Policy Focus Areas

Smarter Services

How do we get more responsive, flexible and empowering services for people requiring social services?

Rarely does one person interact with a community service organisation or government program in isolation. Often engaging with multiple services, the complexity of the community service system is often confusing for people and does not provide an integrated plan to supporting people in need.

Services best developed with client input and outcomes that address the underlying issues that can place someone in the social services system.

With greater demand, and a reduction in resources, community service organisations also need to deliver a greater number of services with less. How they deliver these services and achieve better outcomes for their clients is an important consideration for future policy and governance decisions.

Working closely with the Community Services Sector, WACOSS is committed to the development of ‘Smarter Services.’ Smarter Services envisages a sector able to provide integrated, holistic services based on tailored outcomes for clients. It envisages organisations providing services that deliver life-long results and resilience to those at risk or at a disadvantage.

Stronger Sector

A strong, independent and diverse community sector is crucial to a fair and inclusive society.

The Community Services Sector has long worked to improve the lives of vulnerable people or those facing disadvantage. In WA, the sector employs 7 per cent of the State’s population and contributes around $12.7 billion to the State’s economy. With over four thousand Charities or Not-for-profits in WA providing services for vulnerable or disadvantaged people, the Community Services Sector is one of the largest sectors in the State.

Significant reform has ensured that these organisations are able to provide ever improving services and delivering a collective impact for our community.

Although, this reform has resulted in a shifting operating environment for providers where existing organisational structures and contract and funding provisions are at odds with historical systems. A priority of the sector is to maintain the choice and flexibility for people accessing services while building sector capacity and maintaining sustainability.

A Stronger Sector is WACOSS’s commitment to supporting the development of a diverse and independent community services sector. Through A Stronger Sector, WACOSS advocates for formalised, formulated funding of community services and a dedicated plan to the development of the social services workforce.

Resillient Communities

Championing Social Wellbeing

How can we tackle inequality and reduce disadvantage?

In WA, there are numerous peaks and community sector organisations doing incredible work in their respective service areas. For different reasons, some service areas are in need of extra support to ensure services remain accessible, sustainable and responsive to the community need. WACOSS is available to fill the gaps and provide support as needed. For example, we are currently working with Early Years Networks to reduce inequality and disadvantage among children, young people and families.

Through championing social wellbeing, WACOSS works to improve outcomes for disadvantaged and vulnerable people who seldom have the opportunity to tell their own stories to those in power. WACOSS also speaks up on those issues that impact on the community right across our support system, like poverty and inequality. We advocate for more integrated, wrap around systems of support, for services that are person-centred and empower citizens to take charge of their own lives, and for greater investment in prevention and early intervention to reduce long term costs and provide life-long outcomes.

By advocating on behalf of those without a voice, WACOSS aims to improve the wellbeing of our communities and create a healthier society.

Equitable Support

Creating Equitable Communities

Inequality is the primary cause of disadvantage and many of the social issues experienced by the vulnerable in our community.

Systems and services that aim to tackle income inequality are vital to supporting healthy, resilient communities. Without adequate support, living costs can place significant pressure on a household’s financial sustainability, leaving them one crisis away from hardship.

Often people find themselves in crisis through no fault of their own due to external factors they cannot control. In these situations, people require support to get back on their feet.

With income inequality in Western Australia at the highest rate in the nation, and child poverty rates increasing over the last decade, the policy focus area of “Creating Equitable Communities” is WACOSS’s commitment to promoting and developing initiatives that reduce inequality and increase financial resilience, helping people in crisis improve their wellbeing.

Emerging Issues & Research

With the only constant in community services being change, WACOSS actively engages with social researchers and service providers to identify, advise on and respond to emerging issues.

The research and projects undertaken by WACOSS vary greatly depending on the needs of the WA community, the ability of service sectors to meet that demand, and the availability of resources. Every project aligns with WACOSS’s mission to achieve an inclusive, just and equitable society.