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Tasmania’s economy is
growing. Really growing -
not just Government spin,
but real growth and real
employment creation. It
has been as welcome as it
has been unexpected for
some of us. Count me in
as one of the skeptics who
thought we had no chance
of significantly closing the
unemployment-rate gap
with other states in such a
short time. I would have
wagered my very last
sheep-station that
the 2003 calendar
year would produce
no more than about
3000 extra jobs and
a small reduction in
the unemployment
rate. I was wrong.
David Crean, who
seemed to be
ludicrously optimistic
with his predictions,
was right. Some
9000 new jobs were
created, and the gap with
other states narrowed
dramatically. I guess that’s
why he was Treasurer, not
me.
Where does that leave us?
Can we now leave it to
t h e T a s m a n i a n
G o v e r n m e n t t o
consolidate that very
welcome growth spurt?
Can we avert our eyes
from the employment
picture and concentrate
on other issues instead?
Clearly not. If we take a
closer look at the impacts,
thus far at least, of
Tasmania’s economic
recovery we will see that
much needs to be done to
tackle some deeply
entrenched patterns of
poverty and disadvantage.
We need to remind
ourselves that our interest
in boosting job numbers
was driven by our strong
evidence base that long-
term unemployment has
been the most significant
‘driver’ of poverty in this
state in recent years. Yes,
we are interested in
employment as a source of
fulfilling, identity-forming
activity for all of us.
However our primary
interest as a sector is in
employment as a source of
income - income that will
a l l o w T a s m a n i a n
households to not only
meet their basic material
needs but to participate as
full citizens in their
communities.
So we need to pose the
question: what impact is the
current economic recovery
having on the incomes of
t h o s e T a s m a n i a n
households who have been
struggling to avoid both
deprivation poverty and
participation poverty? Has it
made a difference to date,
and is it likely to make a
difference in the
forseeable future?
If we compare two
important indicators
d e r i v e d f r o m
Centrelink statistics
- the number of
Newstart recipients
and the number of
Tasmanians holding
Health Care Cards
o r P e n s i o n e r
Concession Cards -
we see a disturbing trend.
Note first, however, that
the use of Newstart figures
is not an attempt to push
aside the Australian Bureau
of Statistics employment/
unemployment f igures.
TasCOSS has consistently
relied on the ABS trend
figures in its public
statements on changes in
our labour market and will
continue to do so. But we
need to remember that it is
possible to be struck off the
(Continued on page 6)
March 2004
Volume 5, Issue 1
Much needs to be done
to tackle some deeply
entrenched patterns of
poverty and disadvantage
Inside this Issue
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The ’Winners’ and ’Losers’ of our economic recovery From the Driector’s Desk TSPC Report Tasmanian Medicare Action Group Consumer Issues Project Update Training for Electricity Consumers The Changing Relationships Project The Just Jobs Conference The Poverty Coalition Wage Increases for Tasmanian Community Workers Changes to the Tenancy Act A New Report from SARC Super Funds News in Brief Afritas Restaurant
ISSN 1446 — 2796
David Owen Policy Officer TasCOSS
Tasmania’s Economic Recovery: ‘Winners’ and ‘Losers’
Page 2
From the Director’s Desk
natural next step.
Hence the excitement. I am excited
about the challenge before me of
working with the sector, with our
members and non-members to
support a constantly changing and
developing sector in an environment
of economic challenge.
TasCOSS has some other new
faces as well, both on the staff
and on the board, and
w i t h a f u l l
complement of
staff now we
are able to
cast our
minds to
developing a sense
of team work, refocussing
our priorities, both internally and
externally, and implementing the new
2004 – 2006 Strategic Plan, to be
launched this month.
There has been a change in our
HACC Consumer Consultation
Project. Carol Dorgelo left us in
December to take up a policy
position in the Department of Health
and Human Services. Whilst I did
not have the opportunity to work
with Carol, it is my understanding
that she will be an asset to her new
employer. Carol undertook the task
of consulting with consumers and
potential consumers of the HACC
program with much energy,
commitment and success. This
particular sector will miss her as
much as the staff at TasCOSS.
Stepping into this role is Angela
Maccallini, who comes to us from
the Community Options Program at
Glenorchy City Council. Angela
brings with her a wealth of
knowledge and experience of the
HACC program and of the issues
faced by HACC consumers. We
welcome Angela, her enthusiasm and
commitment to giving consumers a
voice will be a wonderful addition to
the team.
We want to reassure HACC
c o n s u m e r s a n d c o n s u m e r
organisations that this project will
continue and will be back in full swing
within the next few weeks. The
priorities for consultations are
currently being negotiated and we will
let you know what they are as soon
as we can.
Anglicare’s loss is our gain in the face
of our Communications Officer. This
position has been unoccupied for
some time, as our incumbent, Ruth
has been unwell, and our best wishes
are with her. For the mean time we
have temporarily filled the role with
Stacey van Dongen . A
communications professional, Stacey
comes to us from two years in a
similar role at Anglicare. We
welcome her also to the team, and
look forward to her contribution to
our communications strategies.
The Office area has also had a change
of staff. Sandra Faulkner left us in
December, and Catherine Cooper left
us during February to pursue other
opportunities. Thanks to both for
their contributions to TasCOSS
during their time with us. Lynne
Browning commenced work in the
new revised position of Office
Administrator last week and has
already begun to make a difference to
our office systems and accounting
procedures. Lynne comes to us with
a strong finance and administration
background in a number of private
sector companies, both here and
interstate.
With a number of new faces, some
new priorities and with a new
strategic plan to work with, TasCOSS
is looking forward to an exciting,
challenging and interesting 2004.
With a continued commitment to
systemic change and advocacy for
disadvantaged Tasmanians, you will
notice that the theme of this
newsletter continues our discussions
about the increasing gap between the
“rich and poor”. Please enjoy the
insights and snapshots from the team,
It is with excitement that I write
this column for the first edition of
the TasCOSS Newsletter for 2004
and from where I sit, there is a
definite air of excitement at
TasCOSS.
For those of you who don’t know
me, let me introduce myself. A
Launceston boy originally,
migrating south for
university about 10
years ago, I completed a
Bachelor of Social Work
at the University of
Tasmania. A string of
locum social work positions
in Child and Family Services,
Centrelink and Education,
before settling into school
social work in the northern
suburbs for a while.
I had a change of scenery when I
moved from the government to the
community sector in 1998 to work
for Colony 47 as the Coordinator
of the Reconnect service. For me
this was the turning point. Working
in a dynamic, ever changing non-
government organisation brought
with it considerable challenges, but
a l so a wealth of va luable
experiences, opportunities and
learning. I loved it, and decided that
the community sector was where I
should be. From there, to Anglicare
as Quality Manager/Program Policy
Consultant, and now, TasCOSS.
During my few years in the
community sector I also did some
post graduate studies in community
sector management – and continued
to develop a keen interest in the
unique inf luence that non-
government organisations can have
in various arenas, as well as the
need for community organisations
to be more street-wise when it
comes to funding, management,
staffing and accountability.
Given these interests, and a
commitment to social justice
developed during my social work
training, TasCOSS seemed the
Tasmanian Social Policy Council Report
Page 3
you will find them both timely and
interesting reading
On behalf of the staff and board of
TasCOSS, I would also like to take
this opportunity to formally thank
Anne Hughes for her time and energy
as Acting Executive Director between
November and January.
Ann stepped in to fill the gap left
between Lis’ departure and my arrival.
It is never easy to fill the role
previously occupied by another
person, and about to be occupied by
someone else and to establish
yoursel f with the team and
s takeholders . Under these
circumstances most would not
achieve anything other than keeping
things ticking over. Ann managed to
attend to a number of outstanding
issues, including internal operational
issues and policy related issues.
Ann handled the media commitments
with professionalism and credibility
and ensured that the reputation of
TasCOSS as a spokesperson on social
issues was not lost.
Thank you Ann for the energy,
enthusiasm, skill, and flexibility you
brought to the role in your time with
TasCOSS.
Finally, I would just like to extend an
invitation to members and non-
members, to provide us with feedback
about this newsletter, or any issues of
concern. If there is anything that you
would like to discuss with me, about
the sector, about our policy work, or
about the work of TasCOSS, please
feel free to contact me. I am happy to
hear the views, concerns and
suggestions for improvement of the
sector.
I can be contacted on:
Ph: 0409 214 781
Mat Rowell Executive Director TasCOSS
The TSPC had its first 2004 meeting
on 19 February, with a good
attendance and some valuable
discussion about a range of policy
issues.
February Guest Speaker
Guest speaker for this meeting was
Victoria Henderson from the
Forensic Mental Health Project
within the Department of Health &
Human Services. Victoria provided
an overview of the development of
the new Secure Mental Health Unit
(SMHU) to be commissioned late in
2005 on the Risdon Prison site.
Victoria, who has oversight of the
transition of responsibility for the
SMHU from the Department of
Justice to DHHS, was assisted by
Joanne Keil, Correctional Health
Liaison Officer from Justice. Making
up what was an extremely valuable
resource team for this presentation
were Janine Combes and Sally
Barker, who many of you will know
in their roles as consultants
ma n a g i n g t h e s t a k e h o l de r
consultations as part of the wider
P r i s o n s I n f r a s t r u c t u r e
Redevelopment Program.
Victoria’s presentation covered the
historical background to the
decision to establish the SMHU -
and its move from Justice to DHHS
- and the key elements of the new
Unit. TSPC members had
previously expressed concern about
the potential use of the
Unit for individuals
outside the Justice
system, and there was
considerable discussion
about this issue.
Victoria has kindly
offered to make available
the overheads she used
in her presentation.
Please contact me if you would like
access to these. Remember also
that information on the SMHU can
be obtained directly from DHHS. A
specific information sheet on the
SMHU is available from Victoria
( 6 2 3 0 7 8 0 0 o r
and information on the Correctional
Health Centre (located at the
Prison) can be obtained from Joanne
( 6 2 3 3 7 6 4 9 o r
TSPC Working Groups
There are currently five working
groups reporting to the Social Policy
Council:
Disability
Families / Relationships
Housing
Community Care
Employment
Each of these groups would
appreciate the input of TasCOSS
members and others from the non-
government community services
sector who share an interest in these
issues.
Other TasCOSS members have also
expressed interest in working on
health and education issues, especially
the underlying trends towards the
privatisation of services in these
sectors. It will not be possible to
develop working groups until we have
a ‘critical mass’ of people able to
sustain these groups, so if you would
like to see policy work occurring on
these major issues, please contact me
and I will link you up with others
prepared to share the load.
Continuing the pattern of high-quality
guest speakers, the March meeting of
the TSPC will addressed by John
Ramsay, Secretary of the Department
of Health & Human Services. We
have asked John to
address the range of
initiatives being planned /
taken by DHHS under the
banner of ‘integration’ -
the attempts at ‘silo
smashing’ designed to
ensure that service
systems are flexible and
robust enough to meet
the multi-faceted needs of DHHS
clients (and indeed service users in
our own non-government sector).
Remember, any TasCOSS member
(individual or organisational) is able to
participate in the TSPC. Please
contact me for more information or
to express interest in any of the
working groups mentioned above.
David Owen Policy Officer TasCOSS
Page 4
Tasmanian Medicare Action Group
We highlighted the serious shortage
of dentists in Tasmania and the need for the increased recruitment,
training and equitable deployment of government funded allied health
professionals throughout the country.
In spite of its rhetoric to the contrary, the federal government
appears intent on radically altering and ultimately destroying Medicare
as we know it – by increasing the rebate for some and not others, bulk
-billing for all is rapidly becoming a thing of the past. And by
unnecessari ly complicating a relatively simple and efficient system, the government may eventually claim
that it is unworkable, and Medicare may end up being a marginalised part
of a largely private, for-profit health care system.
Those interested in becoming involved in the Tasmanian Medicare
Action Group may do so by contacting Kath McLean at TasCOSS
Ph: 6231 0755 or E: [email protected]
The $5 increase in the Medicare
rebate mentioned above is meant to provide an ‘incentive’ to doctors to
bulk-bill these groups. Apart from being inadequate, it differentiates
between categories of people and provides a disincentive for doctors
to bulk-bill anyone else. In addition, with no cap on doctors’ fees, health
care costs, as well as out-of-pocket expenses are certain to rise.
With costs of health care rising and
bulk-billing rates falling, there is evidence of a worrying trend of
people not seeking medical treatment when it is needed. The necessity to pay doctors upfront in
full has meant that people on low incomes cannot always afford to see
a doctor when they need to. There is also evidence that people are
increasingly using public hospitals for treatment that is more appropriately
delivered by GPs.
The TasMAG submission supported
the government’s commitment to recruit more doctors and nurses to
work in rural and other currently under-serviced areas. However, we
urged the government to ensure that their recruitment of overseas
doctors does not occur at the expense of the health care workforce needs of other countries.
TasCOSS continues to be actively
involved in the Tasmanian Medicare Action Group (TasMAG) and has
been busy lobbying against aspects of the federal government’s proposed
‘Medicare Plus’ package. TasMAG sent a submission that highlighted
the problems with the package, as well as its few positive points to the
Senate Select Committee on Medicare in December
Our biggest concern with the
package is the introduction of a ‘safety net’ designed to partially
reimburse (80%) expenses once a certain level of out-of-pocket spending on medical services is
reached ($500 for concession card holders and families who receive
Family Tax Benefit A, and $1,000 for other individuals and families). This
will obviously require complex accounting systems and additional
bureaucracy. The introduction of a ‘safety net’ undermines the principles
on which Medicare is based, that is, universality, equity, efficiency and
simplicity. The ‘safety net’, along with the increase in the Medicare
rebate by $5 for concession card holders and children, entrenches a
two-tiered public health system. There is no place for a ‘safety net’ in a universal health care system.
and advocacy service. The service
would provide state-wide coverage through a telephone service as well
as through the provision of regular information sessions in regional
areas, and through the production and dissemination of printed
consumer education materials.
The submission, which is now also with the Treasurer, has the support
of the informal Consumer Issues Group that has been meeting since
October last year.
Other consumer-related activities
have included seeking feedback from Tasmanian community service
organisations for the Australian Compet it ion and Consumer
Commission (ACCC) regarding its Vulnerable and Disadvantaged
Consumers Campaign. The feedback has been passed on to the
ACCC and will contribute to the re-design of its referral guide and to
further refinement of the processes of and publicity for the Campaign.
Kath continues to sit on the ACCC’s Consumer Consultative Committee.
As foreshadowed in its Budget
Priorities Statement of last year, TasCOSS has recently submitted for
funding to the Attorney General, Judy Jackson, a two-part consumer
information and advocacy project. The first stage of the project
involves funding to TasCOSS for a six month full-time position focusing
specifically on creating support and referral networks and doing the
groundwork for the establishment, in the second stage, of an
independent, non-government Tasmanian consumer information
Kath McLean Policy Officer TasCOSS
Kath McLean Consumer Issues Project Report
Page 5
distribute, and what drives prices.
All consumer groups require informed
representation in electricity issues and
this is especially true for those
disadvantaged and vulnerable consumers
who are unable to represent themselves.
We would like to see community sector
w o r k e r s w h o w o r k w i t h
disadvantaged and vulnerable people
participate in this free training
program so that they can better
represent their clients’ interests in
this area.
This training project aims to
provide trainees with information about
the electricity supply industry in
Tasmania, including generation,
transmission, distribution, retail supply,
billing and regulation, as well as about
environmental issues and the operation
of the National Electricity Market. The
training will be provided by experts from
the Tasmanian electricity industry,
including suppliers and regulators, as
well as by critics of the industry. We
hope the result will be a series of
informative, balanced, and enjoyable
training sessions that will equip
participants with sufficient knowledge,
understanding and resources to become
active and effective participants
i n fu tu re e l ec t r ic i t y
consultations and debates.
Four training sessions will be
he ld throughout 2004 ,
beginning in April. They are all
free and refreshments will be provided.
If you would like further information
about this project, including a detailed
training program, or if you would like to
register as a participant, please contact
Kath McLean at TasCOSS
Ph: 6231 0755 or
TasCOSS has recently been funded by
the National Electricity Consumers
Advocacy Panel to run a series of
training sessions for domestic
consumers of electricity and/or their
representatives. We became involved in
this project after recognising that few
domestic electricity consumers are
equipped with the knowledge and
information necessary to actively
participate in discussion, debates and
planning around electricity issues.
There are major changes ahead of us as
Tasmania moves toward joining the
National Electricity Market via Basslink.
This will radically alter the way
electricity is supplied in our state and is
certain to have an impact on prices in
the long run. As consumers and
representatives of consumers, we need
to be informed of these changes. We
need to know how electricity works,
what it costs to generate, transmit and
The Changing Relationships Project is
managed by TasCOSS as a mechanism
for dialogue and collaboration between
the Department of Health and Human
Services and the various non-
government service-providers and peak
bodies that DHHS funds.
In mid-2003, a new focus for the Project
was agreed between DHHS and sector
peak bodies. Instead of the previous
concentration on the ‘protocols’
operating between agency and sector, it
was agreed that, wherever possible, the
various forums and working groups that
comprise the Project would have an
explicit issues focus. While there will
still be forums that will provide
opportunities for our sector to raise
concerns and aspirations relating to
funding, service agreements and the
other important structural elements of
our relationship with DHHS, the
emphasis will be on collaboration aimed
at developing and implementing policies
and programs of immediate interest to
the parties.
This refocus has led to a rapid
mushrooming of forums and working
groups (and no, I don’t mean the kind of
mushrooming where we are kept in the
dark, etc). There are now over twenty
separate structures that involve sector
representatives in collaborative work
with DHHS. These range from ‘top
level’ structures like the Agency Sector
Consultative Forum (bringing DHHS
senior management and sector peak
bodies together each quarter) through
to working groups that have very
specific workplans based on short
timelines.
Each DHHS Division that funds non-
government community service
organisations is now significantly
involved in the Project. I am delighted
to report that after a longish period of
agency-sector inactivity in the
Community, Population & Rural Health
Division, there are now some very
exciting and challenging forums and
working groups being developed. In
Housing Tasmania Division, the very
welcome Affordable Housing Strategy
funding announced late last year has led
to the development of a wide range of
working groups that will assist DHHS in
implementation of the Strategy.
Children & Families Division, for so long
now the most consistent and energetic
part of DHHS with regard to these
collaborative structures, continues to
resource a range of important forums
and working groups.
All this is very exciting, and very scary.
It is exciting because our sector has
unparalleled opportunities for genuinely
collaborative work with DHHS on a
wide range of issues that we have
nominated as crucially important. It is
scary, however, because it stretches
already scarce resources in our sector.
Few of us are able to drop our service-
providing tasks to attend the meetings
involved in the Project, or to take on the
additional tasks of consulting with peer-
organisations or disemminating
information from meetings. Service
agreements with DHHS don’t currently
acknowledge this sort of work as part of
what we should be doing for our money.
As a result, many of the same people
find themselves under pressure to wear
multiple ‘hats’ in a range of different
forums.
For more information regarding the
Project, please contact me. An updated
list of the forums and working groups
and the issues they are working on can
be found on the TasCOSS website:
www.tascoss.org.au
David Owen Policy Officer TasCOSS
Kath McLean
Changing Relationships Project Report
Electricity Training for Consumers
Page 6
Tasmania’s Economic Recovery:
‘Winners’ and ‘Losers’continued ...
ABS unemployment count for having
worked as little as one hour in the
past week. More importantly, it is
possible to work many more hours
than that and still be on such a low
income that eligibility for (at least
partial) Newstart payments continues.
If our primary concern is with the
poverty impacts of unemployment,
then we are obliged to pay close
attention to changes in the numbers of
Newstart recipients.
So, what do these figures show?
Below is a comparison of Dec 2002
figures with Dec 2003 figures:
Newstart HCC / PCC
Recipients Holders
Dec 2002 20,210 144,988
Dec 2003 18,853 151,656
While employment may have grown
by some 9000 jobs during 2003, the
number of people reliant on Newstart
fell only by some 1350. More
worrying, the number of Tasmanians
on incomes sufficiently low for them
to be eligible for of Health Care Cards
or Pensioner Concession Cards
increased by some 6600 in the same
period, an increase of 4.6%.
How do we understand these
seemingly contradictory trends? First,
we need to recognise that much of the
work represented by the new
Tasmanian jobs has been part-time or
casual, and often at the lower end of
the wage spectrum. Getting a job
does not represent an escape from
poverty unless and until the wage is a
reasonable one. Many Tasmanians
found work, but at an income level
that still left them eligible for
Centrelink assistance. Note that while
across Australia, a massive 87% of all
jobs created were full-time, that figure
was only 65% in Tasmania. Gender
patterns come into play here too. The
national pattern was for jobs to be
created in the building, construction
and IT sectors. Those jobs were well-
paid and overwhelmingly went to men
- 78% of those jobs in fact. In
Tasmania, on the other hand, some
67% of the new jobs went to women,
(Continued from page 1) frequently in the less-well-paid sectors
(like tourism and hospitality, call
centres, etc).
Either way, not many of the new jobs
being created are going to long-term job
-seekers. In the past year of our
economic recovery, there has been no
change whatsoever in the percentages
of Newstart recipients who have been
seeking work for more than one year
(60% of all job-seekers) or two years
(40% of all job-seekers). Once again, if
our pr imary focus i s on the
impoverishing role of unemployment,
then we cannot ignore the cumulative
impact of long-term joblessness. Our
rates of long-term unemployment
continue to be much higher than other
states, even if the gap on overall
unemployment is closing.
It may be, of course, that the hoped-for
‘trickle-down’ effect of economic
growth will still eventuate, with long-
term job-seekers finding work easier to
obtain. To be confident of this,
however, we would need to understand
just which industry sectors are likely to
be interested in those job-seekers.
Interested, that is, in older males
discarded by shrinking manufacturing
and agricultural sectors. In job-seekers
who are likely to have relatively little to
show in the way of formal education or
qua l i f i c a t ion s . Ta sCOSS h as
consistently argued that both the
Australian and Tasmanian Governments
will need to specifically target these job-
seekers - and potential employers - with
assistance packages that are far more
generous and comprehensive than are
currently available. The alternative,
growing prosperity at one end of the
wealth-income spectrum and continuing
entrenched poverty at the other, is a
very expensive one in social, political
and financial terms, especially over the
longer term.
Meanwhile, we have witnessed, as part
of our economic ‘boom’, some dramatic
changes in our housing market. House
prices and private rents in major urban
centres in Tasmania no longer a
‘cushion’ against the effect of low
incomes. For those who already have
equity in their own home, or whose
existing pattern of wealth and income
allows them to invest in this rapidly-
inflating housing market, things look
fairly rosy. These are the ‘winners’
from our economic growth.
However, for those who are on a low
and/or insecure income, and are
struggling to pay rent in the private
market, that same economic growth has
made life even more difficult. For those
whose income is essentially fixed
because of a dependency on a social
security payment, the house price-rent
‘boom’ will have left no prospect of
achieving home ownership. Given that
any chance of accessing secure,
affordable housing via our public
housing system will have all but
disappeared over the past few years,
this ‘maturation’ of our housing market
has been very bad news indeed.
Yes, some of the folks who are buying
into Tasmania to take advantage of the
remaining price-disparity between
mainland capital cities and our own
housing will undoubtedly add energy
and skills to our economy. And yes, in
time that will help create new jobs.
Our Tasmanian economy will grow as a
result of this in-migration. The cost,
however, will be more immediate and
more severe: greater levels of housing
stress for an increasing proportion of
our low-income households. As
important and as welcome as the
Tasmanian Government’s Affordable
Housing Strategy is, it cannot carry the
burden of disadvantage created by the
continuing impacts of long-term
unemployment and the more recent
impacts of rent-price inflation.
For TasCOSS and our member and
constituent organisations, this means
that our social policy advocacy work
needs to focus not just on the growing
levels of poverty and disadvantage in
our communities, but on the growing
inequalities between the ‘winners’ and
‘losers’ arising from our much-vaunted
economic recovery. We look forward
to your support, your energies and your
ideas over what promises to be a
challenging year.
David Owen Policy Officer TasCOSS
This 2004 State Employment Conference,
Just Jobs 2, (Enterprising Communities) is
being convened by TasCOSS following the
success of the 2002 Just Jobs State
Employment Conference. One of the
outcomes of Just Jobs 1 was the 2003
State Government Budget allocation of
$1.4 million PARTNERSHIPS TO JOBS
PROGRAM for the delivery of sustainable
emp loymen t opportun i t ie s for
disadvantaged job seekers.
Just Jobs 2 (Enterprising Communities)
will build on this development. This will
be a working conference.
T h e E n t e r p r i s i n g
Communities conference
will provide a structured
process that will capture
contributions from all
participants, ranging from
the chang ing work
environment to practical
local enterprise examples,
leading to understanding
and commitment to future
ideas and actions.
This Conference will
explore how work and
increased opportunities
for economic and social
participation for all people
throughout Tasmania can
be created by
b u s i n e s s e s a n d
community economic
development
local community work
creation programs and
partnerships for jobs
community sector
employment through
social enterprise and
innovation.
We will work together through new
coalitions and partnerships to generate
new enterprise and work opportunities in
our local communities.
CONFERENCE BENEFITS
BUSINESS
Understanding the changing world of
work is essential to finding staff with the
skills you need, to address skill shortages
and to achieve triple bottom line results.
This Conference builds on research that
shows that in successful economies, 70%
of new employment opportunities are
created by existing businesses. Just Jobs 2
will enable business to express their
future workforce needs and provide input
to Government policies and programs as
well as identify potential community
partnerships – growing your business with
the skilled people you need.
JOB NETWORK PROVIDERS and JOB
SEEKERS
Creating the future world of work and
creating enterprising communities that
work will be a central focus of Just Jobs 2.
Employment is more than statistics and
filling job vacancies. There are stories to
be told, stories to be listened to and
stories yet to be heard. Just Jobs 2 will
hear these stories and author new stories
that will map the pathways of tomorrow.
Just Jobs 2 will provide pathways back into
social and economic engagement for job
seekers in partnership with Job Network
Providers.
GOVERNMENT
Participation in Just Jobs 2 by Government
will further promote the Goals and
Targets of Tas Together by providing a
forum for furthering partnerships with the
Tasmanian community. The focus will be
on building inclusive enterprising
communities and developing social and
economic enterprises. Particular
emphasis will be on creating positive
employment outcomes for disadvantaged
communities and job seekers—
partnerships for jobs!
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
At Just Jobs 2 local communities from
around Tasmania will be coming together
with strong representation from Local
Government. At the heart of healthy
enterprising local communities is local
government. We will
be learning from each
other, both locally and
from overseas, and
sharing resources, and
so building the capacity
o f o u r l o c a l
communities. What is
the story your local
government community
has to tell about the
creation of enterprising
working communities?
NON-GOVERNMENT
and COMMUNITY
Just jobs 2 will be
exploring the changing
world of work and the
employment market.
Workers i n the
community and non-
government sectors
meet daily the negative
and disqualifying impact
these changes have on
peoples’ lives. At Just
Jobs 2 we will work
together to build a new
future – turn ing
negatives into positives, leading to new
skills for new jobs, promoting social
inclusion and the rebirth of hope.
EDUCATION
Many young people leave school each year
to enter the changing world of work.
Through this conference you will
understand how the work environment is
changing and what employers will require
in the future. You will develop new
relationships with all of the above
stakeholders as a basis for partnerships
and programs that promote and foster
work opportunities.
Page 7
TasCOSS JUST JOBS 2 State Employment Conference
Enterprising Communities — Creating Work
TasCOSS JUST JOBS 2
State Employment Conference Wednesday 16 – Friday 18 June 2004
at
The Grand Chancellor, Hobart
Conference Purpose and Approach
“Together we will make Tasmania an icon for the rest of the world by creating a proud and confident society where
our people live in harmony and prosperity”
Tasmania Together
Conference Facilitators: Gil Sawford and Tony Ibbott
Leaders from the New Zealand Community Employment Group will share with us some amazing stories of Enterprising Com-
munities that create work … along with our own stories.
For Conference Information and Registration: contact Vince McCormack at TasCOSS
Ph: 6231 0755 or E: [email protected]
Vince McCormack Project Officer TasCOSS
So said Bernice Johnson Reagon,
historian and founder of Sweet Honey
in the Rock the black activist feminist a
cappella group. While being involved
with the Poverty Coalition is not
usually unsettling, this quote is a
valuable reminder of how challenging
and extending working in coalition can
be. A coalition can provide its
members with opportunities which are
much more that the sum of its parts.
The Poverty Coalition is a network of
community welfare and advocacy
groups working co-operatively with
globally focussed aid and development
organisations to eradicate poverty.
The Coalition is very much founded
on the awareness that the causes of
poverty within Australia and overseas
are linked and need to be tackled
together.
We started life in 1995 as the
Tasman ian Coal i t ion for the
Eradication of Poverty. Readers will
understand that under this title it was
hard to find a catchy headline for
media releases!
Our beginning was linked to seminars
undertaken by ACFOA (the Australian
Council for Overseas Aid) which
marked the declaration of the United
Nations Decade for the Eradication of
Poverty. Representatives of groups
concerned about poverty and social
justice, whether in Australia or
elsewhere, met to discern where
there might be areas of shared
understanding and action. Sadly, the
UN Decade draws to a close and it
appears that the gap between the rich
and the poor is widening. However, we
take heart that there are signs of hope
in many areas of the world and many
indicators of absolute poverty show
improvement.
Since the Coalition was formed we have
undertaken a range of activities
including:
submiss ions to government
enquiries and budget formulation
contribution to political debate
including delegations to politicians
and “calls to the parties” at election
time
marking, each year, 17 October -
the day designated by the United
Nations as the international Day for
the Eradication of Poverty. A
tradition has developed that we
ho ld a b reak f as t w i th an
inspirational speaker
The group is informally organised – with
all the strengths and occasional
difficulties of such a structure. We
operate in a low key way, meeting
monthly with minutes and other
information usually disseminated by e-
mail. Sharing information about what
the constituent groups are doing has
been one of the especially useful
functions of the coalition. Members
have gained strength and inspiration
from each other’s activities, especially at
times when it has been hard to remain
convinced of our agreed belief that
poverty can be eliminated from the
world – it just requires the will to make
it happen.
The groups that have been involved
include TasDEC Global Learning
Centre, Tasmanian Council of Social
Service (TasCOSS), National Council of
Women (Tasmania), Caritas, Tasmanian
Commissioner for Children, Oxfam
Community Aid Abroad, Women’s
International League for Peace and
Freedom, Tasmanian Council of
Churches, Business and Professional
Women , S t a t e Supe r annu an t s
Association of Tasmania, COTA (the
Council on the Ageing), Unions
Tasmania, Uniting Church Social
Responsibility Committee, Tasmanian
Catholic Justice and Peace Commission,
Baha’i Community, RESULTS (ending
global hunger), United Nations
Association, Anglicare and World
Vision.
Individuals from an even wider network
are also active in the coalition, including
some politicians.
The Poverty Coalition welcomes new
members. If you share a commitment
to the elimination of poverty as the
correct and possible course of action,
please join us.
Contact David Owen at TasCOSS or
any of our member groups.
Page 8
Voices from the Sector: The Poverty Coalition
“If you find yourself in a coalition in which you feel comfortable – that coalition is not broad enough!”
Ann Hughes The Poverty Coalition
The Australian Services Union has won
recognition from the Tasmanian Industrial
Commission of the need to revalue
community services work in Tasmania.
Deputy President Watling accepted the
ASU’s claim that there has been a
significant increase in the value of the work
performed by community services workers
and that this should be reflected in wage
increases. This represents a substantial
move forward in improving the conditions
for these workers and clears the way for
the next round of the Australian Services
Union’s campaign for fair and equitable
wages for employees under the Tasmanian
Community Services Award.
Deputy President Watling found that
“changes have taken place in the nature of
work, skill and responsibility of employees
so as to constitute a significant net addition
to the work requirements”
By any reasonable measure, Tasmanian
Community Services workers are underpaid.
They receive far less than employees in the
State Service and interstate community
workers. This decision recognises the
increased skill and responsibility of dealing
with increasingly more complex client needs.
It recognises the demands of workers that
arise from new legislation such as privacy
and mandatory reporting. It recognises that
new ways of working with government and
in community organisations demand a higher
level of skill.
The ASU is pleased that the decision also
recognised the increased responsibility of
managers and coordinators, particularly the
role they play in developing and
implementing partnership arrangements with
government departments and agencies. The
ASU acknowledges the employers’ concerns
Voices from the Sector: Australian Services Union
Stage set for wage increases for Tasmanian Community Services workers
Page 9
The Attorney General, Judy Jackson,
ensured that new and returning
students at the University of Tasmania
who will be renting this year, along with all other tenants in our state,
would not be required to pay up-front
fees for a residential property. On February 1, 2004 the Attorney General
by proclamation brought forward the
amendment to section 17 of the Act.
The real estate industry was given prior
warning of the introduction through
the Real Estate Institute newsletter two weeks before it became law. In the first
week Consumer Affairs and Fair
Trading, the government department responsible for monitoring the Act,
received three complaints. Upon
investigation, apparently the fees were
charged due to administrative error. They were let off with a warning.
Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading Director Roy Ormerod has stated that
from now on any real estate agency
that breaches section 17 of the Act will be prosecuted.
If you are aware of tenants being charged an up-front fee, regardless of
what it is called, it should be reported
to Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading –
1300 654 499.
When the Residential Tenancy Act,
1997 was introduced the intention of section 17 was to prohibit real estate
agents from charging tenants fees. The
Tenants’ Union argued that the real estate industry was ‘double dipping’,
owners of properties paid an agent to secure a tenant. The Attorney General,
Judy Jackson in her speech to parliament
last year, while introducing the
amendment, also stated that these fees were ‘double dipping’ by agents.
Upon the introduction of the Act the real estate industry sought legal advice
and were informed that it was possible
to charge the fees for providing a service to tenants. Unfortunately, Consumer
Affairs and Fair Trading were not
confident of a successful prosecution, so
did not enforce section 17.
The Tenants’ Union supported individual
tenants to proceed with claims to the Magistrates Court, Small Claims Division.
Tenants who took their claim to the
court ultimately had these fees returned.
This is not the only good news for
tenants; towards the end of last year changes to the Magistrates Court Civil
Division saw the replacement of the
Small Claims Division with the Minor
Civil Claims division. With the introduction of the Minor Civil Claims
came a change in the filing fee structure.
This saw an increase of $60.00 to tenants wising to lodge claims for such
things as repairs.
In March this year we have been
informed by the Attorney General that
for matters brought to the Minor Civil
Claims Division of the Magistrates Court for a claim under the Residential
Tenancy Act the cost for filing will be
reduced to $33.30.
The Tenants’ Union would like to thank all those who supported our campaign
and lobbied the Attorney General to
ensure that the cost for filing fees be
reversed.
We can also look forward to further
changes to the Residential Tenancy Act, 1997 commencing on March 5, 2004.
These amendments include:
a prescribed time for the security deposit (bond) to be returned – 3
working days;
a fixed term agreement will remain in place when a property is sold;
open homes will need permission in
writing from a tenant;
owners will be required to provide
copies of any relevant strata title by-
laws;
charging for water to tenants may be
done where water is metered;
tenants will be able to apply to the courts for urgent and emergency
repairs;
the definition of essential service will include the removal of grey water;
a notice to vacate will expire after 28
days if not acted upon; and
a tenant can apply to the court for an
owner to secure the property.
These are only some of the amendments
to be introduced. The Tenants’ Union
will be contacting organizations shortly with a view to providing training.
Boarding and Rooming House legislation is not expected to be introduced until
mid year.
Voices from the Sector: Tenants’ Union of Tasmania Inc
Welcome Changes to the Residential Tenancy Act, 1997 Sandra A Kent Coordinator
Tenants’ Union of Tasmania Inc
about the funding for wage increases
arising from the decision. The Union
remains committed to working with
employers to lobby State and Federal
Government to fund the cost of the final
outcome in this case. Employers are
already claiming that without increased
funding, services will be cut and
redundancies will be more likely.
We have demonstrated that the value of
work in the community sector has
increased significantly. We now need to
ensure that the cost of this recognition
does not fall on those workers, clients and
voluntary board members. To a
significant extent the change in work value
relates to the heightened expectations and
requirements that funding bodies have
placed on community services. It is only
fair and reasonable that they cover the
costs.
The Union will now initiate negotiations
with the Tasmanian Chamber of
Commerce and Industry on new wage
rates and classifications for the
Community Services Award, as well as
lobbying for full cost supplementation by
government. Following a meeting of the
ASU active members network on 25
February, the ASU is developing a wage
position based on a proposed 18% wage
increase phased in over a three-step
process. Members (and prospective
members, please!) should contact Ian
Paterson on 6224 3411 for more
information about the wage claim and
about forthcoming meetings on this issue.
To read the full text of the Commission’s
decision go to: www.justice.tas.gov.au/tic/
decisions/2004/t9925_s23_2004.htm
Ian Paterson Industrial Officer
Australian Services Union
A message from one of our sponsors: HESTA
Can you name your super fund?
Page 10
In an environment of low returns and
often high fees, it’s vital that you know
where your super is and how different
types of funds operate. Industry funds are multi-employer
funds and usually cater for the
superannuation needs of workers in
specific industries (for example,
HESTA was set up for people working
in health and community services).
Industry funds were original ly
established to accept Award super
contributions so that workers’ super
entitlements could be invested for
their benefit and not eroded by high
fees and charges. Industry funds don’t have external
shareholders to pay dividends to, so all
profits are for the benefit of fund
members. Typical industry funds have
low administration fees, no entry or
exit fees and no up-front or ongoing
commissions. Industry funds also offer benefits like
death and disability insurance at
competitive rates and may also offer
members access to other services. For
example, HESTA members can access
commission-free financial planning and
banking services like low cost home
loans and a credit card with one of the
lowest interest rates in the market,
according to financial research company
CANNEX. They also have access to
health insurance with premiums around
7% lower than those charged by major
health funds. Master trusts allow large numbers of
people or companies to carry out super
arrangements as a single group.
Generally offered by life insurance
companies, banks and specialist
superannuation administrators, they
often have relatively high administration,
entry and exit fees. Retail funds are structured in a similar
way to master trusts and are also
generally offered by life insurance
companies, banks and specialist financial
services providers catering for the
general public. An APRA working paper released in
February 2003, The Investment
Performance of Australian Superannuation
Funds, found that retail funds produced
the lowest returns and had the highest
charges of all super funds. The balanced investment options of
industry funds, like HESTA’s Core Pool,
on the other hand, have generally
performed much better, delivering
positive annual returns to members in
2003 when most retail funds with
typical balanced portfolios averaged –
2.5% (Rainmaker Information 2003). HESTA’s 2003 return for it’s balanced
investment option was +1.5%, capping
off over 15 years of positive annual
returns for the investment option
where the majority of HESTA members
have their super. If you would like to compare super
funds for yoursel f , Ra inmaker
I n f o r m a t i o n h a s d e v e l o p e d
www.selectingsuper.com.au, a web site
that provides independent information
about superannuation and super funds
in Australia. You’ll also find a wealth of
super information at www.hesta.com.au.
Call 1800 813 327 for more information
or a copy of our Product Disclosure
Statement which should be considered
when making a decision about HESTA.
Strong economic growth has provided
s i gn i f i c an t oppor tun i t i e s for
Tasmanians during the past two years.
Many people have been able to gain
employment and improve their
standard of living. However, there
continue to be thousands of
Tasmanians who experience
significant disadvantage, living
on very low incomes, and
struggling to make ends meet.
The latest research from
Anglicare’s Social Action and
Research Centre investigated
the experiences of more than 800
Tasmanians who turned to Emergency
Relief and Financial Counselling
agencies during a two week period in
November 2003. The report of this
research, Bread and Board: When the
basics break the budget was launched in
Hobart on February 25.
Researcher Kelly Madden said that low
incomes, big bills and difficult personal
circumstances interact to cause financial
crisis in the lives of many Tasmanians.
“The overwhelming majority of the
peop le in terv iewed were
unemployed, sole parents or
people with disabilities and almost
half of them were caring for
children,” she said.
“We were shocked to find out
how many people were going without
meals, had no phone, couldn’t afford
medical bills and weren’t getting the
assistance with their power bills that
they are entitled to.”
Ms Madden said key findings included
that:
59% of respondents had gone
without meals in the past year due
to a shortage of money;
42% of respondents had been
unable to heat the home at some
stage in the past year;
23% identified health costs as a big
or very big problem for their
household;
24% reported that they or a family
member in their household had a
mental illness; and
almost 20% did not have a phone
The report makes a range of
recommendations for action at a State
and Federal level. Copies of the report
are available from the research section
of the Anglicare website
www.anglicare-tas.org.au or from the
Social Action and Research Centre on
6234 3510.
Social Action Research Centre
Voices from the Sector: Anglicare Tasmania
Bread and Board: When the basics break the budget: A New Report from SARC
VOLUNTEERING
TASMANIA
Mid last year, Volunteering
Tasmania was funded through the
HACC program to look at the
reimbursement of volunteers for
out-of-pocket expenses in HACC
-funded organisations. The
project is due to be completed in
the next few months, and will
result in a set of guidelines, with
r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s f o r
implementation, on how HACC
serv ice prov iders should
approach the reimbursement of
their volunteers. The guidelines
are based on consultation with all
T a sman i an HACC - funded
organisations that involve
volunteers, and with HACC
volunteers themselves from
around the state. For further
information on the project,
please contact Volunteering
Tasmania’s Policy Officer,
Kathleen Flanagan, on:
Ph (03) 6231 5550.
COLONY 47
Sue Ham, CEO of Colony 47, has
been re-appointed for the next 3
years to the national Youth Advisory
Consultative Forum. The Forum
provides advice to Family and
Community services and the Minister
for Children and Youth Affairs, the
Hon Larry Anthony, on youth issues
and servicing. It also operates as a
think tank on relevant issues. For
further information contact Sue at
TASMANIANS WITH
DISABILITIES
There have been some recent big
changes for Tasmanians with
Disabilities. Lorrine Herran, who has
been the oganisat ion’s State
Coordinator for 3 years, is moving to
Forth for a sea change. Her
knowledge and enthusiasm will be
sorely missed in the disability sector.
The new State Coordinator is Helen
Fielder-Gill. Tasmanians with
Disab il it ies have also had a
geographical change – the new
address is 20 Creek Road in Lennah
Valley.
THE
MOUNTAIN
FESTIVAL
The third Mountain Festival is on
from 18 to 28 March this year.
Described as a community-based,
sense of place festival, Tasmania’s
Mountain Festival has developed
through a strategy of developing
community partnerships and
innovative arts projects which link
the arts, science, community and
environment.
The mission of the Mountain
Festival is to:
Inspire and facilitate community
based participation
Raise awareness of
connectedness to the
environment
Give conscious expression to
sense of place
Develop links between the arts,
science and the environment
Create innovative new work
For more information on the
Festival, including the Program, go
to www.mountainfestival.org
Page 11
News In Brief
Imagine dining at the edge of the Kalahari Desert with quality African food
passionately prepared and presented with good-humoured personality – and you
haven’t left Hobart!
Come to AfriTas and experience a fusion of culture and cuisine and enjoy the colour,
vibrancy and spirit of the African people, combining the exotic flavours of Africa with fresh Tasmanian produce.
The African Community of Hobart now numbers some 700 people – a diverse group of people, many arriving as refugees
from a number of African countries including Sierra Leone, The Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Rwanda, Liberia and Ghana.
The AfriTAs Restaurant was chosen as the first enterprise of Africa Enterprise Inc which was formed in 2003, born out of
the TasCOSS Unemployed Workers Network Project. Many significant partnerships resulted, in particular with STEPS
Employment and Training Solutions who also provided an integrated training program for restaurant staff, with all trainees
coming from the African Community.
Your patronage of AfriTas will be greatly appreciated.
201 Liverpool St - Hobart - 6231 4999
A UNIQUE DINING AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCE
Page 12
Sally Barker
Layout Cal Heath
With Thanks
TasCOSS would like to thank Hesta, Newprint and
Aurora for their ongoing support of our newsletter.
Editor’s Note
This is my last edition of the TasCOSS News-
letter as editor. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this
role over the last year, in particular its been a
great way to keep up-to-date with the inspira-
tional work coming out of TasCOSS and to
find out about all the exciting stuff happening
out there around the sector. I would like to
thank all those who have so enthusiastically
contributed with articles and information
about what they’re doing. I would also like to
thank Cal Heath for her fabulous design and
layout skills, and Ann Hughes for being the
best and quickest proof reader in the world.
Sally Barker
Angela Maccallini
Project Officer HACC Consumer
Consultation Project
Stacey van Dongen
Communications Officer
Lynne Browning
Office Administrator
Welcome to
New TasCOSS Staff
