Dear *|FNAME|*,

Last week the Bankwest Curtin Economic Centre released The Early Years, Investing in Our Future, which delves into understanding the drivers of disadvantage in the early years of a child's life, and supports the need for good health and wellbeing during this important developmental phase. Unfortunately, not all children and families get the support they need to ensure positive development: more than one in five children under the age of five in Western Australia (20.7%) lives in poverty.

Without dedicated attention and resources, the impact of disadvantage and poverty on a child’s outcomes will reinforces the inequities, and once this becomes entrenched, it is very difficult to break the cycle.

To treat all of Western Australia’s children fairly, we need to make sure that families and communities have what kids need to thrive and be healthy. With our members, we have been championing the development of a Child Wellbeing Framework and Implementation plan, which would put children, their families, and their communities at the forefront. We will continue advocating for this approach in the lead up to the State Election, which we know can create a healthier and fairer Australia for all children.

Yours sincerely,

Louise Giolitto
Chief Executive Officer

COVID-19 Update #39

COVID-19 Safety Guidelines for Phase 4 have been updated. Organisations and businesses that re-opened in earlier phases should ensure their COVID-19 Safety Plans are updated and continue to be implemented in line with the Safety Guidelines. We touched on this information in our COVID-19 Bulletin on 20 August.

Stay up-to-date on all COVID-19 health matters via the WA Government Coronavirus webpage. Community service organisations can visit the WACOSS Community Services COVID-19 resources page on the website for resources and information relevant to the sector. 

Save the date for the WACOSS Budget Briefing Webinar

This year's State Budget will be delivered on Thursday 8 October and will be crucial for the economic and social recovery in WA. Community services are interested in getting a good read on its implications, to enable them to plan and respond to changing need. WACOSS will deliver a briefing for the community sector via webinar, at 2:30pm, Friday 9 October. This will be free for members. Join the team for analysis, along with special guests, Michael Barnes, Under Treasurer, and Michael Andrews, Acting Executive Director of Strategic Policy and Evaluation, for their presentation on the trends and implications of the Budget. 

Review of the Disability Standards for Education

The Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment is currently reviewing the Disability Standards for Education 2005. These help make sure students with disability can access and participate in education and training on the same basis as students without disability. They also help ensure all education providers comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. In early childhood education and care, the Standards currently apply to preschools, including kindergartens (but not child-care providers). Early childhood education and care providers, educators, and parents are encouraged to get involved in the review.

Delivering Community Services in Partnership Working Group

The terms of the DCSP Working Group have been released, and there are several key functions, essentially focused on working with government agencies on ‘best practice’ in procurement and contract management, advising on implementation of the Outcomes Management Framework and promoting the findings from the Good Procurement Practices Report to address capability gaps. WACOSS remains committed to actively engaging with various central and line agencies to influence positive change to procurement practices and compliance with the DCSP policy.

OAG Audit of the COVID-19 Relief Fund

The Auditor General is conducting an independent performance audit of the COVID-19 Relief Fund administered by Lotterywest, which will focus on the effectiveness of the governance and assessment arrangements used by Lotterywest to award grants between March and June 2020. Feedback is sought by 10 September, from organisations about their experience in applying for funding and from those who considered applying but didn’t. Feedback is welcome on the grants process and to hear if the information about eligibility, how to apply, and the criteria that would be used to assess applications was clear and if the application process was easy or not. Please note that the audit is not able to comment on or criticise government policy, or alter Lotterywest funding decisions.

National charitable fundraising reform

Charitable fundraising regulators across Australia are working together with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) to examine options to reduce the regulatory burden for charitable fundraisers who operate in multiple jurisdictions. A cross-jurisdictional recognition scheme is being considered which would allow a charity registered with the ACNC to be automatically deemed as holding an authority in all participating jurisdictions. A discussion paper has been prepared detailing the proposal. Government is now seeking feedback on the proposed deemed registration model. Detailed information about the proposal and consultation process is available on the New South Wales Fair Trading website. Submissions can be made using the online form or by emailing [email protected] before midnight, Friday 18 September 2020.

Men's Sheds of WA seeks new Board Members

Be part of developing and growing the Men’s Sheds movement in WA ensuring all men have the opportunity to join a Men’s Sheds community, enhancing their health and wellbeing and enriching the lives of people in their local community. Men's Sheds have secured funding from the Department of Communities until 2024, and to continue their work, they are looking for skills and capabilities in:

• Health and wellbeing (promotion/research/funding)
• Local Government knowledge/expertise 
• Legal (not-for-profit)
• Finance (including Treasurer/Finance sub-committee lead)
• Training and education

To reflect the diversity that is Western Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people with disability are encouraged to apply for all advertised positions. Women and younger people are also welcome. The roles are unpaid, and will require attendance at Board meetings throughout the year, as well as annual strategic planning sessions, sub-committee meetings, and other events.

Submit your application to James Wild, CEO, via [email protected], with a short professional CV, and cover letter (maximum 1,500 words) that outlines why you would like to join the Board, and how you match the priorities for recruitment. Applications close by 4:00pm, Thursday 24 September 2020.

Strengthening access for young people to the National Redress Scheme

Child Wise has developed a number of resources, including videos and fact sheets, to help young people learn about the National Redress Scheme (the Scheme), as they may be eligible to apply when they turn 18. Resources have also been designed to assist parents, caregivers and professionals in supporting young people who may have experienced institutional child sexual abuse to access the Scheme. Under the Scheme, they may be eligible for counselling and psychological services; a direct personal response from the institution(s) responsible for the abuse, such as an apology, via letter, phone or video, or where possible in person; a redress payment.

10% discount in all project quotes by DropIN Solutions

DropIN Solutions is a social enterprise by WACOSS, focused on providing professional graphic design, web and IT solutions and marketing services tailored for community services organisations. If you are working on an important publication, thinking of redesigning your organisation logo and brand, or planning on changing your website, then this is the right time to contact the DropIN Solutions team at WACOSS. They are offering a 10% discount in all service quotes until the end of September. Email Jaime via [email protected] or 08 6381 5300 and explore all the possibilities. Check out some of their other projects.

ACOSS and National COSS Network campaigning

The COSS network wrote to the Federal Government to address the gap in the COVID-19 response which is excluding more than 1 million people on temporary visas from accessing income support and JobKeeper.

ACOSS have produced a briefing paper on the impacts of financial distress on mental health during COVID-19.