Current News
ACT Prevention of Violence Against Women and Children Strategy 2011
ACT Prevention of Violence Against Women and Children Strategy 2011
ACT Volunteering Statement
The ACT Government recognises the benefits, opportunities and needs of volunteering in the community. The principles set out in the ACT Volunteering Statement are a platform for good practice. They reflect a whole-of-government and community approach to supporting and recognising volunteers.
More information on the ACT Volunteering Statement
Life’s Reflections Photographic Competition
ACT Minister for Ageing, Joy Burch MLA, officially launched the 2011-12 competition at the recent Retirement and Lifestyle Expo at EPIC.
More information on the photographic competition
Portable Long Service Leave Scheme for the ACT Community Sector
In 2008 the ACT Government committed to introducing a Portable Long Service Leave Scheme for the ACT Community Sector by June 2010. The Scheme allows for community sector workers to transfer long service leave entitlements as they change employers within the sector. It is anticipated that the Scheme will increase retention of workers in the community sector.
The new legislation took effect from 1 July 2010. The Scheme applies to all child care and community services sector organisations operating in the ACT. Organisations are required to submit 1.67% of their total wages bill to the Long Service Leave Authority on a quarterly basis.
ACT Portable Long Service Leave Scheme [PDF 569KB] [RTF 9.7MB]
The Community Services Directorate engaged Urbis to undertake a consultation process with the community sector and DeeDeeRa Actuaries to undertake an Actuarial Study on the ACT Community Sector. These reports informed the attributes and scope of the Scheme. For the purpose of providing the community with background and scope of the Scheme the Minister for Community Services has released the two reports.
ACT Community Sector Long Service Leave Scheme - Actuarial Report [PDF 5.8MB] [RTF 1.3MB]
Community sector organisations indicated to the ACT Government that they may require support while transitioning to the new portable long service leave scheme under the Long Service Leave (Portable Schemes) Act 2009 (the Scheme). The ACT Government committed to supporting organisations to transition on a needs basis during the implementation of the Scheme. The commitment was made to minimise financial hardship that may impede the effective delivery of community services. The ACT Government offered one off payments to eligible organisations, to a maximum of $50,000 in 2010-11. The ACT Government considered applications from organisations which were recurrently funded under an ACT Government Service Funding Agreement. It is anticipated that a second round of the Transition Fund will be conducted in the third quarter of 2011.
Application Form - Transition Fund [PDF 121KB] [RTF 152KB]
Media release (12/5/11) on the successful applications to the first round of the Transition Fund: ‘ACT Gov funds to help improved worker conditions’.
http://www.chiefminister.act.gov.au/media.php?v=10719&m=138
Frequently Asked Questions
For further information around the Portable Long Service Leave Scheme for the ACT Community Sector please email Rowan Ford at rowan.ford@act.gov.au
ACT Carers Charter Community Consultation Report
After broad community consultation in 2010, the report on the consultation process and outcomes of consultation has been finalised. A copy of the consultation report is available. The ACT Carers Charter will now be developed to reflect the needs of the wide variety of carers in the ACT, as discussed by the community consultation process.
ACT Carers Charter Community Consultation Report [PDF 110KB] [RTF 235KB]
Review of Industrial Relations Arrangements for the ACT Community Sector
In December 2008, $500,000 was allocated through the 2008-09 second appropriation budget to review community contracts and to provide an improved industrial relations environment for non-government organisations in the ACT.
It was agreed that the Review would be undertaken in two phases. HBA Consultants were engaged by the Directorate to undertake the first phase; to review existing community service funding arrangements and to assess the adequacy of wages and conditions provided by community sector organisations.
The Review of Industrial Relations Arrangements for the ACT Community Sector report was completed in July 2010. It found that community sector wages and conditions were comparable with those in other jurisdictions, and made a range of recommendations for improvement. A copy of the report is available below.
One recommendation of the report was to establish a central industrial relations (IR) information and advice service for the sector. The second phase of the review is responding to this recommendation, and is identifying a suitable organisation to provide this support to the sector over the near term. The project will also identify options for long-term IR support that will be sustainable beyond the life of the project.
Review of Industrial Arrangements for the ACT Community Sector
http://www.hbaconsulting.com.au/pdf/HBA_ACT_ACTCommSectSummRep150dpi.pdf 
Review of Industrial Relations Arrangements in the ACT Community Sector – Key Deliverable 1 [PDF 1.5MB]
Review of Industrial Relations Arrangements in the ACT Community Sector – Key Deliverable 2 [PDF 1.2MB]
Review of Industrial Relations Arrangements in the ACT Community Sector – Key Deliverable 3 [PDF 1.7MB]
Review of Industrial Relations Arrangements in the ACT Community Sector – Key Deliverable 4 [PDF 1.4MB]
Review of Industrial Relations Arrangements in the ACT Community Sector – Key Deliverable 5 [PDF 915KB]
Home Haemodialysis Water Rebate
On Monday 26 July 2010 the Minister for Health announced an initiative to assist people in need of home haemodialysis treatment, through the ACT Government Concessions Program. The program will offer a specific water concession for the cost of excess water charged for home haemodialysis.
Home Haemodialysis water rebate [PDF 47KB] [RTF 56KB]
Feasibility Study for Respite Care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
In August 2004, the ACT Government launched Caring for Carers – A Plan for Action 2004-07 (the Action Plan), outlining 34 actions to progress over 3 years in order to achieve the objectives of the Caring for Carers Policy.
Of the 34 actions prioritised, the outstanding was Strategy 3, Action 3B:
- conduct a feasibility study to develop a new model of respite care that better recognises and supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ preference for kinship and family care. The feasibility study was to include:
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- scoping possible models in consultation with ATSI carers;
- researching similar models in other jurisdictions and sectors;
- identifying likely problems with the model; and
- identifying structures and safeguards needed to support the model in consultation with relevant government and community agencies who could potentially fund and deliver services.
In 2008, the Echidna Group – Indigenous Research and Development Consultancy were engaged by the ACT Government to conduct the feasibility study. The final report, Feasibility Study for Respite Care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, documents the findings, including a recommended model for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander respite care and associated recommendations.
Feasibility Study for Respite Care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples [PDF 319KB] [RTF 3MB]
ACT Government Concessions Policy
ACT Government Concessions Policy [PDF 51KB] [RTF 655KB]
Children and Young People Act 2008
The Children and Young People Act 2008 came into force in July 2008.
The Act implemented significant reforms to the law relating to children and young people in the Territory, particularly in the areas of care and protection, youth justice, the regulation of childcare services and employment. The 2008 Act replaced the Children and Young People Act 1999, and was informed by a comprehensive review of the 1999 Act.
Review of Philanthropy in the ACT
The Community Services Directorate engaged Urbis to undertake a review of the nature and extent of philanthropic giving in the ACT, with the aim of identifying its adequacy, trends, impediments and opportunities for growth. The Report of the Review of Philanthropy in the Australian Capital Territory and the ACT Government's response to the report are now available.
Report of the Review of Philanthropy in the ACT [PDF 121KB]
ACT Government's response to the report [PDF 1.9MB] [RTF 631KB]
Hands Across Canberra
In November 2010 Deputy Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher MLA, launched a new foundation and website aimed at assisting vulnerable Canberrans. The Hands Across Canberra website gives community organisations, businesses and individuals the opportunity to donate money or explore options for volunteering time or skills for a range of projects.
http://handsacrosscanberra.org.au/
