The Queensland Council of Social Service has welcomed the state government’s announcement of $45 million in new funding to support families under the Helping Out Families project. The funding is over four years and is confined to a pilot in three areas -- Beenleigh/Eagleby/Nerang, Logan and the Gold Coast.

A new health policy released today by the Queensland Council of Social Service says the Queensland government must give health a higher priority and adopt a whole of government approach if problems in the health system are to be solved.

Leadership and a culture change are needed in Queensland to give people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities every opportunity to be successful and productive members of society, says Queensland Council of Social Service president Karyn Walsh.

Australia’s only annual community sector survey released today reveals the impact of the global financial crisis on community services struggling to meet the needs of disadvantaged Queenslanders.

Electricity disconnections in Queensland during the last financial year were still too high says the Queensland Council of Social Service. And data just released from the Queensland Competition Authority reveals complaints about retailers sky rocketed.

Another report on electricity pricing is likely to bring more bad news for electricity consumers says Queensland Council of Social Service. In addition to Monday’s Australian Energy Regulator report a Queensland Competition Authority report is due out today.

The Queensland Council of Social Service says $258m is needed in next year’s state budget for programs aimed at people experiencing disadvantage in Queensland. And they believe the money will be well spent because it reduces the need to spend many times this amount on crisis programs.

Prescription medicines, paying utility bills, school books, clothes, dental treatment and insurance are just some of life’s essentials people experiencing poverty in Queensland miss out on.

A landmark decision by the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission to increase wages by up to 27% or more than $160 per week for disability support workers will provide more safe and secure services for Queenslanders with a disability, the Australian Workers’ Union said today.

The homelessness service sector is benefiting from a visit by Nan Roman from the United States, who is in Brisbane for the QCOSS and Queensland Shelter two day conference “Ending Homelessness”.

The Queensland community services sector’s fight to end homelessness in innovative ways has received a boost with a two day forum ‘Ending Homelessness, a vision and a plan’ held in Brisbane on the Wednesday 2^nd and Thursday 3^rd of September.

The Queensland community services sector’s fight to end homelessness in innovative ways has received a boost with a two day forum ‘Ending Homelessness, a vision and a plan’ held in Brisbane on the Wednesday 2^nd and Thursday 3^rd of September.

300 people converge on Brisbane for the 50^th anniversary QCOSS conference this week. International speakers, local experts and community sector works will all take part.

A leading researcher and professor from the UK says Australia is not as much of an equal society as we would think. Richard Wilkinson also reveals this has major social consequences particularly for mental health, drug and alcohol issues.

Community groups have condemned the state government back flip on the $20 note limit for pokie machines. Fair Trading and Tourism Minister Peter Lawlor has bypassed the Responsible Gambling Advisory Committee to lift the $20 note limit for pokie machine high rolling areas in several of Queensland’s casinos.

The predicted growth in long term unemployment and social exclusion will cost Queensland $3.58 billion by 2010 due to the global economic crisis. However, a study commissioned by the Queensland Council of Social Service says this hole in the state budget can be turned into a windfall.

The need to review the Queensland Electricity Code and increasing access to hardship programs are just two of the many issues being raised at a one day Energy Affordability and Disadvantage conference being held today.

The Queensland Council of Social Service is frustrated that the Queensland government is still failing to respond properly to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who are being taken into the child protection system.

The new expanded Department of Communities announced today will be good for disadvantaged Queenslanders says the Queensland Council of Social Service.

“We believe merging communities, child safety, disability services, housing, multicultural affairs and Indigenous services into the one department will help provide vital services to people who need them,” says QCOSS President Karyn Walsh.

Juvenile justice polices that potentially contravene the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and a proposed efficiency dividend top the list of concerns from the Queensland Council of Social service ahead of Saturday's state election.

The Queensland Council of Social Service has urged all political parties to avoid focusing only on the economy as they face the March 21 election. They need to also be looking at how to help disadvantaged people affected by the economic crisis.

A formal compact between the Queensland community services sector and state government will be made today. Premier Anna Bligh, Minister Lindy Nelson Carr and Qld Community Services Futures Forum Chair Jill Lang will jointly launch the compact.

A poverty statement being released today by the Queensland Council of Social Service shows a massive income gap between Australia’s poorest and richest households. It also reveals many households have virtually no money left from their weekly income for essentials such as education and transport.

All banks and home loan lenders should pass on most of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s one percent interest rate cut says the Queensland Council of Social Service.

The drop in interest rates provides an ideal environment for landlords and owners of investment properties to reduce rents for struggling Queenslanders says the Queensland Council of Social Service.

At a community sector budget breakfast this morning QCOSS President Karyn Walsh said state funding continues the imbalance between spending on prisons and prevention services. She addressed 150 community sector workers at the parliamentary annex.

The Queensland council of Social Service welcomes the inclusion of $70m over four years in this year’s budget for prevention and early intervention initiatives.

Low wages in the non government community services sector is adding to the stress felt by the community services sector says the Queensland Council of Social Service. Today QCOSS launches a campaign to close the 30% gap in wages between government and non government community sector workers.

The 17-year life expectancy gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and other Australians must be closed says the Queensland Council of Social Service.

QCOSS is holding a community BBQ in West End today as part of National Close the Gap Day. The community awareness raising event is one of hundreds of events taking place across the country to mark National Close the Gap Day.

The United Kingdom and many countries focus on a defensive approach to child protection says Dr Eileen Munro from the London School of Economics. She is in Brisbane today presenting a seminar on creating better child protection systems.

It is misleading to call new staff that will be part of the One Childhood One Chance program Early Intervention Officers, says the Queensland Council of Social Service. QCOSS believes the $12 million program does not focus on early intervention to prevent child becoming caught up in the child protection system.

Mal Brough, the Federal Minister for Family & Community Services and Indigenous Affairs will join Shadow Minister for Housing Tanya Plibersek in Caboolture next week to address affordability and other housing issues.

“Holding onto a budget surplus is inexcusable when over 350,000 Queenslanders are experiencing poverty,” says QCOSS President Karyn Walsh. Her comments come at the beginning of Anti Poverty Week in Australia.

A report released today shows the housing affordability crisis is increasing the number of people experiencing poverty and disadvantage in Queensland. A Fair Go for All Australians: a Fair Go for All Queenslanders reveals almost 350,000 Queenslanders are living in poverty. It also reveals the number of people at risk of poverty is increasing.

The Queensland Governor Quentin Bryce will launch Anti Poverty Week in Queensland next Monday (October 15, 2007) at the Jagera Arts Centre in South Brisbane. UnitingCare Queensland Executive Director Anne Cross and QCOSS President Karyn Walsh will also be part of the launch.

Key recommendations from community groups have been included as part of the Queensland Government’s reform of the retail electricity system.

“The Queensland Council of Social Service is pleased the pensioner and seniors rebate will increase,” says QCOSS President Karyn Walsh. “The new $3 million voucher system to help customers in crisis is also welcome news.  We look forward to further discussions about how the system will work.

Full retail competition in relation to electricity provision will require failsafe hardship provisions if vulnerable Queenslanders are to be protected.

“Recent briefings at a joint consumer and industry forum to discuss the introduction of FRC are encouraging in that major providers of electricity outlined clear policies and practices in relation to hardship” says QCOSS President Karyn Walsh.

The Queensland Council of Social Service is pleased with new funding for social housing and mental health that is part of today’s Queensland state budget. QCOSS hopes this and other efforts will help reduce the hardship felt by the ten percent of Queenslanders living in poverty.

The Queensland Council of Social Service is disappointed there is no new funding announced today for prevention and early intervention programs for families. Today’s state budget announced an increased of $48 million for The Department of Child Safety budget for next financial year.

Today’s state budget shows a targeted government approach is still needed to look after the needs of Queensland’s most disadvantaged. There were significant increases to key departmental budgets but no clear plan for a whole of government approach to tackle poverty and to address exclusion.

The Queensland Council of Social Service hopes new state funding for mental health services announced today will help plug the current gap in services.

“The current over-stretching of services means the announcement today will go a long way towards filling the gap in services by providing funding to help people with mental health difficulties,” says QCOSS Director Jill Lang. “However, We believe there are still areas that need funding,”

MEDIA RELEASE

Indigenous Australians deserve an apology for the forced removal of children, their rightful place in Australia needs to be recognised and infrastructure is needed to ensure the wellbeing of all Indigenous Australians.

This Sunday (March 25) the Queensland Council of Social Service launches a campaign to end poverty in Queensland. Smart State Fair State – A fair Qld Action Plan

This Sunday (March 25) the Queensland Council of Social Service launches a campaign to end poverty in Queensland. Smart State Fair State – A fair Qld Action Plan will be launched at The 139 Club in Fortitude Valley. The club works with 300 people each day who are experiencing disadvantage and hardship.

The next Politics in the Pub looks at Civil Society, its Power, Role and Future. Civil society is everywhere. It includes volunteer, community and non profit groups.

Is this vital part of our society declining and where is it heading in the future? How can we reinvigorate it? Do civil society groups still have power to change society? What is its role in the world?

A new Townsville office opening today will provide professional support to ninety Queensland Indigenous childcare agencies. The Queensland Council of Social Service opens the office at the same time as launching their Indigenous Professional Support Unit.

A new office opening on Monday in Townsville will be the state headquarters for the Indigenous Professional Support Unit. The unit supports Indigenous childcare services.

A new office opening on Monday in Townsville will be the state headquarters for the Indigenous Professional Support Unit. IPSU is a new childcare professional support service being launched on Monday. The official opening follows the appointment of Narelle Gleeson in as Manager for the Queensland Council of Social Service office in Townsville.

The Queensland Council of Social Service has supported a call for an integrated approach by all levels of government to reduce concentrated pockets of disadvantage in locations throughout Queensland.

Community services throughout Queensland are struggling to meet public demand for help reveals the Australian Community Sector Survey 2007. The survey, released today by the Australian Council of Social Service, shows one person had to be turned away for every two people receiving financial and material support.

A new QCOSS worker based in the Cairns region will play a key role in helping local non government organisations in the region become stronger. Colleen Blunt will be the Community Sector Development Worker for QCOSS as part of the state government’s broader Strengthening Non Government Organisations (SNGO) agenda.

The Queensland Council of Social Service says the proposed three to four thousand bed prison in Gatton does not make economic sense. "It is blatantly clear that imprisoning a person is much more expensive than working to prevent people committing crime and being put in jail," says QCOSS Director Jill Lang.

The Queensland Council of Social Service is calling for the state government to halve poverty in this state by the year 2016. QCOSS will release its annual submission to government on Wednesday giving key recommendations for the next state budget.

The Queensland Council of Social Service has called on the state government to ensure Queensland is a fair state as well as a smart and wealthy state. The comments come as QCOSS releases its annual submission to government for the next state budget.

The Queensland Council of Social Service will release its annual submission to government on Wednesday giving key recommendations for the next state budget. It focuses on key areas needing attention to help those most disadvantaged in Queensland.

Anti-Poverty Week 2006

Is it better to be down and out in Ascot or homeless in Hastings Street?

The mini debate on Wednesday 18 October ‘Is it better to be down and out in Ascot or homeless in Hastings Street?’ was a huge success. The riverside expressway was closed but its on-ramps weren’t the only ones cracking up. The lack of entry points into Brisbane only slightly affect the number of people who turned out for the event. Over 80 people filled the hall at St Andrew’s Uniting Church.

People with poor education, single parents, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders, rural & remote Queenslanders, people with a disability, those who rent instead of own their home, homeless people and those without full-time employment are most likely to experience poverty in Queensland.

The Queensland Council of Social Service is asking community sector workers in Cairns to talk about government funding concerns. Community consultations on Wednesday October 11 will look at significant areas that need addressing in next year’s state government budget.

The Queensland Council of Social Service is asking community sector workers in Mackay to talk about government funding concerns. A community consultation on Tuesday October 10 will look at significant areas that need addressing in next year’s state government budget.

The Queensland Council of Social Service has called for an urgent summit with the state government and peak bodies following the publication of Snapshot 2006 by the Commission for Children and Young people.

The Queensland Council of Social Service welcomes the commitment to increased capital works for neighbourhood centres, public transport and hospitals announced at yesterday’s ALP campaign launch. However, QCOSS believes a greater commitment is also needed to improve providing community support services and primary health care.

The death of 40 children over twelve months who were the subject of abuse or neglect notifications to the Department of Child Safety needs urgent attention. Three peak community sector organisations say investment in prevention and early intervention must happen if we are to see the end of such deaths.

All candidates standing for the state election must consider the needs of the 24,500 people in Queensland experiencing homelessness says the Queensland Council of Social Service. With 38,000 people on public housing waiting lists, the lack of social housing must also be addressed.

The Queensland Council of Social Service will hold a media and members briefing tomorrow (Tuesday August 22) that will focus on thirteen issues that must be addressed by all political parties to end poverty in Queensland. The issues are relevant to all candidates standing for the September 9 state election and affect those who are most disadvantaged in their electorates.

Support for families is needed to prevent child abuse, neglect and family breakdown says the Queensland Council of Social Service. Prevention and early intervention services are one of thirteen key social issues QCOSS has identified as needing attention leading up to the state election.

The Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) is disappointed with the lack of action to address astronomical interest rates and fees charged by pay day lenders. Another promise to address the issue was given by the state government twelve months ago following a QCOSS seminar on microfinance.

The Queensland Council of Social Service, QCOSS, is disappointed with the level of funding for homelessness services in this year’s $2.1 billion Brisbane City Council Budget.

Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) commends the proposed $153.4 million investment in Blueprint for the Bush initiatives announced as part of the State Budget today.

Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) fears that newly enacted move on powers will unfairly target disadvantaged people.

The Queensland Council of Social Service is disappointed this year’s Federal budget provides too little help for more than 380,000 Queenslanders who live in poverty.

The annual Australian Community Sector Survey by ACOSS shows that, across 257 agencies who responded in Queensland, an additional 30,000 people were seeking help during 2004-2005.  Over 15,000 people in need of assistance were turned away.

New QCOSS workers for ten regions throughout Queensland will play a key role in helping local non government organisations become stronger. QCOSS Community Sector Development Worker will be part of the state government’s broader Strengthening Non Government Organisations (SNGO) agenda.

Getting to hospital or medical treatment can be no easy task if you’re elderly or have problems with mobility. Thankfully there is help at hand. The Transport Options service run by the Queensland Council of Social Service helps people everyday get much needed medical help.

Ten regions throughout Queensland will be a key part of a 1.5 million dollar state-wide project to strengthen non-government organisations. Queensland Council of Social Service welcomes the announcement by Warren Pitt, Minister for Communities, Disability Services and Seniors. The funds will be administered by QCOSS to fund regional networks and bodies.

A registered nurse with 30 years experience in the non government sector is the new President of the Queensland Council of Social Service. Karyn Walsh currently works as Coordinator of Micah Projects in South Brisbane and is also chair of the Domestic Violence Resource Centre. She was elected unopposed at the QCOSS AGM late this afternoon (Friday November 25).

The Queensland Council of Social Service today (October 18) will call for the state and federal governments to devise integrated anti-poverty strategies.

A strong economy will not end poverty in a wealthy society such as Australia says the Director of the Queensland Council of Social Service Jill Lang. QCOSS today will call for the state and federal governments to devise integrated anti-poverty strategies. The call comes as part of a QCOSS panel discussion at Brisbane Powerhouse during national Anti Poverty Week.

As federal parliament resumes in Canberra today the campaign for fairer work to welfare legislation gathers momentum in Queensland. At a briefing in Brisbane today Andrew Johnson, Australian Council of Social Service Director, will call for any changes to be just and not disadvantage sole parents and people with a disability.

Andrew Johnson, Australian Council of Social Service Director, will brief media and community service groups on the proposed welfare to work reform legislation while in Brisbane next week. The Federal Government reforms will negatively affect 300,000 Australians with the greatest impact being felt by Queenslanders

Interest rates, fees and charges that are the equivalent of 235% to 1300% per annum will be discussed at a Queensland Council of Social Service seminar next Monday June 27.