VCOSS is the peak body for the social and community services sector in Victoria,
with more than 450 members working to address poverty, disadvantage and inequality.
Quick notes from Cath Smith, VCOSS CEO
Hi, welcome to the latest issue of Noticeboard.
Yesterday’s State Budget was a disappointment, with the Victorian Government continuing to let problems reach crisis point, without addressing their actual causes. We welcomed some initiatives on families, children, mental health and chronic disease but there are key gaps in a range of areas desperately needing resources, particularly early intervention supports for young people. As we outline in our Budget media release, prisons and police spending are simply the wrong priorities. Watch this space for our continuing efforts to shift government priorities to services that are crying out for support.
Cheers. Cath.
back to top  VCOSS at work - Speed dating, secret shoppers, rights, Indigenous forum
Decent not dodgy
VCOSS’ ‘Decent not dodgy’ Facebook campaign for minimum rental standards now has more than 1700 supporters. VCOSS and the Tenants Union of Victoria sent out teams posing as renters to 116 properties in 54 suburbs across Melbourne and Geelong and found one in 10 were unfit for human habitation. Check out the Secret Shopper survey results or get your organisation involved: email Jess Fritze or phone 9654 5050.
The right way on human rights
The campaign for Victoria to lead the way on human rights protection got a boost with the release of the 2009 Report on the operation of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities which showed rights protections are working. See details also from HREOC’s media release. It's great news but there's more to be done and VCOSS is calling in particular for the need to address systemic discrimination. See our media release.
Focus on Indigenous rights
Leading Indigenous advocate and academic Larissa Behrendt will lead VCOSS’s special forum: Indigenous Victorians: Participants Not Recipients - human rights and self-determination forum on Wednesday May 12. The forum is for Aboriginal community controlled organisations and community members and will look at the importance of self determination as part of the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities. Register now by email or phone VCOSS on 9654 5050.
Lining up for the election
VCOSS went ‘speed dating’ for the 2010 State Election – consulting with members on how to put social justice firmly on the agenda in November. Many thanks to all the members who attended the consultation sessions with our policy advisors. The feedback was excellent – leading to refinement of specific policy asks as well as to an overall simplification and streamlining of our Election Platform. Stand by for details on our campaign plans.
back to top Sector at large - hate crime survey
Hate crime survey
Know someone who has experienced prejudice-related crime or vilification? The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Right's Commission is conducting a Hate Crimes survey. All information is anonymous, but will be used in the Commission's submission to the State Government's review on laws dealing with crime, harassment and vilification motivated by hatred or prejudice. Read more about the Government's review.
back to top Coming up - stress workshops and Expo news
Don’t stress
As part of the Community Sector OHS Education and Training project, VCOSS is running workshops to help workers in the community sector gain a better understanding of what causes stress and ways to reduce its impact. Book now for Taking Care: Reducing the impact of Workplace Stress for Community Sector Workers at Morwell Community House, on Tuesday May 18 from 9.30am-4pm.
Join in at the Expo
Members are welcome to join VCOSS's ‘Showcasing the Community Sector’ stand at the National Careers and Employment Expo on Friday 21 May and Saturday 22 May at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Come along and fill a two-hour slot at the stand to promote your organisation's work, and look for solutions to staff and skills shortages. To be part of it all, email Marina Henley or phone 03 9654 5050.
Worksafe awards
Nominations close on May 7. If you're proud of what your organisation is doing to raise health and safety standards in the workplace, don't forget to lodge your nomination for a WorkSafe Award in 2010.
Masterclass for CSOs
For boards and management looking for the latest in strategic thinking and governance. The Nonprofit Masterclass in Advanced Strategy, Risk and Governance will be held on Friday June 18, led by Steven Bowman of Conscious-Governance and Dr Terrie Temkin of CoreStrategies for Nonprofits. Click here to register or for more information.
back to top VCOSS in the news - rental housing, affordable homes, water price rises
In early April the launch of Decent Not Dodgy – VCOSS's campaign to improve living standards in Victoria’s rental housing market – led to widespread media coverage across the State, including The Age, The National Times
and other high profile media like Melbourne’s 3AW, ABC’s Triple J News and WIN TV in Mildura, Shepparton and Albury. Other stories making the headlines included concerns about the paucity of affordable homes in Victoria, and the impact of water price rises
on the hard up such as pensioners. Follow VCOSS's media statements here.
Join the VCOSS social justice debate at www.twitter.com/vcoss
back to top In the sector - hitting new peaks
Poles apart!
They don’t come much more intrepid than this! Linda Beilharz, Executive Officer of Loddon Mallee Women's Health – one of VCOSS’s rural and regional members – last month made it to the North Pole, becoming the first Australian woman to trek to both the North and South Poles! She’s also the first Australian woman to ski from the edge of Antarctica to the South Pole. A fantastic achievement! Linda's pictured here (left) at the North Pole with her husband Rob Rigato and Canadian guide Sarah McNair-Landry.
back to top Meet our members - VICSERV
The Psychiatric Disability Services of Victoria - or VICSERV - is the peak body for Psychiatric Disability Rehabilitation and Support Services in Victoria. Its member agencies provide housing support, home-based outreach, psychosocial and pre-vocational day programs, residential rehabilitation, mutual support and self help, employment, training and support, carer education, respite and advocacy.
back to top Advertisement
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Join VCOSS...A strong, compassionate voice working for social change
For membership details, contact Membership Officer Lisa Williams on 03 9654 5050 or at lisa.williams@vcoss.org.au
To submit articles, advertising or feedback, contact Marie McInerney on 03 9654 5050 or at marie.mcinerney@vcoss.org.au
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