federal Budget – 15 May 2013

‘Tough times ahead balanced by targeted investment’, 2013-14 ACT Budget – 4 Jun 2013

Media outlets2CA

2XX Community Radio

ABC 666 Radio

Australian Doctor Magazine

Canberra FM news (106.3 and 104.7)

The Canberra Times

WIN News

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Networks, working groups and seminars

ACTCOSS committees, advisory groups & networksAboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Community Sector Network (ATSIComSec)

ACT Community Sector Communications Network (CommsNet)

ACT Community Sector Policy Network

ACT Peaks Forum

ACTCOSS General Committee

ACTCOSS RAP Working Group

ACTCOSS Weekly Community Sector Notices (ACTCOSSNotices)

Community Integration Governance Group

Home and Community Care/Disability Services Network (HACCDS Net) (funded by ACT Health)

Home and Community Care/Disability Services Working Group (funded by ACT Health)

Homelessness Network (Hnet)

Human Resources Network

Human Rights Network

Justice Network (Jnet)

AuspicesCommunity Development Network (CDNet)

Community Sector Leaders Forum (CSLF)

COSS networkACOSS National Conference

ACOSS Policy Forums

COSS Climate Change Network

COSS Communications Network

COSS Directors Forums

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COSS Transport Network

COSS Health Network

ACTCOSS seminars & workshopsAlcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Sector Reconciliation Workshops - (3 sessions in 2013)

Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Basics - Jun 2013

Fair Dismissal: Minimising the Risks of Unfair Dismissal and Adverse Action Claims (with Jobs Australia) - Nov 2012

Formalising Partnerships Workshop - Feb 2013

Human Rights Obligations of ACT Community Organisations - Aug 2012, Nov 2012

Prequalification Workshops for Community Organisations (delivered jointly with CSD) - 3 sessions Oct 2012

Raising the Standard - Sep 2012, Nov 2012, Mar 2013, Jun 2013

Riding the Boundaries - Nov 2012, Apr 2013

TRANSforming Service Delivery Workshop - May 2013

The Social Compact (pilot) - Jan 2013

Gulanga Program

1 Day Appreciation of Torres Strait Islander Culture and Awareness Training - Nov 2012, Mar 2013

1 Day Bi-Cultural Awareness & Inclusion Workshop for ACT Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Community Sector Workers (with Relationships Australia) - Oct 2012

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Engagement, ACTCOSS Conference ‘Vision, Values, Votes’ – Sep 2012

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Recruitment and Retention - Jul 2013

Aboriginal Culture, History and Heritage Training - Aug 2012, Nov 2012, Apr 2013, Jun 2013

Accountability as a Paradigm for Effective Cross Cultural Communication (with Relationships Australia) - Apr 2013

Human Rights Obligations for ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Organisations - Sep 2012

Lateral Violence (with Relationships Australia) - Jun 2013

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Racism in the Workplace - 2 sessions Dec 2012, Jun 2013

Building Better Boards: The ACTCOSS Governance Workshop Program

Board Basics and Legal Obligations - Oct 2012, Feb 2012

Financial Management - Nov 2012, Aug 2012, Mar 2013

Home and Community Care

Bariatric Care Seminar - Jun 2013

Canberra Hospital / HACC System Interface - May 2013

Consumer Directed Care - Mar 2013

Recruitment and Retention - Feb 2013

ACTCOSS forumsACT 2013-14 Post-Budget Forum for the Community Sector - Jun 2013

HACC Executive Forum - May 2013

CDNet New Worker Forum - Mar 2013

Professional Boundaries April 2013

Multiple Enterprise Agreement (MEA) Forum (with Jobs Australia) - Jul 2012, Nov 2012, February 2013

MEA Enterprise Bargaining Forum: Follow up forum for employers (with Jobs Australia) - Feb 2013

Meet the Candidates Forum (ACT Election), ACTCOSS conference ‘Vision, Values, Votes’ - Sep 2012

External committees & forums* convened by government

ACT Courts Stakeholders Forum*

ACT Disability Advocacy Network

ACT Health Healthy Workplaces Advisory Group*

ACT Health Promotion Grants 2012 Celebration Forum*

ACT Indigenous Elected Body Community Forum

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ACT Medicare Local Population Health Reference Group

ACT Mental Health Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention, Implementation and Evaluation Working Group (PPEIIEWG)

ACT Ministerial Council on Women Forum

ACT Shelter Forums

ACT Women’s Services Network*

ACT Work Safety Council

ACT NDIS Sector Readiness Forums

AMC Throughcare Governance Group*

AMC Women’s Advisory Group*

Anti-Poverty Week Committee and events

ASU Pay Equity Information Sessions for Employees

ATOD Strategy Evaluation Group*

ATSI Community Workshop – Transport

Burrunju Art Exhibition & Cultural Exchange

Canberra Conversations – Centenary Forum

Canberra Living Conditions Sector Development Working Group and Forum

CDNet Working Group

CIT Centre for Health, Community and Wellbeing Advisory Committee*

Close the Gap Day

Close the Gap Seminar – What Works to Increase Indigenous Employment

Co-design Forum presented by The Australian Centre of Social Innovation

Community Integration Governance Group (co-chair and secretariat)

Community Recovery Sub Committee*

Community Sector Reform Red Tape reduction forum*

Community Sector Reform Advisory Group*

Community Services Forum*

Community Transport Working Group

CRCC Nguru Program Meeting

Crime Prevention and Community Safety Forum*

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Dinner with Danish Ambassador and delegation from Danish Social Policy Ministry

Disability Quarterly Forum*

Early Intervention Forum (Families ACT)

Gambling Advisory Reference Group*

Gambling Trial Oversight Committee*

Healthy Workplace Advisory Committee*

Homelessness Forums*

Inclusive Volunteering Advisory Committee

Indonesian Delegation Study Tour on NGO role in civil society

International Women’s Day events

Joint Community Government Reference Group (co-chair in 2012)*

Joint Pathways*

Justice Health in Australia Forum

Marymead Men’s Forum

Mental Health Community Coalition Quarterly Forum

Mental Health Professionals Network

NAIDOC Week events

National Apology events

National Mental Health Commission Breakfast

National Refugee Week events

National Year of Reading Steering Committee and events

North Canberra Community Council

Nguru Alliance Committee

Older Persons Week events

Planning and Development Forum*

Problem Gambling Assistance Fund Advisory Committee*

Reconciliation Action Plan reference groups

Reconciliation Australia RAP Showcase

Social Impact Measurement Network Alliance

Throughcare Governance Group*

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UN Declaration Forum - What it means for the ACT

Weston Community Hub meetings

Women and Prisons Group

Working With Vulnerable People Checking System Implementation Advisory Group*

Youth and Family Sector Election Forum

Youth Homelessness Matters Day events

Youth Housing and Homelessness Forum

Various community sector annual general meetings

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ACTCOSS General CommitteeExecutive Committee Attended Apologies

PresidentJenny Kitchin, Anglicare ACT

10/10 0

Vice President (until Nov 2012)Rod Little, Associate Member 0/4 1

Vice President Simon Rosenberg, Northside Community Service

10/10 0

Treasurer Tania Tahana, Associate Member 1/10 6

Vice President (from Nov 2012)Secretary (until Nov 2012)Darlene Cox, Health Care Consumers Association

6/10 1

Secretary (from Nov 2012)Ordinary Member (until Nov 2012)Cheryl Pollard, Tandem Respite

5/10 3

Ordinary Members Attended Apologies

Amber Bootle, Associate Member (until Nov 2012) 1/4 1

Amy Kilpatrick, Associate Member (until Nov 2012) 0/4 1

Brendan Church, Aboriginal Justice Centre (from Nov 2012) 4/7 0

Camilla Rowland, Karralika Programs (from Nov 2012) 7/7 0

Dee McGrath, Carers ACT (from Nov 2012) 3/7 1

Emma Street, Anglicare ACT, then Associate Member (resigned May 2013)

3/8 3

Emma Walter, Woden Community Service 7/10 3

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Ordinary Members Attended Apologies

Fiona MacGregor, YWCA of Canberra (from Nov 2012) 5/7 1

Hannah Dawes, DIRECTIONS ACT (until Nov 2012) 0/4 1

Jo Cochrane, Communities@Work 3/10 0

Liz Howarth, Citizens Advice Bureau ACT (until Nov 2012) 4/4 0

Michael Brown, Canberra Men’s Centre (until Nov 2012) 2/4 1

Nathalie Maconachie, Asthma Foundation ACT (from Nov 2012) 6/7 1

Paul Cubitt, National Brain Injury Foundation (from Nov 2012) 2/7 1

Sandi McGowan, Marymead Child and Family Centre (from Nov 2012) 6/7 0

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ACTCOSS members 2012-13

Member Organisations2XX FM

A Gender Agenda

Aboriginal Justice Centre

ACT Council of Parents & Citizens Associations

ACT Critical Incident Stress Management Information Service Inc.

ACT Disability, Aged & Carer Advocacy Service Inc.

ACT Down Syndrome Association

ACT Hepatitis Resource Centre Inc.

ACT ME/CFS Society Inc.

ACT Medicare Local

ACT Mental Health Consumer Network

ACT Palliative Care Society Inc.

ACT Shelter

Advance Personnel

Advocacy for Inclusion

AIDS Action Council

Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Association ACT

Anglicare ACT

Argyle Community Housing Ltd

Asthma Foundation ACT

Australia Mon Association Inc.

Australian Association of Social Workers ACT Branch

Australian Catholic University, Institute of Child Protection Studies

Autism Asperger ACT Inc.

Barnardos Australia

Belconnen Community Service

Beryl Women Inc.

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Billabong Aboriginal Development Corporation

Calwell Community Centre

Canberra & Q’yan ADD Support Group Inc.

Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy

Canberra Blind Society

Canberra Fathers and Children Service

Canberra Institute of Technology Student Association

Canberra Japan Club Inc.

Canberra Men’s Centre

Canberra Multicultural Community Forum (CMCF) Inc.

Canberra Police Community Youth Club Inc.

Canberra Preschool Society Inc.

Canberra Rape Crisis Centre

Canberra Youth Residential Service

Capital Community Housing Inc.

Care Financial Counselling Service and the Consumer Law Centre of the ACT

Carers ACT Inc.

CatholicCare Canberra & Goulburn

CHC Affordable Housing

Citizens Advice Bureau

Communities@Work

Community and Public Sector Union

Community Connections

Companion House

Computing Assistance Support and Education Inc.

Conflict Resolution Service Inc.

DIRECTIONS ACT

Disability Services Australia

Diversity ACT Community Services

Domestic Violence Crisis Service

Doris Women’s Refuge Inc.

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Environmental Collective Housing Organisation Inc.

Families & Friends for Drug Law Reform

Families ACT Inc.

Family Drug Support

Foster Care Association of the ACT Inc.

Fusion Australia

GROW - ACT

Gungahlin Regional Community Service

Havelock House Association Inc

Health Care Consumers Association of ACT Inc.

Home Help Service

Inanna Inc.

Indigenous Community Volunteers

Justice Action

Karinya House

Karralika Programs Inc.

Koomarri

L’Arche Geneseret

Life Without Barriers

Lifeline Canberra Inc.

Lone Fathers Association

Marymead Child & Family Centre

Menslink Inc.

Mental Health Community Coalition

Mental Health Foundation

Mental Illness Education ACT

Mental Illness Fellowship Victoria

Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services of the ACT Inc.

Multicultural Women’s Advocacy Inc.

National Brain Injury Foundation

National Sorry Day Committee Inc.

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NationsHeart Christian Community

No Sweat Fashions Ltd

Noah’s Ark Resource Centre

Northside Community Service Ltd.

Parentline ACT Inc.

Pegasus Riding for the Disabled Inc.

People with Disabilities ACT Inc.

Picking Up the Peaces

Post and Ante Natal Depression Support & Info. Inc.

Prisoners Aid (ACT) Inc.

Pure Focus Inc.

Queanbeyan Multilingual Centre

Regional Development Australia ACT

Relationships Australia Canberra and Region Inc.

Religious Society of Friends Inc.

RSI & Overuse Injury Assn of the ACT, Inc.

SEE-Change Inc.

Self Help Organisations United

Together Inc.

Sexual Health & Family Planning ACT Inc.

Shareability Inc.

Sharing Places Inc.

Softlaw Community Projects Limited

Southside Community Services Inc.

St Vincent de Paul Society

Superannuated Commonwealth Officers’ Association

Tandem Respite

Technical Aid to the Disabled (ACT) Inc.

Ted Noffs Foundation

Tenants’ Union ACT

The Cancer Council ACT

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The Salvation Army - ACT & Sth

NSW Division

Toora Women Inc.

Tuggeranong Link Community Houses & Centres

Unions ACT

Uniting Church in Australia - Presbytery of Canberra Region

UnitingCare Disability

University of Canberra Students Association Inc.

Victims of Crime Assistance League ACT Inc.

Volunteering ACT

Warehouse Circus Inc.

Welfare Rights & Legal Centre

Woden Community Service Inc.

Women with Disabilities ACT

Women’s Centre for Health Matters Inc.

Women’s Electoral Lobby - ACT Branch

Women’s Legal Centre (ACT Region) Inc.

Youth Coalition of the ACT

YWCA of Canberra

Affiliate MembersLegal Aid ACT

Associate MembersC Ansted

L Bochenek

A Bootle

R Brown

J Carty

D Collins

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A Cresswell

J Donnelly

S Ellerman

G Evans

M Flynn

J Graham

C Gyngell

L Harris

M Heales

C Johnston

P Kendall

A Kilpatrick

J Kitchin

K Korsch

J Lintern

R Little

D Lucas

K Lyttle

R McGowan

A McLaughlin

C Moore

J Moran

K Nicholson

K Oddy

P O’Flaherty

B Pamphilon

R Refshauge

A Rowe

Z Sanusi

C Settle

E Street

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T Tahana

F Tito-Wheatland

G Weir

E Wensing

J Wood

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