News

4^th March 2013     FECCA SURVEY – ACCESS AND EQUITY SURVEY FOR AUSTRALIANS FROM CALD BACKGROUNDS
by The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia

The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) is the national peak body representing Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Each year, FECCA conducts Access and Equity consultations across Australia to learn about the experiences of CALD people in accessing Government services in a range of areas including employment, education, health, aged care services and more. As part of this process, an online survey is developed to gather additional feedback from CALD Australians, which will subsequently be provided to Government on how effective the services it provides are, and where opportunities for improvement exist. more

4^th March 2013     SOCIAL MIX - A QUAGMIRE OF SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL POLICY
by Ross Smith - The Rimfire Review

For many years the mantra of Social Mix has been used by various state governments in Australia to justify the financing of the redevelopment of public housing estates by selling off land mass to the Development sector. This model voids the need for governments to spend money on replacing aged public housing stock and removes the outstanding maintenance backlog from their books. The same model is used in other countries including the United Kingdom, Europe, and the United States. more

4^th March 2013     BRIGHT FUTURES OPEN FOR REFERRALS
by Merri Outreach Support Service

The Bright Futures Children’s Specialist Support Service works in collaboration with homelessness support agencies in the NW metro region to respond to the specific needs of children affected by homelessness and/or family violence. more

4^th March 2013     DO YOUR CLIENTS NEED $300? SMALL GRANTS FOR PERSONAL NEEDS WANT TO BE GIVEN AWAY!‏
by Community Placement Network

Community Placement Network Trust is a new small grants program for asylum seekers and refugees. They provide small grants (around $300 although there are no formal guidelines) for personal needs and are keen for more applications! more

1^st March 2013     UNDERSUPPLY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FORCES DIFFICULT HOUSING CHOICES
by National Shelter

National Shelter has welcomed the National Housing Supply Council’s report released today, revealing Australian’s unaffordable housing issue continues to grow. more

1^st March 2013     UNDERSUPPLY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING FORCES DIFFICULT HOUSING CHOICES
by National Shelter

National Shelter has welcomed the National Housing Supply Council’s report released today, revealing Australian’s unaffordable housing issue continues to grow. more

1^st March 2013     NEW REGULATIONS. OLD PROBLEMS REMAIN FOR ROOMING HOUSES
by Guy Stayner - 7:30 Report Victoria

New standards are to be introduced for rooming houses in Victoria, but industry observers say they don't address the issues of unregistered premises and unscrupulous operators. more

28^th February 2013     INTERVENTIONS FOR MOTHERS WITH PND AND THEIR BABIES - BRINGING MOTHER-INFANT THERAPY INTO ROUTINE PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH - WORKSHOP TO BE HELD ON 28TH FEBRUARY 2013
by the Parent Infant Research Institute (PIRI)

Perinatal mental illness is common and treatment of the illness does not in itself necessarily result in improved outcomes for the infant. This workshop aims to help clinicians apply attachment theory and reflective functioning concepts to clinical cases. more

27^th February 2013     TELSTRA WAIVES SILENT LINE FEE FOR VICTIMS OF ABUSE
by Jonathan Swan - The Age

Victims who have been assaulted in their homes by family members or partners will be given silent telephone numbers free under a new policy announced by Telstra. more

27^th February 2013     INVITATION TO THE MOONEE VALLEY HEALTH AND WELLBEING FORUM
by Moonee Valley City Council

Moonee Valley City Council is currently developing the Moonee Valley Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2013-17 and is convening a forum to encourage stakeholders and community members to have input into this plan. more

26^th February 2013     WIRE’S NEW HOUSING INFORMATION BOOKLETS FOR WOMEN IN VICTORIA
by WIRE Women's Information

On Tuesday, 26 February 2013, the Parliamentary Secretary for Families and Community Services Mrs Andrea Coote MLC is launching two new Housing Information Booklets for Women in Victoria (Books 1 & 2) by not-for-profit organisation WIRE Women’s Information.

WIRE’s two new housing information booklets aim to help women in housing crises to understand and navigate Victoria’s housing system in order to find a safe, secure and affordable place to live in:

25^th February 2013     POOR, ISOLATED AND WORRIED WOMEN AT RISK OF VIOLENCE
by Lisa Davies - The Sydney Morning Herald

WOMEN under financial or personal stress who lack social support are more at risk of being the victim of physical abuse. And if alcohol abuse exists in the household as well - either their own or a partner's - the risk doubles. more

25^th February 2013     YOUTH FACE SNAKES AND LADDERS ON THE PATH TO FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT
by Lucas Walsh - The Conversation

Getting a job is a major concern for young Australians. Last year’s National Survey of Young Australians showed a large rise in the proportion of young people valuing getting a job, from 16% in 2010 to 22.7% in 2011. The recently launched 2012 Youth Survey, which focused on young people aged 15 to 19, suggests that some need to find work to help pay for household bills, school books and other necessities. more

25^th February 2013     DOLE IS BOOSTED FOR THE UNEMPLOYED - BY A WHOLE $4
by Tory Shepherd - The Australian

AUSTRALIA'S poorest people will get a whopping boost of $4 a week thanks to the "battlers' bonus" passed by Parliament yesterday. more

25^th February 2013     AGREEMENT ON HOMELESSNESS IN LIMBO
by Pro Bono News

National welfare Not for Profit Mission Australia has warned that vital support to thousands of vulnerable and homeless Australians is in limbo, while a crucial funding agreement between the Federal and State governments remains unsigned. more

25^th February 2013     HOMELESS SERVICES WAIT ON FUNDING
by Rachel Browne - The Age

Welfare agencies supporting Australia's most disadvantaged people are in limbo following a delay to a critical funding agreement between federal and state governments. more

25^th February 2013     LEGAL AID 'NEEDS $49M' BAILOUT
by Jane Lee - The Age

CASH-STRAPPED Victoria Legal Aid would need $49 million to solve its funding crisis and has reached breaking point, lawyers say. more

25^th February 2013     ENGLISH LANGUAGE COURSE AT NEW HOPE FOUNDATION NOW TAKING REFERRALS‏ FOR CLASSES STARTING IN EARLY MARCH
by New Hope Foundation

New Hope Foundation are taking referrals to their English language classes for women starting in early March. more

25^th February 2013     THE PUBLIC SERVICE UNION CLAIMS THE STATE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO PRIVATISE MORE SERVICES
by Robyn Ironside - The Courier Mail

THE Newman Government plans to use the release of Peter Costello's Commission of Audit recommendations to justify the privatisation of services. The public service union claims these would include public housing, prisons and respite care. more

25^th February 2013     STATE- WIDE HOUSING ESTABLISHMENT FUND FOR YOUNG PEOPLE (15 TO 25) WHO ARE AT RISK OF OR EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WHO ALSO IDENTIFY AS SAME SEX ATTRACTED, TRANSGENDER AND INTERSEX
by Family Access Network

Family Access Network in Box Hill manage the state- wide Housing Establishment Fund for young people (15 to 25) who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness who also identify as Same Sex Attracted, Transgender and Intersex. It is available to cover the cost of flexible accommodation for a young person who is in a housing crisis and are working towards securing suitable, sustainable and safe housing. more