Welcome to the August 2010 Issue of " 'Your Voice' - the Newsletter of Mid North Coast Regional Council for Social Development.

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Welcome to the July 2010 Issue of " 'Your Voice' - the Newsletter of Mid North Coast Regional Council for Social Development.

Click Here to view >>

In this addition:

o              Local Connections to Work                                  

o              Federal Minimum Wage Increase           

o              Australia’s Workforce Futures                   

o              Federal Budget & Health Portfolio - ACOSS’S Analysis                             

THE BIG PICTURE

o              Carers Legislation Passed                         

o              Expert team to review Domestic Violence Deaths                                                    

o              Equal Pay for Community workers                      

WORKSHOPS, TRAINING, SEMINARS & SUPPORT GROUPS                                                                   

o              Risk of Harm Training Days                         

o              Sexuality and Ageing                                 

o              Planning Ahead – Carers Forum              

o              Individuals at Risk of Suicide                     

o              At Risk Youth - Sexual Health                     

o              LCSA 2010 Conference                             

o              Women’s Breakfast Series                         

o              Rent It Keep It                                             

FUNDING & OPPORTUNITIES

o              Know the Deal- Video Competition       

o              Small Grants for Rural Communities         

o              Home Power Saving Program                  

o              Holidays for people with mental health  issues                      

o              Scholarships for Non-Government Organisations                                            

o              Saver Plus Program                                    

INNOVATION AND BEST PRACTICE

o              Health Advisory Council Seeks Your Views                                                            

o              Emergency Relief Handbook Update    

o              LawAccess NSW

o              NorthCott EarlyStart Diagnosis                  

o              IDEAS Project                                                           

o              “Bob Wallis” Community Bike Ride                      

o              Manning Valley Counseling Services Community Services Guide               

ORGANISATIONAL PROFILE

o              Centrelink Social Services                         

RESOURCES

o              Resources                                                    

o              Useful Links                                                   

Coffs Coast Regional Disability Committee

The next meeting will be held on 16th August, 2010 at the Coffs Harbour Council Administration Building, Committee Room 1,

10.00 for a 10.30am Start.

Click Here for the meeting agenda

For the minutes from the last meeting on 19th of July, 2010 Click here

‘Your Voice’ – MNCRCSD Newsletter May 2010

For a full copy Click here 

Some of the great topics and links included in this edition:

GUIDE TO THE HENRY REVIEW

THE BIG PICTURE

WORKSHOPS, TRAINING, SEMINARS & SUPPORT GROUPS

FUNDING & OPPORTUNITIES

INNOVATION AND BEST PRACTICE

RESOURCES

Low-Income Renters

need a Helping Hand

The Henry Review

 recommendation to improve housing affordability and assist low-income private renters should be taken up in the Budget, says the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) read more

Changes to Government Pensions - for details

Community Care Network Meetings and Forums

We are delighted to confirm the dates for next year’s community care meetings. The team at MNCRCSD look forward to working with you to strengthen HACC services in the mid north coast in 2010.

ACOSS COMMENTS  ON THE MAY 2010 BUDGET

Pathway to surplus and investment in primary healthcare welcomed

but - not enough help for unemployed  read more

HACC Orientation - 9 June 2010 in Port Macquarie

Are you new to the home and community care sector?  Do you find it challenging to understand all the acronyms, services and how the funding and standards works?  This 1/2 day workshop will enhance your knowledge of the sector and make it much easier for you to delivery quality services to HACC clients.  Come along and meet some colleagues and refresh your knowledge of our sector. This course is free for all HACC funded staff.

HACC TRAINING CALENDAR

FEB – JUNE 2010

We’ve had a fabulous response to the high quality training courses on offer through the MNCRCSD.   

A Training Calendar for July 2010 to June 2011 will be available in July 2010.

Click here for February - June 2010 Training Calendar

FREE WORKSHOP AND MANUAL FOR YOUTH WORKERS

Mid North Coast Regional Council for Social Development has some funding from the Department of Arts, Sport and Recreation to create a manual of activities for youth workers to use with young people.     (more details)

KEEP THEM SAFE   

Free training for non Government Organisations

May to June 2010  

The role of non-government organisations in the KEEP THEM SAFE action plan, including  identification of needs, making referrals and providing services to children, young people and their families involvement   training dates and venues

The Road Home –

The Australian Government White Paper on Homelessness 

 On 21 December 2008, the Prime Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd MP and Minister for Housing, Tanya Plibersek MP, released the Government's White Paper on Homelessness: The Road Home sets the strategic agenda for reducing homelessness to 2020. Homelessness can affect anyone and reducing it is everyone's responsibility. Working together, with national leadership and towards a common goal, homelessness can be prevented. for more details click here

New Project Officer for Regional Council              

 Meet Emily Hams

our new HACC Development Officer. 

Emily comes to us with many years experience in a diverse range of experience in the aged care and disabilities sectors including case management diversional therapy, recreation and respite.  Emily has a strong commitment to providing positive, strengths based services for service users in our Region

Keep Them Safe Update. For current information on the rollout of the Keep Them Safe Strategy Click on this link

‘Area Assistance Scheme’ is now ‘Community Builders’

As many of you are aware the Area Assistance Scheme has changed its name. It is now called COMMUNITY Builders. There will be information sessions run across the Mid and Far North Coast over the coming months to provide agencies with information on how to apply for funding. The dates for these sessions are below and attached you will find more information regarding COMMUNITY Builders.

Community builders information sessions

community builders funding media release

community builders flyer

Community Builders Funding Program

Kempsey Family Community Centre - Waste Warrior Program                                     

The Waste Warrior Program evolved through community engagement and focuses on improving the environment of the social housing communities of South and West Kempsey. There was a need to address rubbish on the streets and in the home environment through an educational process on recycling household waste and using the appropriate bins to ensure garbage is collected, not strewn all over the streets and footpaths.

On Saturday 1st August 2009, the community, alongside workers and our TAFE students who volunteered their services, collected the old garbage bins, sorted rubbish, hosed down anything that was recyclable and made numerous trips to the tip for both recyclable and landfill items: over twenty of the old black wheelie bins were collected and emptied. The project is sustainable through ongoing education and a strong partnership developed with Kempsey Shire Council.

Certificate IV in Disability Work – RPL opportunity

North Coast TAFE is offering experienced existing workers in the disability field the opportunity to gain Recognition of Prior Learning for up to four units of competency from the new Certificate IV in Disability Work. (Please note that these units are also in the Certificate IV of Aged Care and Certificate IV in HACC.) There is no cost to either the participant or the organisation. If you are interested please contact :

Margaret Spears, Business Capability Consultant, Community Services and Health Faculty, North Coast TAFE, Hogbin Drive, Coffs Harbour 2450, p: 02 66593140  f:6659 3677 m: 0419 402 226,

e: margaret.spears@tafensw.edu.au

PAY PARITY: SACS AWARD

MNCRCSD welcomes the Deputy Prime Ministers recent media release below:

THE HON JULIA GILLARD MP

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Minister for Education
Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations

Minister for Social Inclusion

MEDIA RELEASE

                                                                        4 November 2009

Community sector workers to move to Fair Work system

and seek national pay equity order

The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Julia Gillard, today announced that the Government has reached agreement with the major union representing social and community services workers, to support the conduct of a major test case on pay equity for community sector employees under the new Fair Work system.

The agreement with the Australian Services Union (ASU) is made in anticipation of the creation of the new national workplace relations system for the private sector from 1 January 2010 following references of powers from the States.

Under the new Fair Work system, social and community services sector workers - working in the youth, welfare and community sectors – will become covered by the Fair Work Act and a single modern award, rather than the multitude of state and federal laws, awards and instruments that currently apply.

The Fair Work Act 2009 introduced changes that enhanced the ability of Fair Work Australia to make orders that provide for pay equity between men and women employees. The Act now refers to a right to equal pay for work of comparable value as well as equal value. This reflects the approach already taken in many states and territories.

The agreement with the ASU ensures that recent pay rises awarded to social and community services workers in Queensland on pay equity grounds will be maintained in full when those employees transfer to the Fair Work system.

The ASU has advised the Government that it will apply to Fair Work Australia in the near future seeking orders for similar pay increases based on pay equity grounds for social and community sector workers in the other States. This will be the first claim to be considered under the new, enhanced provisions of the Fair Work Act and will therefore be a significant test case.  The sector employs more than 200 000 employees, 87 per cent of whom are women.

The Australian Government has now agreed to work with the ASU to support Fair Work Australia in developing an appropriate equal remuneration principle for the federal jurisdiction and to provide research (such as labour market information) to assist Fair Work Australia in determining the pay equity claim.

The Government has also agreed to assist the ASU, employers and employees in the sector to successfully manage the transfer to the new national system by providing a guide to termination of employment and ensuring employers provide for adequate dispute resolution processes.

These arrangements will provide certainty of coverage, pay equity, transparency and fairness in workplace relations for highly-valued community sector workers across Australia.

At this time, Victoria has completed its referral to the Commonwealth and South Australia, Tasmania and Queensland have introduced legislation to their Parliaments. Productive discussions are continuing with New South Wales. Western Australia has refused to refer its private sector workplace relations powers to the Commonwealth.

The Minister has asked Western Australia to reconsider its position so that all private sector workers are able to benefit from the Fair Work Act from 1 January 2010.

The agreement with the ASU will be tabled at the consultations on the exposure draft of the modern social and community services award being held by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) in Melbourne tomorrow.

Deputy Prime Minister’s Press Office: 02 6277 7758 or media@dpm.gov.au 

Australian Human Rights Group

As you know the federal government is currently considering its response to the Brennan Committee report and that there has been extensive discussion within the ALP caucus and some consideration by Ministers.We have been told today that a number of organisations opposed to a human rights act have been inundating their local members with emails. We are particularly concerned that a number of conservative religious groups are stating that churches and faith based groups oppose the enactment of a human rights act. We know that is not the case and that there are many faith based groups in favour of a human rights act.

We are asking you to help counter this misinformation by writing to your local MP or Senator immediately stating your support for a human rights act. If you have a mailing list or a number of members then please forward this email to them.

Here are some main points you could include in your email or letter:

• The Brennan report records overwhelming community support for a human rights act. 87% of submissions were in favour, and the polling reveals 57% in support and only 13% against. Other research, especially Amnesty International’s, affirms that most Australians want their basic rights protected in law.

• Brennan’s proposal for an act covering civil and political rights would apply to the Commonwealth and its agencies. It would not apply to NGOs, churches or other organisations outside the Commonwealth.

• If the parliament wished a law to override the human rights act, that decision would need to be made explicit. The High Court could otherwise find that an action of the Commonwealth was inconsistent with the human rights act. Parliament would then reconsider the matter but the court could not change or strike down inconsistent laws.

• The AHRG supports the Brennan approach because it would change for the better the way the bureaucracy deals with vulnerable people. It would require greater and more consistent focus by the parliament on human rights.

• Opponents claim that the Brennan proposal would interfere with church employment practices. As churches are not to be covered by the act, this claim is wrong.

• Many church bodies support an act and made public submissions to that effect: the Uniting Church, the National Anglican Synod, the St Vincent de Paul Society, and the Sisters of Mercy among others. Cardinal Pell’s opposition to an act was not the position taken by the Australian Bishops Conference (which was neutral)

It is vital that all MPs receive messages now that support implementation of the Brennan report, and point out the groundless nature of the fears being expressed.”

Please send messages, by email, fax, phone or in person, in support of a human rights act to your local MP or Senator.

Susan Ryan AO

Chair

Australian Human Rights Group

Here is an online list of MPs: List of Members, Vol 72, 16 November 2009

Here is an online list of Senators Senators' Parliament House and State/Territory addresses, phone and fax numbers

Other ways to look for your local MP: see http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/index.htm

16 Days of Activism to Stop Violence Against Women

runs from 25 November to 10 December and is a campaign to encourage individuals and communities to take action to help make the lives of women safer.  It complements White Ribbon Day, 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Posters can be downloaded from the Office for Women’s Policy website (www.women.nsw.gov.au).  Alternatively you may email the office on w@dpc.nsw.gov.au or call 9228 3141 for more copies.

Strong, Fair Leadership on Asylum Seeker Issue is Overdue

Australia’s peak welfare body has issued a call for strong, compassionate leadership on the issues of asylum seekers so that people escaping persecution or violence are treated fairly. Responding to heated public debate in recent days, the Australian Council of Social Service has called for our nation’s leaders on all sides to adopt a reasoned, non-partisan approach to asylum seekers. “This is a compassionate country with a strong tradition of giving others a fair go. Our nation has been built on migration and multiculturalism,” said Clare Martin, CEO, Australian Council of Social Service. “Australia should maintain its commitment to protect vulnerable people. Under international law, people have a right to seek asylum in this country. For more information, contact: Clare Cameron, ACOSS, 0419 626 155 www.acoss.org.au

Draft Reforms Lift Barriers for Non-Profit Services to Provide Vital Assistance

Draft reforms released by the Productivity Commission will lead to more efficient delivery of services through a reduction in red tape and a lessened compliance burden on social and community services. “The Commission’s draft proposals are an excellent first step towards streamlining complex processes so that non-profit organisations can get on with the job of delivering vital services to the community,” said Clare Martin, CEO, Australian Council of Social Service. ACOSS’ recommendations to the Productivity Commission’s study into the Contribution of the Not-for-Profit Sector can be read here.  

Prevention of cyber abuse

Child participation in Internet safety interventions does not change risky online behaviour. The Internet is a potential site for abuse and victimization. Young people can fall victim to sexual perpetrators, stalkers, exploiters, and peers who bully online. Interventions against cyber abuse have been developed in response to the growing need to protect children and youth from online dangers. The authors of a new Campbell review examined the effectiveness of cyber abuse interventions in increasing Internet safety knowledge and decreasing risky online behaviour. Read more on our website

Government Response to the National Rural Women’s Summit Report 2009 

A report is now available outlining the activities the Government has undertaken to achieve the recommendations of the 2008 National Rural Women's Summit. The activities relate to a number of areas, including the environment, health, education, youth and indigenous women.

Read more

NSW State Plan 2009 Review

The NSW State Plan was originally released in November 2006. The Plan indicated that a review would occur in 2009. NCOSS has become aware that the Government is undertaking a series of community consultations regarding the State Plan and has produced a consultation draft. NCOSS understands that a revised State Plan will be released in October/November. Read more

Report highlights barriers faced by people with disabilities

ACOSS welcomes the release of the Government’s consultation report, Shut Out: The Experience of People with Disabilities and their Families in Australia, as a first step to inform the National Disability Strategy and strengthen the service and support for people with disabilities. Read more

'The right to belong': family homelessness and citizenship

Family homelessness is increasing in Australia, and this report details how homelessness affects the everyday experiences of women with children. It examines how homelessness affects citizenship: the ways in which women understand and negotiate rights and responsibilities, belonging and participation. The research was undertaken in a context in which homelessness amongst families is increasing, with most homeless families comprising women and children. Read more 

Beijing Platform for Action for Women

The United Nations Platform for Action (PfA) aims to remove obstacles for women’s active participation in all areas of public & private life, sharing power, decision making & responsibility with men, at home, in the workplace and in the wider national and international communities. The Working Together for Equality B+15 Review survey asks women to talk about anything that is important to them; poverty, violence, the environment, media etc. This information will be reported to the Australian government and will be included in the NGO discussions in the Asia Pacific Regional Conference and at the United Nations in March 2010

The 15 year review of the Beijing Platform for Action by governments is a chance for women to come together to discuss and debate the issues raised and to gain a measure of the reality of women’s human rights in Australia. 

Find the questionnaire at www.jerainternational.org

Economic Stimulus Plan Newsletter – National Rental Affordability Scheme

See below for a new newsletter from Housing NSW on progress with the housing component of the Economic Stimulus Plan. If you don’t already receive this, there’s a facility at the end of the newsletter to subscribe. Please go to the FAHCSIA website for more information about NRAS (National Rental Affordability Scheme): Read more

Human Rights protection in Australia - action needed now

In 2008, the Federal Attorney-General established an independent committee to conduct a national consultation to find out whether Australians believe their human rights are adequately protected and, if not, how to better protect them. The Committee received 35,014 submissions (the most to a public inquiry in Australia's history) and recently provided its report to the Federal Attorney-General, which included a number of important recommendations. Read more 

Governance and Management Training

The training arm of Our Community, the Australian Institute of Community Practice & Governance (AICPG), is offering a range of training courses throughout Australia. These include new training opportunities, such as:

• Media Secrets for Community Groups
• Planning for your Organisation's Future
• Weaving your Web - Online Essentials
• How to be recognised as an effective chair
• How to be recognised as an effective secretary

Of course the old favourites, such as the Community Fundraising Seminar, the Winning Grants Seminar and the Certificate IV in Business (Governance) are back. Read More   

Good Service Mob, Good Service Forum                                                                                                

To assist with planning their 2010 community education program, the Good Service Mob is calling for interested Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to host a Good Service Forum. The aim of the Forum is to ensure the communities are aware of their rights as consumers, and the free services available to them. For more information go to www.goodservicemob.com.au or contact Felicity Huntington on 02 9268 5555, toll free 1800 670 812 or felicity_huntington@agd.nsw.gov.au.

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Research Grants
The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies is providing funding for research grants. Councils are encouraged to promote the grants to their  communities and stakeholders. The Program will fund research across a range of areas in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, such as history (including family and community history), politics, law, public policy, health (social, cultural and environmental aspects), biological sciences, education, Indigenous knowledge systems, linguistics, social anthropology, archaeology and the arts. Read more

Indigenous Students Guide - Get your copy now

The Indigenous students’ guide to postgraduate scholarships in Australia and overseas contains information on postgraduate study in general and specific information on over 120 scholarship opportunities for Indigenous postgraduate students. It covers all disciplines, and comprehensive information on each scholarship. Personal stories from successful Indigenous postgraduates about what their studies have meant to them, along with helpful advice and tips, will help you decide whether postgraduate study is for you. Over the coming months the guide will be promoted at the 35 universities where 98% of Australia’s 8,500 Indigenous students study. To find out how to obtain a copy of the guide, please go to Aurora Project

MiiMi Aboriginal Corporation

MiiMi will distribute $175,000 in grants of up to $20,000 to successful applicants in the new NSW Government funded ‘YouthFest Event Fund’.

The fund is a partnership with the NSW Department of Community Services “Better Futures” program and MiiMi Aboriginal Corporation.

The YouthFest Event Fund invites events which have operated on one or more previous occasions and are located within areas between Great Lakes and Tweed Heads to apply for funding of up to $20,000 to assist the production of a youth targeted component. For more information, go to www.miimi.org.au

Country Energy - Country Support

'Country Support' is an innovative assistance program to provide household, customers with long-term account payment solutions, not just short-term fixes. The program provides a lifeline to customers struggling to pay their energy accounts due to drought, unemployment, illness or other circumstances. Through the program, Country Energy works with customers to tailor solutions to their individual needs, including offering affordable payment plans, access to support and concessions and energy efficiency advice.

Country Energy has also been trialling new support services -Busiplan for small businesses and Farmplan for farming families. Read more

Free Legal information resources
There are some excellent publications and legal fact sheets available through the legal aid service, which can be ordered online for free. There are a range of fact sheets, handbooks on mortgage stress, resources on storms, floods and insurance, information for older people and a whole section on youth!

Follow this link for more: Legal Aid NSW

Commission welcomes partnership on housing                                                                       

Leaders from the housing and community sector have met and are committed to developing a national strategy to improve the design of houses to meet the changing needs of families.  The meeting brought together 20 of Australia’s leading players concerned with the design, development, construction and regulation of housing, along with representatives from government advisory bodies and community groups. They looked at a range of initiatives, aimed at making it easier for young families, people who may have an injury or illness, older Australians and people with disability to safely enjoy their homes as their needs change. A summary statement of the outcome of the meeting and a list of organisations represented is available on the Commission website: Read more

Keep Them Safe - briefing sessions

Half day cross-agency briefing sessions to support Keep Them Safe reporting changes are designed for key mandatory reporters to support their understanding of structured decision making and the new reporting guidelines. People working with children and families from government and non-government agencies should attend the sessions. Frontline caseworkers from Community Services will also take part. Sessions are currently running until across NSW.

Visit Community Services online for details about the sessions including venues and dates. Visit Keep Them Safe online for more information about the sector reforms.

Homeless Information Portal

Organisations providing services to homeless people or people experiencing drug and alcohol problems can access www.hip.org.au, a new web tool providing alcohol and drug information and capacity building, and a support services search function.

Prevention of cyber abuse

Child participation in Internet safety interventions does not change risky online behaviour, according to a new Campbell review.

The Internet has created a new communication tool, particularly for young people. Worldwide, the use of e-mail, websites, instant messaging, web cams, chat rooms, social networking sites and text messaging is exploding. While there are many benefits that result from electronic based communication, the Internet is at the same time a potential site for abuse and victimization. Young people can fall victim to sexual perpetrators, stalkers, exploiters, and peers who bully online. Interventions against cyber abuse have been developed in response to the growing need to protect children and youth from online dangers.

The authors of a new Campbell review examined the effectiveness of cyber abuse interventions in increasing Internet safety knowledge and decreasing risky online behaviour. Having identified more than 3,000 potentially relevant studies, only three met the authors' eligibility criteria and were included in the review: an evaluation of the I-SAFE cyber safety program, an evaluation of the Missing cyber safety program, and an evaluation of an in-school cyber bullying intervention (HAHASO).

Results provide evidence that participation in psycho-educational Internet safety interventions is associated with an increase in Internet safety knowledge; but it is not significantly associated with a change in risky online behaviour. The need for further research in this field is highlighted.

This article is based on the systematic review by Mishna F, Cook C, Saini M, Wu M-J, MacFadden R. Interventions for children, youth, and parents to prevent and reduce cyber abuse. For the full article see: http://www.campbellcollaboration.org/news_/Preventionf_cyber_abuse.php 

Kempsey Family Community Centre - Waste Warrior Program

The Waste Warrior Program evolved through community engagement and focuses on improving the environment of the social housing communities of South and West Kempsey. There was a need to address rubbish on the streets and in the home environment through an educational process on recycling household waste and using the appropriate bins to ensure garbage is collected, not strewn all over the streets and footpaths.

It was decided through community consultation to speak to Kempsey Shire Council's Owen Moon, who took the time to visit the West Kempsey Community House. His visit coincided with the last school holidays; we had a number of lower primary schoolchildren participating in an art class when Owen visited. Along with parents and grandparents, these children took part in the consultation process.

Owen gave the children coloring books created by the Kempsey Shire Council, including 'Tackle Climate Change' and 'Discover the Three R's' (reduce, reuse, recycle). Through this simple education process adults and children were quick to form themselves into a group they named the "Waste Warriors".

On Saturday 1st August 2009, the community, alongside workers and our TAFE students who volunteered their services, collected the old garbage bins, sorted rubbish, hosed down anything that was recyclable and made numerous trips to the tip for both recyclable and landfill items: over twenty of the old black wheelie bins were collected and emptied. After the clean-up we held a community barbecue at the West Kempsey Community House. The following week we had a local Metal Mart worker load five truckloads of scrap metal that he disposed of.

The project is sustainable through ongoing education and a strong partnership developed with Kempsey Shire Council, and through the young people and adult community members, who have designed their own Waste Warrior logo that will be screenprinted onto T-shirts promoting recycling and waste management.

Certificate in Rural Extension and Community Development

Living and working in a rural community? Want to learn more about community development, or formalise your skills with a recognised qualification? Check out the link below:

Graduate Certification in Rural Extension and Community Development - Information Brochure

Click here for the Full Report

National Human Rights Consultation Update

As you’ll be aware, the National Human Rights Consultation, and the debate on a Human Rights Act more generally, is hotting up. This means that it’s really important that people have their say. Just a few matters to provide an update upon:

1.    The National Human Rights Consultation has recently started an online forum asking “Should Australia have a Bill or a Charter of Rights?”. You can participate in the forum by going to www.openforum.com.au/NHROC.

2.    The Australian Christian Lobby has launched a campaign against a Human Rights Act. See the a 3 1/2 Minute version of the video by Jim Wallace. ACL members are being asked to distribute this message via their member churches.

3.    A book is to be launched that brings together many of the most prominent opponents to a Human Rights Act. The details are available from http://maillist.ntechhosting.com/images/C55/BOR_Flyer.pdf.

4.    The deadline for submissions was 15 June, and the AHRG collated some good submissions on the left-hand side of its website (see www.humanrightsact.com.au/ahrg).

 

Shoot Upload Win Competition!

Lights, Camera, action, create your own road-safety video! Sounds exciting - well that’s because it is! Arrive alive and Youth Week in NSW want you to put together your own road safety video! Arrive alive Shoot Upload Win competition coincides with the beginning of Youth Week NSW, so be sure to check out the Arrive alive site for more information on how to enter, and get in the running to win one of the three great prizes on offer! Finalists will be displayed on the site - this could be your film premiere!

The Suicide Call Back Service is a free, nationwide telephone service that offers short to medium term support for people at risk of suicide, their carers, and those bereaved by suicide.

The Suicide Call Back Service supports callers through a series of six 50-minute telephone counselling sessions, scheduled to suit you.

Professional counsellors, with specialist skills in working with suicide-related issues, will assist you in working through difficult emotions. The service provides support for people over the age of 18, although parents of youth at risk are encouraged to call for support.

How do I find out more?

Call the Suicide Call Back Service Referral Line – 1300 659 467. It is staffed between 10am and 8:30pm (EST), seven days a week.

If you are calling outside these hours, please leave a message and a member of the team will contact you the next day. This number is not a crisis line. Click here for crisis services.

Or visit the website: http://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/

ATO Non Profit News Update

Australian Services Union (ASU) SACS homepage  Click here

Mid North Coast Area Disabilty Committee

In 1998 the Mid North Coast Area Disability Advisory Committe re-examined its role in the light of changing circumstances in the area.  This included alteratons in organisational structures in government and non-government sectors influencing the provision of resources and services for people with a disability in the area.  Generally committee members indicated their strong support for the continued existence of an Area Committee. The observation was made that the Mid North Coast is the only area in NSW which still has an active Area Disability Committee. 

Further, there is a growing need for an Area Committee to take area-wide issues and relate to area organisational structures of government.

Broadband access for Rural and Regional Communities 

The Associations Incorporations Bill 2009 has now been released, and NCOSS has prepared a briefing paper. Follow the links below for further information.

The background and briefing paper can be accessed on the website NCOSS - response to Incorporations Bill 2009

or follow the link to the summary NCOSS response - Associations Incorporations Bill 2009

Keep them safe: a shared approach to child wellbeing

The NSW Government has released its response to the recommendations made by the Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW headed by Justice James Wood. The document sets out the Government’s action plan over the next five years to improve the safety and wellbeing of children and young people in NSW.  Read more... Keep them Safe

Community Legal Centre Project

The Mid North Coast Community Legal Resources Guide is available. To access the directory, Click here.

Let's Talk About Rights - toolkit launched

The Australian Human Rights Commission has launched 'Let's Talk About Rights', a toolkit to assist organisations and individuals participate in the National Human Rights Consultation.

Social inclusion of the hard to reach
Nicola Brackertz and Denise Meredyth / Institute for Social Research, Swinburne University of Technology

This report is intended as a practical resource for local councils wishing to engage their communities in decision making and planning. The focus is on how to broaden the range of people represented in council processes, especially those who are reluctant to participate in traditional consultation methods. This is the final report of a project that aimed to identify the conceptual and practical difficulties associated with including hard to reach groups in community consultation, investigate effective current practices, and pool resources and strategies for use across partner councils.

http://sisr.net/cag/docs/htr_final.pdf

Case studies in social innovation
David Hetherington / Per Capita

The employment services sector in Australia is at a critical juncture. The third contract round of the Job Network coincides with a commitment by the new Federal Government to the principles of sound market design. These principles include the alignment of incentives between providers, users of services and taxpayers; generation of new sources of investment; removal of barriers to entry; and transparent information on service quality.

Read full text (http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/hsaf_ctte/report/index.htm)

Source: APO Online and Parliament of Australia – Senate