NTCOSS News Sheet February 2010
NTCOSS NEWS SHEET – February 2010
The annual ACOSS Community Sector Survey has once again high-lighted the problems faced by community organisations in the NT, with staff turnover running at 52%, and hundreds, perhaps thousands, of clients turned away because sector organisations don’t have sufficient resources to assist. Locally, the inquiry into the child protection system appears likely to place the Henderson Government under pressure to justify its stewardship of this difficult portfolio area. NTCOSS will be making a written submission to the inquiry.
NTCOSS Submission to Senate Committee
In Alice Springs, Wendy Morton and Jonathan Pilbrow gave evidence to the Senate Community Affairs Committee which is enquiring into the federal government’s proposed amendments to the Northern Territory Emergency Response Legislation. The evidence they presented supported the thrust of the NTCOSS submission that Minister Macklin has not demonstrated that income management has been effective on remote Aboriginal communities, and that consequently there is no solid evidence base for an expansion of the income management regime.
Licensing Commission
In a disappointing result, the Commission has decided to stay a decision on restricting the supply of four and five litre wine casks in the Darwin/Palmerston area, pending the announcement of a public education campaign and other complementary measures. NTCOSS believes that while public education is important, it is also critical to address supply measures such as the price of the cheapest alcohol, the number of outlets and their hours of trading.
Nhulunbuy
A small NTCOSS contingent also visited Nhulunbuy to meet with a number of community organisations and enable us to better understand some of the issues affecting organisations in East Arnhem Land. We were warmly received by a range of people with thoughtful opinions on some key issues. We would particularly like to welcome Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation as the newest member of NTCOSS.
Media
During February, NTCOSS attracted significant media coverage on the back of a media release which highlighted some of the more concerning aspects of the ACOSS community sector survey.
The two key points were the staff turnover for NT community organisations of 52% annually against a national average of 29%, and the worryingly high ‘turn-away rates’ of clients, particularly those seeking assistance with housing problems. The story was featured in a number of ABC radio bulletins and Wendy also did a radio interview with MIX FM. The Alice Springs Advocate ran quite a substantial piece based on our submission to the senate committee investigating income management, and Wendy also had a letter published in the NT News reflecting NTCOSS concerns about the sometimes cavalier attitude of that newspaper in its reporting of the excessive alcohol consumption in the Territory.
Training Opportunities
The Community Sector Workforce Development Strategy is offering a range of free training sessions at locations across the NT during the first half of this year. For more details phone Roma at the NTCOSS office on 8948-2665.
Regards from the NTCOSS crew