ACOSS Australian Council of Social Service

ACOSS CEO Cassandra Goldie AO was delighted to attend the launch of the groundbreaking report from Good Things Foundation revealing that closing the digital divide for those who are most excluded across the country could generate nearly half a billion dollars in annual benefits. The ‘The Economic Benefits of Overcoming Digital Exclusion’ report is the first of its kind in Australia, offering a comprehensive analysis of how digital exclusion impacts the economy, and the significant benefits to both individuals and society from addressing this issue. This research is pivotal to Good Things’ mission of ensuring that no one is left behind in the efforts to close the digital divide. Jess Wilson #DigitalInclusion #GetOnlineWeek

ACOSS CEO Cassandra Goldie AO was proud to join with our colleagues from across businesses, unions, and the community sector to call for greater recognition of the skills and qualifications of migrant members of our community. The lack of recognition and development of the skills of migrants is wasteful at a time when there are shortages of skilled workers in sectors such as care services. It also exposes migrants to the risk of prolonged unemployment and the poverty that results from having to live on $56 a day Jobseeker Payments. Our employment services system is failing to connect people to the jobs and training that meets their needs and the needs of employers, instead pushing into the first available job under threat of loss of income support. If we recognise the skills and qualifications of migrants, we can fill gaps in essential services that we all rely on. Read more about the campaign convened by SSI (Settlement Services International) here: https://lnkd.in/gZ3MCYJR

In a piece for the Sunday Telegraph ACOSS CEO Cassandra Goldie AO shared her reflections on the government’s recently announced back-to-back budget. In the article she wrote: "Fiscal restraint and improved economic indicators mean little to those forced to go hungry, pitch tents or ration medicine, their needs unmet by successive governments that know what to do, but refuse to do it." We have one of the lowest income support payments among wealthy nations forcing millions of people into poverty. And Hundreds of thousands of people are in acute financial distress and turning to community services for help, but government funding has not kept pace with demand. ACOSS strongly urge the government to #raisetherate of JobSeeker and related payments to at least $82 a day in line with the pension and above the poverty line and provide critical frontline services with the funding they need. Anglicare Australia Community Legal Centres Australia Economic Justice Australia Foodbank Australia Homelessness Australia Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gSnaSDGn

October is National Mental Health Month - a time to come together and build community and connection around mental health.   We all want to be there for the people we care about but recognising signs of poor mental health can be challenging. That’s why having regular conversations, building stronger connections and growing community awareness can help us better understand how to support each other.   Taking care of each other can make taking care of ourselves a little bit easier.   If you or somebody you know is seeking support, we’ve created a list of support services on our website. Visit acoss.org.au/help/ For non-English speakers, Mental Health Australia’s Embrace Project provides a list of multilingual support services. Visit https://lnkd.in/dc34kFk If a life is in danger, call 000 immediately.

People everywhere have been feeling the weight of towering interest rates but the RBA is still resisting the need for cuts because, according to the RBA, there’s still too high a demand for goods and services and our official interest rates and unemployment rates aren’t as high as other wealthy nations. But data from the ABS, OECD and community organisations say otherwise. Those other wealthy countries (including Canada, New Zealand, the UK and US) with lower official interest rates have already had cuts while disposable household income per capita in Australia has dropped and unemployment has risen and will continue to rise unless interest rates are reigned in. It is past time for the Reserve Bank of Australia to cut official interest rates to restore important post-lockdown employment gains Australia experienced and ensure monetary policy decisions consider the people impacted most. #economy #unemployment #interestrates

There’s almost nowhere in Australia where people on income support or minimum wage can afford a rental home without experiencing crushing housing stress, a new Everybody’s Home report shows: https://lnkd.in/geA42rZy   The Federal Government must #RaiseTheRate of Jobseeker and related payments to at least $82 a day so people on low incomes can at least afford to pay rent and cover the basics.   It must also significantly boost investment in social housing, phase-out tax concessions for property investors, and coordinate stronger renter protections and minimum rental standards including for energy performance.

ACOSS CEO Cassandra Goldie AO spoke on Sunrise this morning about another inadequate increase to income support payments like JobSeeker and Youth Allowance. As Cass highlighted during the segment, our recent Raise the Rate Survey shows people on woefully inadequate social security payments are routinely going without daily essentials just to get by. Every dollar does count. but those with the least will continue to suffer without a substantial and permanent increase to income support payments. #auspol #RaiseTheRateForGood https://lnkd.in/gZ4pUjYW

ACOSS CEO Cassandra Goldie AO tells the The Saturday Paper, "Broad NDA's needlessly stifle meaningful consultation and contribution from community sector organisations and people who hold direct experience and expertise of policies and services." Read more here: https://lnkd.in/duxERjFy The routine use of non-disclosure agreements in government consultation processes, some with disproportionately high penalties, is at odds with the government’s commitment to supporting community sector advocacy and should be limited. #auspol24

The Australian Public Service Commissioner released its report on the #Robodebt Inquiry. For a scheme that unlawfully hounded people for money they did not owe over several years, it’s shameful that little accountability has come to pass. Our statement: https://lnkd.in/gQcmZPGb

Renew Australia for All launches today! We’re proud to be one of more than 50 organisations from all over Australia a part of this coalition committed to securing a fairer future. We're calling on the government to take specific actions to urgently cut power bills, invest in an all-electric future, and ensure all people benefit fairly. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/g5vgnq4U #RenewAustraliaForAll