Nearly 20,000 refugees set to apply for permanent residency
13 February 2023 Catholic Social Services Australia has welcomed today’s announcement that the Albanese Government will provide a permanent visa pathway for existing Temporary Protection Visa (TPV) and Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV) holders. This is in line with the Government’s 2022 election commitment and will give some 19,000 refugees the right to apply for […]
May Federal Budget looks to address entrenched disadvantage
30 January 2023 Catholic Social Services Australia has welcomed reports the Albanese May Budget will focus on entrenched disadvantage in the most vulnerable Australian communities. In a podcast with the Guardian Australia and a major essay published today in the Monthly magazine Treasurer Jim Chalmers says he is working with the Social Services Minister, Amanda Rishworth, […]
New pilot plan to help people living with disabilities get into the workforce
9 January 2023 The Federal Government and the Business Council of Australia (BCA) have signed an agreement to expand job opportunities for Australians living with disabilities as part of a broader plan to create 250,000 new jobs. Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth, says the new disability employment pilot will improve employment outcomes for people […]
Power bills for low-income earners to fall after Commonwealth and state governments agree to subsidies
10 December 2022 Millions of people on income support and welfare payments will have their power bills cut under a $1.5 billion plan announced on Friday by Prime Minister Albanese. It is expected power prices will start to fall by mid-next year, after the Federal government struck a deal with the states on a package […]
Nearly a fifth of low-income earners paying more than half their income in private rent
7 December 2022 Some 185,000, or nearly a fifth of low-income private renters, are paying more than half of their household income in rent, well above the accepted maximum tolerable measure of 30 per cent, according to a major new report from leading housing services organisation, Launch Housing. Launch Housing’s 2018 – 2022 Homeless Monitor, […]
New support payment review panel game changer for people living below poverty line
28 November 2022 One of Australia’s leading social service networks has welcomed Federal Government plans to establish an independent panel to annually review support payments — such as JobSeeker and parenting payments — ahead of each Federal Budget. The new Panel is part of a deal with independent senator David Pocock to support the Government’s […]
Tougher regulations for ‘buy now pay later’ schemes on the cards
21 November 2022 Plans by the Federal Government to tighten regulations around the ‘buy now pay later’ industry have been welcomed by one of Australia’s leading social services networks. The Treasury discussion paper, to be released today, says the relatively looser regulatory environment, together with the sector’s rapid growth, may be contributing to poor consumer […]
Ballooning HECS debts hit low-income and the disadvantaged the hardest
17 November 2022 A wide-ranging federal government review of policy, funding and governance issues within tertiary sector must look at HECS debt and other student loan repayment mechanisms, particularly for low paid and disadvantaged former students. The review, announced last night by Education Minister Jason Clare, aims to create a “universities accord” which would set […]
NSW State Labor commits to protecting tenants as rents skyrocket
7 November 2022 Plans by NSW Labor to allow almost a million renters in NSW to transfer their bonds from one property to the next is a major cost of living initiative welcomed by one of Australia’s largest social services networks. The policy plan, announced ahead of the NSW State election in March next year […]
Budget meets key election commitments while signalling social service networks won’t be left behind
26 October 2022 Last night’s Federal Budget highlighted the Government’s values by making it clear that low-income and disadvantaged people will not be left behind as the community faces enormous economic and structural budget challenges. Chair of Catholic Social Services Australia, Francis Sullivan, said today that the Budget was more of a scene setter than […]
CSSA welcomes more than half a billion in extra funding for social services sector
24 October 2022 One of the country’s leading social services groups, Catholic Social Services Australia, has welcomed an additional $560 million in funding for housing, domestic violence and Indigenous services to be announced in tomorrow night’s budget. The four-year funding commitment will help with the rising cost of providing community programs and wage increases that […]
Church providers issue open letter on tax cuts
24 October 2022 The leaders of major faith-based charities have come together to issue an open letter on planned Stage 3 tax cuts ahead of Tuesday’s Budget: Dear Prime Minister On behalf of Australia’s leading faith-based charitable networks, we are writing to you about the impact and projected cost of the Government’s planned tax cuts. […]
New national strategy to end violence against women and children within a generation
18 October 2022 The Albanese Government has released a new, 10-year national strategy, designed to end family, domestic, and sexual violence against women and children in one generation has been released today by the Albanese government. The National Plan, which has been agreed to by all states and territories, aims to guarantee all levels of […]
Nearly 200,000 Australians will have robodebts wiped
13 October 2022 Nearly 200,000 Australians will have their robodebt reviews wiped as the Federal Government scraps investigations into the controversial Coalition scheme introduced in 2015. The Social Services Minister, Amanda Rishworth, has confirmed her department wouldn’t continue investigations. “The robodebt fiasco is something that should be of deep concern to all Australians,” she said. […]
Increase Jobseeker and other payments before Stage 3 Tax Cuts
13 October 2022 Executive Director of Catholic Social Services Australia, Ms Monique Earsman, has called on the Federal Government to increase jobseeker and other payments before stage three tax cuts, which will cost less than the proposed $243 billion, scheduled to take effect from July 2024. Ms Earsman made the call following the release of […]
The number of homeless women over 55 expected to double in less than a decade
5 October 2022 A major new report by a progressive think tank, Per Capita, has found that homeless women over 55 are expected to double in less than a decade. The report, using data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, forecasts that without significant new policies, more than 15,000 older women will become […]
New fast-track process proposed to speed up NDIS appeals
26 September 2022 The proposal by the Federal Government to establish a new alternative dispute resolution process for people caught up in NDIS disputes would make the process of appealing a decision faster and easier. Executive Director of Catholic Social Services Australia, Ms Monique Earsman, said any genuine attempt to assist those struggling with the […]
People with disabilities twice as likely to be victims of violent crime
20 September 2022 A major new report by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research has found people with disabilities are more than twice as likely to be victims of violent crime than the general population. The report, released earlier this week, also found disabled victims of violence are about 17 per cent less […]
Federal Cabinet extends pandemic leave disaster payments
15 September 2022 Catholic Social Services Australia has welcomed yesterday’s decision by Federal Cabinet to extend pandemic leave disaster payments beyond the scheme’s expiry on 30 September. Executive Director of Catholic Social Services Australia, Ms Monique Earsman, said continuing the payments beyond the end of September and for as long as mandatory isolation remains in […]
Catholic agencies commit to giving every child a ‘fair go’
8 September 2022 Catholic Social Services Australia, Catholic Health Australia, the National Catholic Education Commission, Catholic Employment Relations and Caritas Australia are among those lending their support to National Child Protection Week (September 4-10) in a very tangible way. The National Catholic Safeguarding Standards, which incorporate the National Child Safe Principles, have been endorsed for […]
