QCOSS Annual Report released

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Highlights of the year included:

Action to reduce hardship

• The first edition of our Cost of Living Report saw the government initiate improved reporting on concessions.
• We influenced improved consumer protections for disadvantaged people inthe electricity and gas market, and improvements in support available. Making gains for the community sector
• In 2009, we contributed to influencing improved wages for many sector workers and we continue to lobby for improved wages and funding for the sector.

Disaster response

• Our special eNews series communicated important and timely recovery information.
• We made 15 visits to disaster-affected areas to hear first hand about issues.
• We made a submission to the Floods Inquiry and a supplementary budget submission outlining recommendations for recovery.

Homelessness coordination

• We were responsible for coordinating focused and improved outcomes through collaboration between NGOs and governments.
• The sector identified opportunities to improve homelessness responses within existing resources.

Better services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

• Our Indigenous Professional Support Unit provided professional development for staff of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s services as they navigate the new early years learning and quality frameworks.
• We worked alongside the Qld Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Human Services Coalition in its aim to reform the services system.
• We launched and began implementing our Reconciliation Action Plan.

Practical help for the sector

• We hosted the Community Door website which saw traffic increase by over 50 per cent. More than 830 users now interact in its ‘Network Spaces’.

More professional presence on the world wide web

• QCOSS launched its new website in June 2011.

Quality work, continued demand

• QCOSS’s reputation and position, and the quality of its work, clearly contribute to our ability to secure projects that will improve the lives of vulnerable Queenslanders – this year we have gained funding for:

-       The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Human Services Coalition’s Access all Areas campaign and their Sector Development funding.

-       Our Community Indicators project under the Natural Disaster Resilience Program.

-       Consumer Advocacy Panel projects focused on our Energy Advocacy work.