Applications are open for the Community Building Partnership program. The program provides funds for community groups and local councils to invest in community infrastructure throughout the NSW. Applicants need to demonstrate how their project will benefit their local community through the building or improvement of facilities to deliver positive social, recreational or environmental outcomes. Projects must be ready to commence by early 2012 and be completed before the end of March 2013.

Applications close on Monday 31 October 2011.

For further information see http://www.communitybuildingpartnership.nsw.gov.au/ .

Some guides for getting the most out of your Budget Paper reading experience.

• Download: NSW Treasury Presentation: How to read the NSW State Budget papers 2011-12 (PDF)
• Download: Financial Management Framework: What You Do And Why: An Agency Guide to Defining Results and Services (PDF)
• Related: NSW Government Budget 2011-12 Site (Papers, Press Releases, etc)

Report on the National Transport Commission Workshop
On Wednesday August 31, NCOSS attended a workshop on The Future of Transport in Australia. Hosted by the National Transport Commission (NTC) and the Institute for Sustainable Futures, the workshop was designed to inform the NTC’s Smart Transport for a Growing Nation project.

The first part of the workshop focused on developing a shared vision for a desired transport future.

Although the futures imagined by the individuals and groups attending the workshop differed in their finer details, they all had common attributes. These included more flexible and sustainable transport options – with public transport featuring as a more feasible, desirable choice for a greater proportion of the population. There was also a focus on reducing our requirements to travel; through the localisation of services, improvements in technology, and more flexible working arrangements.

The organisations attending the workshop represented a broad range of interests. They included State and Commonwealth transport and infrastructure agencies, the Australasian Railway Association, the Automobile Association, the Institute for Sensible Transport, consultants, academics and many others.

Yet in spite of this diversity, there was a remarkable level of agreement around some of the actions we should be taking in order to reach any one of our desired transport futures. Increased investment in public transport was seen as both important and urgent; as a higher priority than roads funding in almost every circumstance. Adjusting taxes and fees to better reflect the true cost – including social and environmental costs – associated with different modes of travel was also considered to be a crucial step.

It was well understood, however, that there are significant political barriers to carrying out these actions – overcoming these is a challenge that will require strong, forward-looking leadership. Sensitivity and foresight will also be required to ensure that while transitioning to a more sustainable transport future, we protect disadvantaged households and groups from additional hardship.

NCOSS looks forward to reading the project’s final report, and to supporting the NTC and other stakeholders as they work to address current and future transport challenges.

Regional Development Australia (RDA) brings together all levels of government to support the development of Australia's regions. In NSW RDA is funded by the Commonwealth and NSW Governments and administered by the Commonwealth Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development & Local Government and the NSW Department of Trade & Investment.

In NSW there are 14 RDA committees who are working to develop solutions to the economic, social and environmental issues affecting their communities. The network of RDA committees includes a single committee for the Sydney region.

RDA committees have developed:

• regional business growth plans and strategies, which will help support economic development, the creation of new jobs, skills development, business investment and utilise fast speed broadband
• environmental solutions, which will support ongoing sustainability and the management of climate change (including the impact of drought, flood or bushfires, restoration of the Murray Darling Basin and clean energy), and
• social inclusion strategies, which will bring together and support all members of the community.

Across NSW, Expressions of Interest (EOIs) are being sought for a total of 94 positions in RDAs. EOIs close on Friday 16 September 2011.

The Information Handbook and online EOI form can be found at http://www.rda.gov.au/working.aspx

Making our priorities count
Tuesday, 6 September 2011, 5.30pm-7.30pm
Sydney Masonic Conference and Function Centre, 66 Goulburn Street, Sydney

This forum is an opportunity to hear about the funding review and to enable everyone in the education and care sector to share thoughts, opinions and ideas about the review. The forum will examine:

• What we want as a sector;
• How we can best prepare submissions; and
• How we can ensure that the outcomes will work for children in NSW and the services that support them.

Download:  Flyer

NCOSS welcomes the promise by the Minister for Ageing and Disability Services, Andrew Constance, that the State Government will act to improve the safety and wellbeing of residents living in boarding houses. The Minister was responding to the latest in a series of damning reports from the Ombudsman.

In its state election platform Vote 1 Fairness in NSW NCOSS put forward a number of measures to provide better protection for boarders and lodgers. These include the introduction of a system of occupancy agreements along the lines of the ACT legislation and better regulation of both licensed and unlicensed boarding houses.

NCOSS would welcome any opportunity for further consultation with the Government on the detail of its promised changes.

For more information, contact Warren Gardiner, NCOSS Senior Policy Officer, on 9211 2599, ext 112 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  

The Australian Community Sector Survey (ACSS) is the only annual national survey collecting data about the non-government, non-profit community services and welfare sector. The latest ACSS was released this week by ACOSS and results relate to the 2009-10 financial year.

The ACSS shows that there is a growing demand for services provided by the community sector and that this demand is just not being met. Turn away rates have increased by 11% in NSW despite a 3% increase in the number of services provided. Community Sector organisations report that the biggest areas of unmet need are housing and homelessness services, mental health and emergency relief.

Download: 

• National report 
• NSW Report  
• ACOSS media release

On 15 August 2011, the NSW Minister for Education, The Hon Adrian Piccoli MP, announced that Professor Deb Brennan from the Social Policy Research Centre at the University of NSW will lead the Review of NSW Government funding for early childhood education.

The Minister has announced a wide ranging review which includes consideration of extra assistance to:

• families in disadvantaged circumstances;
• children in low-income households;
• children of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background;
• families in regional and rural areas; and
• children with special and additional support needs.

NCOSS welcomes this review and will be working with the NSW Children's Services Forum to promote greater access to early education and care for all children in NSW.

Download: Terms of Reference for the Review

Contact Dev Mukherjee, NCOSS Senior Policy Officer, on 9211 2599, ext 116 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.

NCOSS Sector Development Rural Roadshow

• Broken Hill
• 20 September 2011

On July 1 2010 the new NSW Associations Incorporation Act 2009 came into force. Is your organisation an Incorporated Association under NSW legislation? If yes, find out what the changes mean for your organisation.

Registration is open for the Good Governance Seminar in Broken Hill on Tuesday 20 September 2011.

Presented by Council of Social Service of NSW (NCOSS), in partnership with the Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH), this Good Governance Seminar is for Board members and Managers of human services Associations (NGOs).

Download: Flyer and Registration Form