Updated: 10 March 2010
Includes: Consultation on a National Standard Chart of Accounts Updated 10.3.2010 | Splitting HACC | SPPs | CSTDA | National reform Agenda
Since the start of 2008, as a result of a change in Government, there has been an increasing amount of change being proposed across Australia. Much of this is to be driven through COAG processes. This change is happening quickly and it can be difficult to stay in touch with what is happening.
As part of its commitment to keeping the sector informed and involved NCOSS has produced analyses of the COAG communiqués. We have attempted to assess what the announcements really mean (progress, no progress, more meetings of "working parties", possible distractions etc) for NSW.
NCOSS intends to continually update this information as more changes occur and more information becomes available.
Resources and downloads
Current Issues
Consultation on a National Standard Chart of Accounts
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 COAG communiqué of 7 December states:
"To ensure that the regulatory burden on not-for-profit sector organisations is minimised, COAG agreed to allow these organisations to meet a range of requirements with one system of a Standard Chart of Accounts for not-for-profit organisations in receipt of government grants."
The Queensland University of Technology (QUT) has developed the draft national SCOA. It is based on the existing charts developed for New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria and includes variations for different fundraising and gaming legislation in each jurisdiction. These variations will be resolved in a second stage of the SCOA in 2012.
Adoption of the SCOA by NFP NGOs will be voluntary and allow NGOs that report to more than one government funder to keep one set of financial information that will satisfy all their financial reporting requirements.
The NSW Better Regulation Office is inviting the sector to comment on the proposed national SCOA during February.
Resources
Information
Any person or group interested in being involved in the consultation is invited to contact:
- Daniel Woods
Department of Premier and Cabinet
ph: 9228 4842
email:
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.
Alternatively, members can inform the NCOSS response by forwarding their comments to us by Friday, 10 February 2010. Please forward to:
- Catherine Mahony, NCOSS Deputy Director, Sector Development and Corporate Services
ph: 9211 2599, ext 110
email:
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Commonwealth Proposal that HACC should be Split!
Updated: 5 September 2008
Information on the proposed split of Home and Community Care Services (HACC) between the Federal Government, (older people) and the States (people with disabilities).
Background
In The Age on the 2 September 2008 it was announced that:
“Aged Care would become completely the Federal Government’s responsibility and the disabled would come wholly under the states in a sweeping revamp of roles proposed by the Rudd Government.
…The home-based services for the elderly that the Federal Government would assume direct responsibility for include meals on wheels, nursing care, personal care and domestic assistance, home maintenance, transport and assessment.
…The current proposal, which involves dividing up the Home and Community Care Program, is being developed as part of the Council of Australian Governments reform agenda.
…The proposed date for the takeover of the other aged services is July 1, 2009.”
(Michelle Grattan, The Age, 2 September, 2008)
The split of Home and Community Care Services (HACC) between the Federal Government, (older people) and the States (people with disabilities), is not a new idea. It was previously proposed in 2005.
At that time, the NSW Aged Care Alliance, developed a report outlining its position about the proposed split. This report outlines the advantages/disadvantages of splitting or not splitting HACC.
The NSW Aged Care Alliance recommended that any change to the existing arrangements must deliver guaranteed qualitative and quantitative improvements to the provision of services and supports to older people, people with disabilities and carers across Australia and in NSW in particular, before a re-distribution of funding and program responsibilities between Commonwealth and state jurisdictions is implemented.
Consequently, the Alliance’s position was that until improvements could be guaranteed, both Commonwealth and state levels of government should maintain joint responsibility and accountability for the provision of aged care and community care programs and services.
A decision about this proposal will be made at the next Coalition of Australian Government (COAG) meeting on 2nd October.
Resources
COAG and the National Reform Agenda
Updated: 26 August 2008
Following the election of the Rudd Labor Government in November last year, much work is being done by both the Federal and State/Territory Governments on what is being called the National Reform Agenda. This work is happening mainly through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) processes. There is a great deal of work being done about the appropriate roles and responsibilities for each tier of Government and how governments working together can better deliver services.
There are significant implications and opportunities for the community sector from this process.
To assist the sector in understanding the National Reform Agenda and its implications, the COSS Network, lead by ACOSS, has developed a Discussion Paper for the sector.
We are seeking your feedback on the matters raised in the discussion paper which will allow us to further develop a broad sector wide position on the issues of importance to the community sector.
Feedback is welcome, either to:
- ACOSS
email:
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- Alison Peters, Director, NCOSS
email:
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CSTDA (Commonwealth State Territory Disability Agreement)
Updated: 20 July 2007
The Commonwealth State Territory Disability Agreement, CSTDA, is a joint five year Agreement between the Australian Government and the governments of the states and territories about the provision of funding to support people with disabilities. The third CSTDA ended on 30 June 2007 and negotiations have been extended for six months. However many in the NSW disability sector have serious concerns.
Download
Joint Position Statement: Commonwealth State Territory Disability Agreement
Information
- Christine Regan
NCOSS Senior Policy Officer
phone: 9211 2599, ext 117
fax: 9281 1968
email:
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Specific Purpose Payments (SPPs)
Updated: 13 March 2008
Specific Purpose Payments (SPPs) are grants provided by the Commonwealth government to the States and Territories for specific purposes (as differentiated from those provided for general purposes). There are many SPPs that affect funding for health programs, including those provided by community and non-government organisations.
NCOSS, Women’s Health NSW, ACON, MHCC, MHA NSW Inc, Family Planning NSW, NAAH, Hepatitis C Council and NADA have endorsed a position statement on the reform of SPPs and health funding to NSW.
Download
Position Paper: Reform of SPPs and health funding to NSW
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