In December 2009, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to introduce a national standard chart of accounts (SCOA) for the not-for-profit sector in July 2010. Once finalised, the national SCOA will be adopted by all government funding agencies and determine the finanical reporting requirements of funded NGOs .

NCOSS has submitted a response to the NSW Better Regulation Office on the proposed national SCOA.

• Download: NCOSS response
• For more information on SCOA see: COAG page (Hot Issues)

From 1 March 2010, new regulations mean that electricity and gas suppliers in NSW must:

• develop and implement a customer hardship charter to assist residential customers experiencing financial difficulty to better manage their energy bills on an ongoing basis; 
• publish the customer hardship charter on the supplier's website; and 
• not disconnect a residential customer for a failure to make payment, unless in the previous 12 months the supplier has twice offered the customer assistance under a payment plan operated by the supplier if the customer is experiencing financial difficulty.

The hardship charters are a key part of the NSW Government's Customer Assistance Policy. NCOSS welcomes these stronger protections for households and looks forward to the remaining parts of the Customer Assistance Policy to be implemented including extra funding for financial counsellors and targeted financial assistance for low income households to become more energy efficient.

More information: 

• Dev Mukherjee, NCOSS Senior Policy Officer
  ph: 9211 2599, ext 116
  email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

As the roll out of new social housing projects accelerates under the Federal Government’s Stimulus Package, the media has been full of reports of meetings called by residents and councils to object to housing developments in their area.

On 2 January the Daily Telegraph claimed that suburbs across NSW were in danger of becoming ‘mini-ghettos’ and that residents had been silenced by ‘draconian laws’ that block locals from objecting to public housing. The accompanying editorial was headed “Housing Horror”.

The Stimulus Package in NSW
The Stimulus Package was agreed to by the Federal, State and Territory Governments at the COAG meeting in February 2009. It provides funding for a range of social housing, schools and other infrastructure projects.

Taking into account a subsequent cut of $187m, NSW has received Federal funding of $1.764 billion for new social housing over four years and a further $130m over two years for repairs and maintenance – total of $1.894 billion. This welcome funding is expected to generate an extra 6,300 units of community and public housing by the completion of the program. 

The January/February 2010 issue of our newsletter NCOSS News (vol 37, #1) has now been posted out to members, affiliates and politicians. Our first issue for the year, it includes the following articles:

• New social housing projects face increasing ‘not in my backyard’ objections
• 2010 – the year of the fair go?
• Proposal to change the Community Services Grants Program
• ACOSS @ Work: Compulsory income management scheme is wasteful and discriminatory
• New registration system for Aboriginal community housing providers
• New child protection system in place
• The end of the community fair?
• Community Offender Support Program (COSP)
• Council of Australian Governments
• How is Australia faring: Report on the Social Inclusion Board
• Senate inquiry into the disclosure regimes for charities and not-for-profit organisations
• A history of The Council of Social Service of NSW - Foundation: 1935-46
• Farewell to Amy Williams
• Streamlining financial reporting: Consultation on a National Standard Chart of Accounts
• Working together for NSW: Implementation Committee
• NCOSS 75th Anniversary - Call for memorabilia
• Noticeboard

You can subscribe to NCOSS News by becoming a member of NCOSS.

The NSW No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS), now has a 1800 Freecall Service, funded by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). This service operates from the Winmalee Neighbourhood Centre, Winmalee.

All NILS enquiries throughout NSW are now directed to: 1800 50 9994

More information about NILS: www.nilsnsw.org.au

NCOSS has been briefed by the Minister for Transport's office about the new fare structure for the Greater Sydney area that was announced on 1 February – called My Zone.

In short, the new structure reduces the number of existing fare bands into a simpler system that will apply to trains, buses (including private) and ferries.

The new fare structure will apply from the 18th April and a website is available to explain the changes. The Government estimates that 9 out of 10 people will be better off or at least no worse off under the new system. Tickets such as the pensioner excursion ticket will remain in place. The Government estimates that the new fare structure will cost approximately $32 million in foregone revenue but argues the new structure will be easier, fairer, greener and will encourage increased patronage of the system. There will be:

• 5 rail fare bands (down from 20 +)
• 3 bus bands (down from 5) and
• 2 ferry bands (down from 5)

There will also be 3 "multi" passes allowing changes between transport modes (a daily pass which is only available across all zones as well as weekly, quarterly and annual passes for the three different zones).

While not providing true multimodal ticketing (i.e. single/return/daily tickets across all modes within particular zones) the changes are a good first step and will see fares reduce for those travelling the furthest. While the fine details will need to be analysed it seems initially that this is a good initiative in that it will be simpler for passengers, it brings private buses into a more uniform fare system and does not penalise those who travel the furthest (in fact the fare structure will provide savings for those travelling longer distances). For those of us who have long advocated for a fairer fare structure and a multimodal ticketing system this is clearly a step towards that and is a sound foundation for future reform.

• Website:  www.myzone.nsw.gov.au  
• Information:  Samantha Edmonds, NCOSS Deputy Director Policy and Communications
  phone: 9211 2599, ext 111
  email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

In December 2009, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to introduce a national standard chart of accounts (SCOA) for the not-for-profit sector in July 2010. The national SCOA will be used to guide the way government agencies ask a not-for-profit group to report basic financial information.

The NSW Better Regulation Office is inviting the sector to comment on the proposed national SCOA during February. 

For more information, click here.

The Committee handed its report to the Australian Government on 30 September 2009. We are still waiting on a response and to see whether or not the Australian Government will enact a Human Rights Act.

To find out what is happening, see the Australian Human Rights Group website: http://www.humanrightsact.com.au/ahrg  

The NSW Parliament General Purpose Standing Committee No. 2 recently commenced a new inquiry into the provision of education to students with a disability or special needs.

With our 75th Anniversary approaching this year, NCOSS – the Council of Social Service of New South Wales – is keen to acquire items of historical interest which will assist us in celebrating our achievements since our establishment in 1935.

In general we are looking for:

• early NCOSS publications, especially from pre-1960s and the 1930-40s in particular;
• documents and papers relating to Council activities such as meetings, forums and “talk-ins”;
• photographs of NCOSS staff, board members and the work environment/former offices;
• newspaper and magazine articles reporting Council initiatives and activities;
• sound or video recordings of media (radio/television) engagements;
• related paraphernalia; and
• personal stories and memories of Council work.

If you or a family member had involvement with the Council and have any such items that you are willing to donate or loan to us we would be very grateful. Our greatest interest is in material from before the 1980s however all items offered will be greatly appreciated.

To discuss donating or loaning items to NCOSS, please contact:

Stephen Crowley
NCOSS Communications Officer
phone: 02 9211- 2599 ext 115
email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Call for Expressions of Interest
Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service (NSCCAHS) is inviting applications from not for profit Non Government Organisations to provide vocational training and employment opportunities to people with mental health problems and disorders, in the North Shore Ryde and Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Mental Health Service, which is part of NSCCAHS.

The funding available for this service is an amount of $310,000 per annum that would be administered under the NSW Health NGO Grant Program.

The aim of the program is to provide opportunities for mental health consumers to acquire training and employment experiences that will enable them to transition into the available competitive market at the end of the period. The successful NGO will be required to operate two businesses at two locations, one within the North Shore Ryde area and one in the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai area.

Packages will be available from 18 January 2010.

To obtain an application package please contact:

Simone
phone: 9926 5470
email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Applications are to be submitted no later than 5.00pm Monday 15 February 2010.

An e-update of transport news and articles received at NCOSS.

How to ease a women’s fear of transportation environments

Mineta Transport Institute (US) 7 December, 2009 | The relationship between women's fear and the built environment has been the subject of research with clear findings that women feel unsafe in many public spaces including transportation environments.
website: apo.org.au/research/how-ease-womens-fear-transportation-environments

Web Site: Social Research in Transport (SORT) Clearinghouse

The Institute of Transport Studies (ITS) at Monash University, Australia, have developed a free web based international research clearinghouse to increase knowledge and learning in the transport profession about research relating to social issues in passenger transport. The clearinghouse collates research reports focussing on social issues such as disadvantage and inequality. Researchers can use the search the database to find and access reports, sign up to a newsletter providing updates on new research reports or submit research to be included on the system.
website: www.sortclearinghouse.info

Articles from the Australian Senior

Access the Senior Newspaper online: www.thesenior.com.au/publications.asp
(Under NSW click on Digital Paper. To enlarge the article click on it directly)

• p.6 Crossings get smart to improve safety (Timed Pedestrian Crossings)
• p.7 New permit to end confusion (Disability parking)
• p.8 War widows get fee relief (Free photo ID for pensioners and war widows)

COAG Communiqué – 7 December 2009: Transport Regulation

COAG has taken several further steps towards a truly national transport system that will reduce transport costs and help lift national productivity without compromising safety.

COAG agreed that South Australia will host the national rail safety regulator. This follows COAG’s agreement in July that the Australian Maritime Safety Authority will be the national regulator for maritime safety. It will continue to be headquartered in Canberra.

National Partnership Agreements for single national heavy vehicle and maritime regulators will be considered in the first half of 2010. The National Partnership Agreement for the single national rail regulator will be considered in 2011. COAG also agreed to establish a strengthened national regulators’ panel to provide better national harmonisation of rail safety regulation in the period in which the national regulator is being established. COAG further agreed to resolve a number of policy, legislation, governance and funding issues in the implementation stage, including the role of State Ministers.

A detailed work plan for delivery of the pricing elements of the COAG Road Reform Plan was also agreed. Under the plan, a feasibility study for alternative models of road pricing and funding will be completed by December 2011, which should include specific consideration of mass-distance location pricing. The outcomes of the feasibility study will help determine whether direct pricing is feasible.

COAG also agreed to release the report of the National Transport Commission (NTC) Review and the Australian Transport Council. Adoption of the recommendations will strengthen NTC’s capacity to focus on transport regulatory reform.

Investigating Transport Disadvantage, Social Exclusion and Well Being in Metropolitan, Regional and Rural Victoria

Short Context and Summary
Urban sprawl and sparse rural living are pervasive in Australia. Travel is thus a big yet essential part of Australian life. When transport is scarce, access to activities is hard and life prospects inhibited.

This problem is growing as fuel costs rise, the population ages and fringe/coast migration continues. Internationally transport disadvantage and social exclusion links are now a major study field, however Australian research is limited despite these pervasive and growing problems. This gap is filled using top world researchers in the field to investigate how transport problems impact on life opportunities and community well being. Knowledge developed will better focus Australias approach to this significant growing problem. This project is undertaken by the Institute of Transport Studies Monash University in association with the Department of Social Work and the Department of Psychology, Monash University, the Centre for Public Policy, Melbourne University, The Urban Transport Institute, The University of Westminster (UK) and the University of Ulster (UK). Project sponsors include the Australian Research Council, the Department of Infrastructure, The Bus Association of Victoria, The Brotherhood of St Laurence, and The Interface Councils Forum of Melbourne

Call for Expressions of Interest
Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service (NSCCAHS) is inviting applications from not for profit Non Government Organisations wishing to establish or expand drug and alcohol residential rehabilitation services to people with drug and alcohol problems who reside within the NSCCAHS catchment.

The grant funding available under this expression of interest is recurrent and would be administered under the NSW Health Non Government Organisation Grant Program.

The service to be provided will consist of 10 residential rehabilitation beds (formally the Phoenix Unit at Manly Hospital), half way housing and clinical support for drug and /or alcohol clients utilising 2 half way houses on the Northern Beaches and outpatient groups for people who have completed rehabilitation. The service must have the capacity to accept clients with co-morbidity issues. Consideration will be given towards alternate locations for the delivery of these services.

Application packages will be available from 11 January 2010.

To obtain a package please contact:

Melinda
phone: 9926 5217
email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Applications are to be submitted no later than 5 pm Monday 8 February 2010.

Registrations open for Arts-Activated Conference Registrations are now open for Accessible Arts’ Arts-Activated Conference at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney over 25-26 March 2010. A range of national and international speakers from the arts and disability sectors will come together to explore the themes of Arts – Access – Excellence through a series of workshops, panels and performances.

A strong program has been announced with the major highlight being keynote speaker Jenny Sealey, MBE, Artistic Director Graeae Theatre Company (UK) and Artistic Advisor to Unlimited, the UK’s largest ever disability arts program, launched by the 2012 Cultural Olympiad as part of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, planned for July – September 2012.

A selection of international and local speakers will be presenting including: Sue Williams, Arts Council England (UK), Tony McCaffrey, Artistic Director of Different Light Theatre Company (NZ), Rachel Gadsden, Visual Artist (UK), Majella Flanagan, Coordinator Any Bright Ideas (UK), Rafael Bonachela (NSW), Artistic Director Sydney Dance Company, Philip Channells, Artistic Director Restless Dance Theatre (SA) and Camilla Connolly, Australian Director of the Asperger Women Association (NSW).

The conference is intended for artists with and without a disability, arts workers, disability service providers, policy makers, funding bodies, festival organisers and volunteers, cultural institutions, venues and anyone interested in arts and disability.

Early-bird registrations are open until 18 December.

For more information:

website: www.aarts.net.au
contact: Jane Pollard, Education and Training Manager
email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
phone: 02 9251 6499