News

17^th September 2012     COMMUNITY GROUPS SAY QLD GOVERNMENT IS GAGGING DEBATE
by ABC "PM" (Transcript)

In Queensland, the State Government's trying to gag community organisations that it funds under the Health Department umbrella. The department's asking them to sign contracts which would limit their freedom to speak or advocate. They'd even be banned from providing links on their websites to other groups advocating for change. more

14^th September 2012     THE SALVATION ARMY - CROSSROADS INDIGENOUS YOUTH & FAMILIES PROGRAM - HUME ONLY

The program provides Intensive Case Management support to Indigenous youth 16-21 years, and their supporting adults who wish to re engage in education, training and or employment. more

13^th September 2012     RMIT RESEARCH STUDY - CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION PRIORITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY SERVICES SECTOR -THURSDAY 13 SEPTEMBER

RMIT, in partnership with the Department of Hman Services, is seeking the participation of funded agencies in an important study to examine the needs of community service organisations in preparing for the impacts of climate change. An introductory workshop is being held on Thursday 13 September 2012. more

12^th September 2012     NT HAS 17 TIMES THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF HOMELESSNESS
by NT Shelter

The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) new methodology for counting homelessness has been applied to 2006 Census data, more than tripling the previous count for the NT from 2481 to 7922 of every 10,000 people. more

12^th September 2012     THE YOUNG AND PREGNANT PARENTING (YAPP) PROGRAM - FIRST STEPS PARENTING PROGRAM FOR YOUNG PARENTS
by Melbourne Citymission

The YAPP program, in conjunction with Creating Connections, will be running an exciting and innovative parenting program from the 9th of October to the 4th of December. This program will aim to assist parents and their children to develop positive attachments, educate parents about age/stage appropriate behaviours and milestones and to teach parents how they can further enhance their own child's learning and development. more

12^th September 2012     DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES STANDARDS FUNDING UPDATE
by CHP & DV Vic

The Department of Human Services has advised that services will be allocated a contribution towards the costs associated with external review. more

12^th September 2012     FEARS RETHINK ON HOMELESS WILL CURB FUNDING
by Pia Akerman and Sophie Gosper - The Australian

A NEW definition of homelessness has reversed earlier figures to show a 6 per cent drop in homelessness this decade, prompting warnings from social service providers that the revised estimate must not lead to less funding. more

11^th September 2012     NFP FUNDING FOR FAIR WORK AUSTRALIA WAGE DECISION
by Pro Bono News

Government funded Not for Profits across Australia are about to receive Commonwealth funding offers to help pay for wage increases awarded in an historic decision by Fair Work Australia earlier this year. more

11^th September 2012     NW REFERRAL OPTION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE REQUIRING COUNSELLING - YOUTH RECONCILIATION PROGRAM @ HOPE STREET
by Kate Mulloy - Hope Street

The Youth Reconciliation Program (YRP) is targeted to young people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The service is a free confidential counselling support for young people aged 16-24 and can also offer family work to strengthen relationships if the young person chooses for this to occur. more

11^th September 2012     ARTISTS ASKED TO SHARE THEIR HOME TRUTHS
by HomeGround Services

HomeGround Services, a Melbourne-based housing and support agency, have launched their second event for artists who are homeless or who have experienced homelessness in the past. more

11^th September 2012     HOUSING MINISTER INTERVIEWED RE REVISED ABS ESTIMATES OF HOMELESSNESS
by ABC NEWSRADIO (TRANSCRIPT)

The Bureau of Statistics has just released official estimates of the prevalence of homelessness in Australia for the first time. Now the Bureau's apparently using a new expanded definition of homelessness based on figures from the 2001 and 2006 Census figures. more

11^th September 2012     WARNING OVER UNDERESTIMATING PROBLEM AS NEW DEFINTION CAUSES DROP IN HOMELESS COUNT
by Pia Akerman - The Australian

REVISED figures showing a drop in the number of homeless people at the 2001 and 2006 Census counts have prompted warnings that the problem should not be underestimated. more

11^th September 2012     OFFICIAL ABS ESTIMATES OF HOMELESSNESS: 90,000 HOMELESS PEOPLE ON 8 AUGUST 2006
by Australian Bureau of Statistics

Today is the first time the ABS has released official estimates of the prevalence of homelessness in Australia at the time of the 2001 and 2006 Censuses. more

11^th September 2012     ABS FIGURES REASSESS HOMELESSNESS
by Pro Bono News

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has revealed that Australia’s homeless numbers are dropping after producing revised figures using a new and expanded definition of homelessness. more

11^th September 2012     REVISED ABS FIGURES WON’T CHANGE COMMITMENT TO HALVE HOMELESSNESS
by The Hon. Brendan O'Connor MP - Minister for Housing & Homelessness

The Australian Bureau of Statistics will today release revised estimates of homelessness in Australia from the 2001 and 2006 Census figures, using its new, expanded definition of homelessness. more

10^th September 2012     DISABILITY SUPPORT NEEDS INTEGRATION NOT SEPARATION
by ABC's Ben Collins - THE DRUM

Beyond the financial support the NDIS will provide, there should be increasing integration of people with disabilities into the broader community, writes Ben Collins. more

10^th September 2012     ROOM TO CREATE IN YARRA

The City of Yarra has commissioned a creative spaces project - Room to Create. Key to this project is the Room to Create survey, where we ask artists and groups to tell us what role they and their space play in making Yarra one of the most exciting places of artistic and cultural production in Australia. more

10^th September 2012     REFERRALS TO HOMECONNECT HUB - VINCENTCARE GLENROY
by David Shannon - Youth Homelessness Prevention Senior Worker - HomeConnect Hub

The Youth Homelessness Prevention Team - HomeConnect Hub at Glenroy VincentCare is currently at capacity is unable to accept any more referrals at present. more

10^th September 2012     ACOSS PUSH FOR DOLE INCREASE
by Bianca Hall -The Sydney Morning Herald

THE Australian Council of Social Service has accused the government of misleading a Senate inquiry into the adequacy of Newstart when it suggested a couple with two children on the dole receive more money than the minimum wage. more

7^th September 2012     MISSIONARY LEAVES WAKE OF DISTRESS
by Marika Dobbin - THE AGE

AT LEAST 120 of Victoria's most vulnerable tenants are facing homelessness and some have lost their bond and bill money because a rooming house operator has gone missing with thousands of dollars. more