Hot Issues contains important information, updates, resources, downloads, directories and calandars of upcoming events relating to current high priority issues within the community sector. For information, articles and papers on other issues, please refer to our Resources section.
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Current hot issues:
Listed in order of most recently updated
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22 May 2013
The NSW Community Sector Charter is a document which has been prepared to define and communicate to other sectors
of society (governments, business and the broader community) what the
community sector is, and to raise awareness of its vital role and
invaluable contribution to society.
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16 April 2013
NCOSS has long advocated for improved pay and conditions for workers in social and community service organisations. This is an integral part of our sustained advocacy for fair and proper funding that ensures the best quality of service delivery and improved outcomes for the most vulnerable people and communities.
NCOSS is not an industrial body and as such cannot give industrial advice. For further advice, please contact an employer body such as Jobs Australia.
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2 April 2013
The NSW Health Non-Government Organisation (NGO) Program provides funding to eligible organisations for the provision of specified health services and projects in NSW.
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25 March 2013
The Commonwealth and all State and Territory Governments have agreed to
national reform of Australia’s health system over the next five years.
The reforms aim to improve health outcomes and ensure the sustainability
of the health system.
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6 May 2013
Since 1995, there have been seven major reviews of the Not-For-Profit (NFP) Sector, including the Productivity Commission Research Report on the Contribution of the Not-for-Profit Sector released in 2010. In 2011 the Federal Government made an election promise to support a reform agenda which lead to the establishment of the Office for the Non-Profit Sector in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and, subsequently, the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC) Taskforce.
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13 March 2013
The Australian Government has embarked on a 10-year process to reform the aged care system. The reforms aim to build an integrated system of supports that offer more choice and control to older people, have a greater emphasis on restorative and preventative care, and that address the needs of the ageing population.
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4 December 2012
The NSW Government is in the process of developing a new Long Term Transport Master Plan for NSW. This is an opportunity to advocate for a fairer transport system that meets the needs of all people within our society.
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19 November 2012
Incorporation: An explanation of the Incorporation Act 2009, 7th Edition
This 60 page handbook written by Graham Wheeler was published by NCOSS in 2012. It is most relevant to new community groups, to Incorporated Associations and to anyone offering them information on their obligations. The printed version is in English and can be purchased. The CD ROM is free and available in English, Arabic or Chinese. To order: click here
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19 November 2012
Essential research is needed to map the NGO human services sector in NSW and identify workforce needs before sensible and workable strategies can be developed to improve workforce development.
NCOSS Pre-Budget Submission Building Fairness First: Social and economic priorities for a fair and sustainable community: 2013-14 State Budget, calls on the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet to consider a State-Wide Workforce Development Project.
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30 August 2012
Australian Government’s new Home Energy Saver Scheme (HESS) will provide
$50.5 million over four years (until 2014-15) to support low-income households
across Australia experiencing difficulty meeting and paying for their energy
needs.
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3 September 2012
Currently more than 50 projects across NSW are funded or part-funded under the COAG National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH) and the NSW Homelessness Action Plan.
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11 July 2012
On 27 June NCOSS and Regional Development Australia Sydney (RDA Sydney) held a joint workshop on Innovative Financing for Home Ownership through Shared Equity Initiatives. The purpose of the workshop was to outline what shared equity home ownership schemes involve, assess what is happening in other states and territories, and discuss the possibilities for a NSW scheme, as part of the broader affordable housing strategy that NCOSS has been advocating to governments.
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14 June 2012
The NSW Oral Health Alliance is urging all NSW State Parliamentarians to get behind reform of Australia’s oral health system.
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28 May 2012
In 2011, Mr Duncan Gay, Minister for Roads & Ports announced a review of the current NSW Mobility Parking Scheme. The review is being conducted by an Independent Advisory Committee chaired by Mr Richard Bull, and supported by Transport for NSW. NCOSS has been invited to sit on the Committee along with NRMA, the Australian Medical Association, and the Disability Council of NSW.
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12 March 2012
Volunteers make a substantial
contribution to the community services industry but volunteers can be seriously
overlooked in workplace labour laws and can be left high and dry when the
unthinkable happens.
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19 December 2011
On 3 August 2011, the Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Hospitality and Racing, The Hon George Souris, MP, introduced into Parliament the Gaming Machine Tax Amendment Bill 2011. The Bill will significantly alter the Community Development and Support Expenditure (CDSE) Scheme, including changing the scheme's name to the ClubGRANTS scheme.
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31 August 2011
Includes: New system introduced | Ombudsman's Report on Keep Them Safe - new!| Family Referral Services | Keep Them Safe Annual Report Released | Coalition for Children in Care | Premier announces more Keep Them Safe initiatives | Consultation on NGO capacity building and workforce development | Information Fora | Keeping Accountable
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19 August 2011
The Productivity Commission has proposed a National Disability lnsurance
Scheme because it has determined that the current disability support system
is underfunded, unfair, fragmented and inefficient and gives people with a
disability little choice and no certainty of access to appropriate supports.
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16 August 2011
On 13 May 2011, the NSW Premier, Barry O’Farrell, and the Minister for Citizenship and Communities, Victor Dominello MP, announced the development of a NSW Volunteering Strategy. A discussion paper has been released by NSW Office of Communities.
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25 May 2011
On 20 May 2011 the NSW Government gazetted some significant amendments to the Affordable Rental Housing State Environmental Planning Policy.
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29 April 2011
Research undertaken by the Social Policy Research Centre in 2010 was commissioned by Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC), Department of Human Services and aimed to provide a profile of non-government community service organisations (the sector) funded by the NSW Government.
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4 March 2011
Includes: National health reform: Outcomes of the 30th Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting, 13 February 2011 | COAG – First Reports Assessing the Performance of Governments against National Agreements | National Health and Hospital Network Agreement | Splitting HACC | Consultation on a National Standard Chart of Accounts | SPPs | CSTDA | National reform Agenda
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9 December 2010
NCOSS has welcomed the announcement by the NSW Government that
substantial funding has been allocated to delivering support and
services for people with disability in NSW. This announcement is the
culmination of extensive consultation that considered what needed to be
done in the second phase of Stronger Together, the Government’s plan to deliver better services for people with disability.
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6 December 2010
Everyone knows that a serious shortage of affordable rental housing is one of the biggest problems facing low to moderate income households in New South Wales. It’s time to do something about it.
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17 November 2010
NCOSS and the NSW Oral Health Alliance is seeking your help to get oral health on the election agenda.
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15 November 2010
The NSW Aged Care Alliance met in late November with the Minister for Ageing, the Hon Peter Primrose and Shadow Minister Andrew Constance to discuss priorities older people in NSW.
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11 November 2010
The NSW Election on 26 March 2011 provides an opportunity to get political parties and politicians to commit to policies and programs that enhance the wellbeing of vulnerable children, young people and families in NSW. We are seeking your support for the Keeping Accountable: What’s Good about Wood campaign.
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21 October 2010
The 7th Australian Community Sector Survey is now on-line! The survey provides an important snapshot of how disadvantaged Australians are faring, and is a powerful means of highlighting to government and media the issues facing community services. It is the only annual national survey collecting data about the non-government, non-profit community services and welfare sector.
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2 August 2010
Following approval by the Federal Minister for Housing Tanya Plibersek, the NSW Government has released the finalised Regional Homelessness Action Plans for the ten regions across the state.
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29 June 2010
Includes: Latest News | Extra $10 million announced for Neighbourhood and Community Centres | CSGP on YouTube
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15 January 2010
The national, state and territory Councils of Social Service have prepared a fact sheet on the award modernisation process for the social and community service sector.
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30 November 2009
The first NCOSS Indigenous Women’s Leadership Program, specifically for Aboriginal women working in the community sector, has been successfully completed by seven outstanding women.
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9 October 2009
The NGO sector and NSW Health agreed to undertake a Review of the NSW Health NGO Program at a meeting in early December 2008. NSW Health has prepared a discussion paper a Discussion Paper that presents issues for consideration.
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4 September 2009
This significant new research on the NSW NGO workforce, commissioned by the Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Department of Community Services, highlights many of the critical workforce issues previously identified by the sector.
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11 June 2009
The PADP Community Alliance warmly welcomes the Final Report of the NSW Legislative Council’s Inquiry into the Program of Appliances for Disabled People (PADP).
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9 March 2009
The NCOSS ICT Strategy Report "Community Connexions: Addressing the Information and Communications Technology Needs of the NSW NGO Human Services Sector” details a three-year integrated strategy to address the current and emerging ICT needs of the sector.
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18 December 2008
The NCOSS Sector Development Seminar on Shared Services, held on the 10th of November 2008, attracted a capacity audience of NGOs and Government agencies. The Seminar provided an opportunity to find out about the latest research and learn from the ‘practice’ of other NGOs and other sectors. Speakers included academic researchers, as well as NGO professionals with first-hand experience of ‘sharing services’.
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8 December 2008
The Senate Economics Committees report was released on the 4th of December and it includes several recommendations that, if implemented, will have significant implementations for the sector.
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2 December 2008
Each year NCOSS has put together a summary of the key social and economic trends in NSW as part of its Pre-Budget Submission. In 2008 we have decided to create a separate report of these trends. The purpose of this document is as a resource to the sector and to provide a way to measure and monitor the outcomes of the State Plan.
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Hot Issues 
