ACTCOSS Annual Report 2012-13

Contents ACT Council of Social Service Inc� (ACTCOSS) �� 1 Sector development �� 14 Acknowledgement of traditional custodians 1 Sector sustainability �� 14 Vision� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �1 Training & development � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 15 Values � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �1 Home and Community Care (HACC) �� 16 Goals � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �1 Membership engagement �� 17 About ACTCOSS � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �2 Publications & information sharing� � � � � � � � � 17 2012-13 highlights� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �2 Input to advocacy �� 17 President’s report �� 3 ACTCOSS biennial conference 2012: Vision, Values, Votes� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 18 Director’s report� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �4 ACT Community Sector Awards 2012 � � � � � � 19 ACTCOSS staff� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �5 Member survey� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 20 Our evolving staff team� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �5 Strategic Plan renewal �� 20 Advocacy �� 7 Publications & media 2012-13 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 21 Housing & homelessness �� 7 Networks, working groups and seminars �� 22 Justice & corrections� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �7 ACTCOSS General Committee � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 23 Social determinants of health� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �8 ACTCOSS members 2012-13 �� 24 Poverty & exclusion� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �9 National engagement �� 10 Reconciliation� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11 Gulanga Program� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � 11 Reconciliation Action Plans �� 12 Development of protocols for working with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples & communities �� 12 National & local events �� 13 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 2611 Ph: 02 6202 7200 Fax: 02 6288 0070 Email: actcoss@actcoss�org�au Website: www�actcoss�org�au i ACT Council of Social Service Inc. ACT Council of Social Service Inc. (ACTCOSS) Acknowledgement of traditional custodians ACTCOSS 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� Vision To live in a fair and equitable community that respects and values diversity and actively encourages collaborations that promote justice, equity, and social inclusion� Values ACTCOSS 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 Annual Report 2012-13 1 About ACTCOSS The ACT Council of Social Service Inc� (ACTCOSS) is Strategic direction and corporate governance of the peak representative body for both community ACTCOSS is provided by the General Committee organisations providing services and support for comprised of respected leaders from our low-income households and for people experiencing membership� The staff are drawn from a wide disadvantage in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT)� range of backgrounds and contribute their skills ACTCOSS has been a voice for the ACT Community and knowledge to the social policy and sector since 1963� The role of ACTCOSS is to: development work of ACTCOSS� This work is also sustained by the talents, expertise and commitment • Provide a voice for and with people living with of numerous community-based networks� disadvantage and inequality ACTCOSS receives the largest proportion of our • Make explicit and pursue a social justice agenda funding from the ACT Government Community by leading policy research and advocacy Services Directorate (CSD)� The Gulanga Program • Undertake community sector support and receives funding under the National Affordable development for a professional and influential Housing Agreement (NAHA), which is jointly community sector that is undergoing funded by the ACT Government and Australian significant reform Government� We also receive funding from ACT ACTCOSS is a membership-based organisation, with Health to support organisations and workers a diverse membership that includes other peak who provide services under the ACT Home and bodies, advocacy and consumer groups, service Community Care Program (HACC) which is a joint providers, mutual support and self-help groups as Commonwealth and State/Territory program� well as individuals who share our vision and values� Our advocacy and sector development are ACTCOSS is a member of the nationwide network of supported by financial and in-kind support from Councils of Social Service (COSS), that includes members, individual supporters and private sector each of the state and territory Councils and the organisations that share our vision and values� national body, the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS)� 2012-13 highlights Highlights during 2012 -13 include: • The rollout of increased individual consultancy to support community sector organisations with • Provision of 17 reports, submissions and governance and strategic planning publications • Refresh of corporate governance training to • Building advocacy partnerships across gender- align with the requirements of the Australian specific and specialist trauma services in Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, relation to funding cuts to housing and members’ needs and best practice homelessness services • Revision of the ACT Social Compact together • Advocacy to improve human rights and social with the Joint Community Government outcomes in the justice and corrections systems Reference Group • Running the biennial ACTCOSS conference • Increased public profile including through ‘Vision, Values, Votes’ broadcast media and building our social media • Expansion of our membership engagement engagement strategy • Building our partnership with Jobs Australia • Development of resources to support • Completing the Pre-qualification framework community organisations to respond better to which enables ACTCOSS to continue to the needs and expectations of Aboriginal and receive and seek Community Services Torres Strait Islander peoples Directorate funding 2 ACT Council of Social Service Inc. President’s report It is a great honour and privilege to be sitting in the Jenny Kitchin, Director President’s seat for the 50th year of operation for of Community Services, ACTCOSS� I have been on the General Committee Anglicare ACT at various times over the past 25 years and have seen not only the organisation go through many changes but also the community sector� number of these areas to follow up with specific In all its permutations and challenges ACTCOSS training and seminars, always seeking to further has survived and thrived as an agency strongly strengthen capacity in the sector� advocating for its members and the community Engaging the membership has been and will sector more broadly� continue to be a focus of ACTCOSS’ thinking as Our new Director, Susan Helyar, has continued with we grapple with how to utilise the expertise of the comprehensive and far reaching work of Ros our consumers and agencies� Our policy forums, Dundas who left us at the end of 2013� Susan has a training sessions, information seminars, newsletters high profile with the ACT government working in and regular notices have attracted varying levels of partnership on community sector reform projects involvement and interest� We believe there are far and changes to funding programs� In a short time more ideas and input we can harness which we will her views have become actively sought by both continue to find ways of seeking� bureaucrats and Ministers� Concurrently

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