NTCOSS News Sheet May 2010
Northern Territory Council of Social Service
NTCOSS NEWS SHEET – May 2010
Another federal budget has come and gone, with little to note beyond the howls of outrage from the mining industry over the proposed ‘super tax’ on resources profits, and the Treasurer’s earnest assurances that the budget will be returned to surplus as soon as possible. True, some more money was found for primary health care, but calls from ACOSS for a better deal for the unemployed went unheeded. At a time when our country enjoys unprecedented material prosperity, NTCOSS would like to see governments do more to assist vulnerable Australians.
Youth Action Plan – Alice Springs
Youth sector representatives in Alice Springs met recently with NT Government representatives to consider the Alice Youth Action Plan, and the coordination of services in Alice Springs. This forum presented an opportunity to enhance the working relationship between the NGO Youth Sector and the NT Government. A new Youth Coordination Committee - which includes police, NT government representatives, and Jonathan Pilbrow from NTCOSS, will meet for the first time in late May. The Youth Tasking and Coordination Group (YTCG) will now be known as the Youth Action Group and will report to the Youth Coordination Committee.
NTCOSS/AMSANT Co-operation
Wendy and Graham met with AMSANT policy officers to explore opportunities for greater co-operation between the two organisations on a number of key social policy issues. We agreed that there was much to be gained from working together on issues such as alcohol policy, income management, and child protection. NTCOSS would hope to benefit from AMSANT’s extensive network across NT remote Indigenous communities.
Media
Wendy did a number of radio interviews in the wake of the NT budget, pointing out that there was little provision in the document for Territorians who are homeless, or struggling with alcohol abuse and mental illness. She noted that $12M had gone to the horse-racing industry and wondered what this said about the government’s priorities. Wendy also wrote the ‘letter of the day’ in the NT News of 24 May, challenging Federal Minister for Indigenous Affairs Jenny Macklin to respond in detail to a Menzies Health School Report indicating that income management was not seeing an improvement in the purchase of healthy food.
Training
NTCOSS has recently joined forces with National Disability Services to run well-attended Award modernisation workshops in both Darwin and Alice Springs. We were pleased to get positive feedback about the value of the workshops, since this is such a key issue for many services. We have also concluded an extensive series of very successful free training sessions on ‘anti-bullying in the workplace’ and ‘workplace financials’ in four locations across the Territory.
Vinnies sleepout
NTCOSS boss, Wendy Morton, will join other CEO’s from business and community and the public sector in the NT in the 2010 Vinnies Sleepout at Gardens Oval, Darwin on 17 June 2010. More information is available at www.ceosleepout.org.au or from Vinnies on 8948-8100.
Independence for the Mental Health Coalition
Congratulations to the Mental Health Coalition, which will become an independent incorporated organisation, effective from 1 July 2010. NTCOSS wishes them well.
Regards from the NTCOSS crew