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Tasmanian Council of Social Service Inc.

inside this issue

Mar

ch 2

006

Election 2006 :

The major focus of this edition of the TasCOSS Newsletter is the 18 March election.

E lect ion 2006 - A Fai rer Tasmania : 1

From the CEO by Mat Rowel l : 2

A Vision for a Fai rer Tasmanaby Luke Mar t in : 4

Indust ry DevelopmentRepor tby David Owen : 6

TasCOSS Research Project - Pre-Payment Metersin Tasmaniaby Kath McLean : 7

HACC ConsumerConsul tat ion Projectby Paul ine Marsh : 8

A Fairer Tasmania

The outcome of this election could well be crucial in determining the policy settings and resource allocations that will impact on low-income and other disadvantaged Tasmanians.

TasCOSS is actively participating in this campaign. The reports from CEO Mat Rowell and Social Policy Officer Luke Martin provide more information on what TasCOSS has been advocating, and how we have attempted to ensure that the interests of your organisations and your clients are prominent in the public debate during the campaign period.

Included as a ‘stop press’ insert is our summary of how

the major parties have responded to the key issues raised by TasCOSS. Please study these responses carefully and do what you can to ensure that your co-workers, Board members and service users are aware of the parties’ positions.

Elections matter to low-income Tasmanians. The reverse is also true. As we have stressed in our discussions with the political parties, four out of every ten Tasmanian voters are in receipt of either a Health Care Card or a Pensioner Concession Card. That’s a substantial voting bloc. Join us in helping to make those votes count on 18 March.

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From the CEO’s DeskMarch 2005

From the CEO

Mat RowellCEO

Welcome to the first edition of our printed newsletter for �006. It comes to you somewhere toward the end of the �006 State Election period. This is my first election since commencing at TasCOSS and it has certainly been an interesting time.

State elections, as you know, only come up in theory every three to four years, although with the hype leading up to the announcement you’d be forgiven for thinking that the frequency was more akin to Haley’s comet. The mounting speculation about when it would be announced, for what date, and by which day certainly dominated our thinking in the office for the first few weeks of this year as we drafted, revised and revised again our campaign strategy, core documents and media strategy. So there was a great sigh of relief when it was announced on the 17th of February, and with only a four week campaign.

A state election is a very important opportunity which must not be missed, in getting some of our issues into the debate, and ultimately, announced as policy positions by each of the parties.

TasCOSS is a non-party political organisation. Without doubt we are often a political (small P) organisation, but must maintain a non-partisan approach to everything we do. We therefore seek to have each of the three major parties commit to the recommendations we have made. Naturally it’s a very crowded

media market, and therefore can be difficult to get traction with the media in the way that we could normally expect, but it is still a time where we need to do what we can to shift the debate back to the needs of the four out of ten Tasmanian voters who are on low incomes.

TasCOSS has taken the opportunity to revise our Budget Priorities Statement, A New Spirit for Tasmania: A $115 million Social Rescue Package, and to consult with community sector organisations across the state again in trying to think about recommendations which could be extrapolated across a full four year term of government, rather than aimed at a financial outcome during the May budget.

We have worked hard to brief as many new candidates from each party as possible, and have so far managed to personally brief about 80% of all new candidates. What is interesting is the candidates who haven’t taken up that invitation.

We met with policy makers and representatives of the three parties, more than once, in the weeks and

days leading up to the election date announcement in order that we could influence policies and platforms of parties before the formal campaign period commenced.

Our Call to the Parties document was launched on Monday the �0th February, within 3 days of the election being announced, and

with that we launched what we are calling the A Fairer Tasmania Campaign, which was the title of the document, with good media coverage, including the political reporters covering the launch. We hope to use this campaign slogan for events and media throughout the election campaign, but beyond that as a more long term anti-poverty campaign

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slogan, which we will hope other community organisations may also be able to use.

We are now focusing on organizing our three regional community sector election forums, (some of which may have occurred by the time you read this publication) with a representative from each party being invited to each forum in order to present to their regional constituents their party’s social vision for Tasmania. We also see these as a significant opportunity for Community sector staff and clients to hear from the parties and to ask questions of their candidates.

We have also sought a formal response from each of the parties to the 16 recommendations in our A Fairer Tasmania document. The collated responses are included as an insert with this newsletter for your consideration, and we urge you to circulate them as widely as possible.

Please, consider the policies the parties announce during the campaign, read the material we send out, support our campaign by attending the forums, and by ultimately casting your vote for A Fairer Tasmania.

“A state election is a very important opportunity which must not be missed, in getting some of our issues into the debate”

FIGHTING FAIR:MEDIATION & CONFLICT RESOLUTION TRAINING

Hobart: April 27th & 28th, 2006 Launceston: May 11th & 12th, 2006

The Course:This interactive course will assist professionals to explore conflict and impart the essential principles and process of mediation. The structured 5-step mediation model and specific communication/conflict resolution skills will be presented and practiced. The course can be utilised in many different areas of conflict eg. client work, workplace disputes and interpersonal conflict. The training is endorsed by the Australian Association of Social Workers and attracts 24 CPE points.

Venues: Hobart: Botanic Gardens. Launceston: QVMAG, InvereskCost: Payment for the course is $240 + GST for members of the AASW or $270 + GST for non-members. It is

advisable to enrol early to reserve a place.

Presenter Profile: Scott Dutton has more than 9 years in the welfare and training fields. He has mediated more than 180 formal mediation sessions in the areas of parent/adolescent, student/student, and family law conflict. Scott has trained more than 3000 professionals, teachers and students. In addition, he has supervised/inducted many new mediators into the field. Scott’s qualifications include a BSW and BSc. (Psych.).

Please call Scott Dutton for further information or to enrol:Phone: 0425 83 77 56 or Email: cleardynamic@hotmail.com

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Luke MartinSocial Policy Officer

This is the challenge TasCOSS has set Tasmania’s political leaders in the lead-up to the �006 State Election.

After seven-years of unprecedented economic growth that has allowed the Tasmanian Government to run a conservative fiscal strategy and pay-off general government net-debt, this election presents as the time for all three political parties to present their vision for investing in the future of the Tasmanian community.

As the peak interest group for low income and disadvantaged Tasmanians, TasCOSS has been working closely with our members in the community services industry to develop our own vision for what A Fairer Tasmania might look like.

In September last year, we ran our annual consultation process with the sector to identify the priority issues for our 2006/07 State Budget Submission. Our Budget submission is always TasCOSS’ major piece of work for the year and guides our advocacy work in the lead-up to the May State Budget and beyond.

The submission, titled A New Spirit for Tasmania – A $115 million Social Rescue Package contains �7 recommendations for funding initiatives across all Government departments aimed directly at better social outcomes for low-income and disadvantaged Tasmanians.

The submission includes four priority policy areas that our members said

they want particular emphasis from Government in the May �006 State Budget.

1. Affordable housing �. Public transport services 3. Early intervention and family support services, and�. Increasing the capacity of the Tasmanian non- government community services industry.

The full submission can be downloaded from the TasCOSS website – www.tascoss.org.au

With the State Election called for March 18, some two months prior the 2006/07 State Budget, TasCOSS has had to reconsider the priority issues from our Budget submission within the context of an election campaign.

So in January this year we went back to our members and asked them to again consider these four priority areas, but with a timeframe

that stretches across the four-year term of the next Tasmanian Government, not just the May State Budget.

The outcome of this process is ‘Our Call to the Parties’ submission for the �006 election titled, not surprisingly, A Fairer Tasmania.

This document contains 16 specific policy requests, or ‘demands’. We have asked each of the three major parties for their positions on these demands, and the collated responses are included as an insert with this issue. Please do

A Vision for A Fairer Tasmania

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what you can to further distribute these responses to staff, volunteers and service users. Our hope is that this information will assist all stakeholders in our sector in deciding which political party offers the best policies to support and enhance the interests of low income and disadvantaged Tasmanians.

The 16 ‘wants’ cover the same four priority areas as our Budget Submission – affordable housing, public transport, family and child support and community sector capacity – along with two other issues, employment and State Concessions that will also be major priority social issues for the next State Government, whoever it may be:

Tasmania’s debt to the Commonwealth Government

8. A commitment to a whole of government review into current State Government concessions and the impact of concessions on the alleviation of poverty.

9. That, subject to the outcomes of this review, the next Tasmanian Government considers the establishment of a single eligibility cut-off for all concessions.

10. For the next Tasmanian Government to extend the winter electricity concession available to Health Care Card holders for the whole year

11. Support for the development of a Tasmanian non-government community services industry plan.

1�. A commitment to fund an appropriately resourced industry development model for the Tasmanian non-government community services industry.

13. A commitment to complete the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources (DIER) current Passenger Transport Review.

1�. A commitment to a system reform agenda for Tasmania’s public and community transport services.

1�. A review of all Government-subsidised public and community transport services to consider a new consistent, whole of system fare structure for all services.

16. Early intervention strategies, in children and family support to be a major policy and funding focus for the next Tasmanian Government.

term policy solutions to improve the level of services to the Tasmanian community.

Too often in Tasmania we have seen Governments make reactive announcements about fringe initiatives in these policy areas, often aimed at appeasing interest groups rather than addressing the core problems and deficiencies in these essential social policy areas.

The other major component of the A Fairer Tasmania campaign has been our three regional forums that have been held during the election campaign period.

The forums have brought together representatives from each of the three political parties to explain their key social policies for the election directly to people working in the community sector and the broader public. The forums have also provided the opportunity for those attending the forum to ask the party representatives questions on their policies on issues such as affordable housing, employment, public transport and family support services.

TasCOSS thanks everyone from the sector who helped us frame up our list of priority issues and/or who attended our forums.

1. A Dedicated Minister for Employment, supported by an appropriately resourced Office for Employment and Labour.

�. Further expansion of the Partnerships to Jobs Program

3. A specific election policy on affordable housing that demonstrates a strong commitment to a whole of system policy response to Tasmania’s affordable housing crisis.

�. A commitment to increase supply of public and social housing properties by 1,�00 (as a minimum) by �010.

�. Additional support for strategies to increase access to the private rental market for low income and disadvantaged Tasmanians.

6. A renewed State Government emphasis - with appropriate policy response – on increasing home ownership among low income and disadvantaged Tasmanians.

7. A re-organisation of Housing

Community Sector Forums

The common theme with these issues is that they are all policy areas where we believe the next State Government must consider long-

“… the time for all three political parties to present their vision for investing in the future of the Tasmanian community”

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David OwenPolicy Officer

Commonwealth WorkChoices legislation – how will it affect your organisation?

Late in March, the controversial WorkChoices Act will come into effect. This legislation brings about major changes to the way in which industrial relations will be conducted across Australia. It is essential that all non-government community service organisations (CSOs) understand the implications of these changes.

TasCOSS is pleased to announce that it will be partnering with Jobs Australia to host information seminars in each region in early April.

These seminars will assist CSOs to understand whether the legislation applies directly to them and what issues may arise – changes to awards, new restrictions on the matters that can be included in Enterprise Bargaining Agreements and Australian Workplace Agreements, and much more.

All funded CSOs will be welcome, not just JA members. More information on specific dates and venues will be circulated soon.

Workforce Development – Important review of CSSDP

Training, the organisation that has been providing training services under this program.

CSSDP currently facilitates and subsidises training for staff and Board members in CSOs funded through SAAP, HACC and CSP programs in DHHS.

If you are one of those organisations, you will soon receive a survey questionnaire seeking your views on the operation of CSSDP.

We urge you to actively participate in this survey. It is essential that the consultants engaged to review the

Preparing submissions to grants programs – more workshops being planned

TasCOSS and the Tasmanian Association of Community Houses are currently working with representatives of the major government grants programs to develop information and skill-development workshops for organisations who are planning to submit for funds.

Industry Development Report

DHHS is currently reviewing the operation of the Community Sector Skills Development Program (CSSDP) and, in parallel, is evaluating the performance of Productivity Plus

program have as much input as possible. Please take the time to complete the questionnaire and encourage others in the sector to do so too.

Details are yet to be finalised but it is likely that workshops will be run twice in each region, probably in May. The focus will be not just on submission-writing, but on the essential pre-planning of projects to ensure that they are appropriate candidates for funding support.

As soon as we have details on venues and dates, TasCOSS and TACH will be in touch.

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Kath McLeanPolicy Officer, Consumer Issues

TasCOSS Research Project – Pre-Payment Meters in Tasmania

There are now around 37,000 Tasmanian households – about 17% – using pre-payment meters (PPMs) for their electricity supply under the Aurora Pay As You Go scheme. Tasmania is the only state where PPMs are in general use, although they are currently being introduced in South Australia and their use is likely to extend to other states and territories in the future.

There is a lively debate in some states about the use of PPMs, with strong views being expressed on all sides. Australian research into PPM use is virtually non-existent and information from overseas experiences has so far informed the local debate. For this reason and to better understand the issues involved in PPM use in Tasmania, TasCOSS decided that independent research on PPM use in Tasmania was long overdue and applied for research funding.

In October last year, we received a grant from the National Consumers Electricity Advocacy Panel to commission research on the use of pre-payment meters in Tasmania. We established a Research Reference Group to assist with the research brief and to provide ongoing advice on the project. The Group comprises representatives from TasCOSS, Anglicare Tasmania, the Office of the Tasmanian Energy Regulator and the Energy Ombudsman’s Office.

After formulating a research brief, we invited expressions of interest from a number of research consultants with an interest and experience in both working with community sector

groups and research in the area of utilities. A Sydney-based firm, Urbis Keys Young (UKY) was selected on the basis of their experience, proposed methodology, flexibility and costings. UKY has recently completed research for the Public Interest Advocacy Centre in NSW on consumer experiences of disconnection of utilities, including electricity, gas and water.

The proposed methodology involves a review of previous research, collation of existing information on PPMs in Tasmania, a large postal survey and a smaller number of individual interviews.

The Project Manager from UKY visited Hobart in January and met with TasCOSS, the Research Reference Group and representatives from Aurora Energy. After negotiation between these parties, a commitment of additional funds from Bryan Green, the Minister for Infrastructure, Energy and Resources, and the offer of an in-kind contribution from Aurora Energy, we were able to increase the number of questionnaires to be posted out from �,000 to �,000. This will obviously increase the sample size and ensure greater validity of the survey results.

A questionnaire will be distributed to �,000 PPM users throughout Tasmania in late March and April, and will cover issues such as,

ease, convenience and costsof card re-charging arrangements, usage and perceptions ofemergency creditarrangements, frequency, circumstancesand duration of self-disconnection, experiences of forgoing otherexpenditure to ensureuninterrupted electricity supply, experience of paying debtsthrough a PPM, andawareness and usage ofgovernment concessions.

household demographic anddwelling type details,reasons / circumstances roundgetting a PPM,perception of costs, comparedwith standard meters,awareness and impact of time-ofuse tariffs and standing dailycharges,meter use and informationprovision,

The survey will be augmented by detailed telephone interviews with �0 PPM customers which will provide more qualitative feedback on the issues listed above.

Information from the survey will be coded and all information collected will be analysed and reported on in a draft report due in late May. We expect a final report to be submitted to TasCOSS in June, after which we will publish and distribute the report.

We hope that the information gleaned from the experiences of Tasmanian consumers through this research will not only contribute to a more well-informed national debate, but also assist with better policy making, analysis, advocacy and regulation in Tasmania.

Kath McLeanPolicy Officer

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Introducing Pauline Marsh

HACC Consumer Consultation Project.

“… common themes are emerging that indicate both strengths and weaknesses of the current system”

Since our last Newsletter, TasCOSS has welcomed Pauline Marsh as our Home and Community Care Consumer Consultation Project Officer.

Pauline brings a terrific mix of experience and skill to this important project. Much of her career has been in nursing – hospital based, remote area work in Arnhem Land, and more recently as a community nurse here in Hobart.

Along the way, Pauline somehow managed to accumulate postgrad qualifications in Advanced Clinical Nursing, a First Class Honours Arts degree majoring in Aboriginal Studies, and a TAFE Certificate in horticulture! She has worked as a Clinical Nurse Educator and as a University Tutor as well as her nursing.

The result: someone who combines the task-focused drive of the too-busy nurse with the intellectual curiosity and rigour of the academic/educator – a great mix in an organisation such as ours. And the horticulture? Don’t even get us started on the possible ‘pruning’ and ‘fertilising’ metaphors that might apply in our sector.

Pauline’s first Newsletter report follows, and she can be contacted at pauline@tascoss.org.au

consistency across a range of different assessment and eligibility systems. Therefore the consultation project intends to ensure that consumers participate in these developments. Additionally, by adopting this focus, the project seeks to investigate relationships between intake, assessment and referral experiences and other issues

About this year …

This year’s HACC Consumer Consultation Project focuses on consumers’ experiences of intake, assessment and referral processes within the HACC system. This theme was chosen principally because the current Department of Health and Ageing plan, outlined in The Way Forward, aims to streamline existing service entry points and to develop

issues; for example, how consumers found out about services, how long they waited for assessments and service commencement and how they were reassessed and referred within the system. The results of this survey are available on our website (www.tascoss.org.au), or hard copies from Pauline at TasCOSS. The results influenced the

for HACC consumers that have been identified in past reports.

The project has employed three methodologies in order to consult with a wide range of consumers across the state. A written survey was conducted by Janine Combes of Community Focus, which canvassed consumers’ opinions on a range of intake and assessment

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direction of the project and will be integrated into the final report. Our thanks go to Janine for her help and enthusiasm for the project and for aiding a smooth transition between past and present project officers.

The second method of consultation for the project involves a series of workshops being held in HACC day centres. These workshops aim to gather information from HACC clients about their experiences of intake, assessment and referral in an informal, familiar environment. To date these small groups have provided information from a variety of experiences. In addition, they have offered some interesting and creative suggestions about finding and accessing HACC services. The third methodology comprises of one-on-one semi-structured interviews with complex HACC clients. This method enables a more in-depth exploration of some of the issues surrounding entry and assessment. It also enables access to consumers who have high needs and use a range of different HACC services.

As the consultations continue common themes are emerging that indicate both strengths and weaknesses of the current system. For example, consumer perceptions of the roles of GPs, family members, carers and health care workers appear to influence the ways in which people source services. Similarly, the varying nature of different medical conditions, and the unpredictability of the ageing process in general, appear to impact heavily on the pathways taken to accessing help in the home. These findings are of importance to considerations of streamlining entry points into HACC. Also of interest are stories

of interactions between HACC and non-HACC services, generating valuable points for consideration.

Towards the end of April, I will be providing initial findings to the HACC program and the full report should be completed in May. Any questions or comments about the project are welcomed.

And last year …2005-06 HACC Funding Announcements.

The allocation of HACC funds for the current financial year has been recently announced. The Department of Health and Human Services have responded positively to some of the recommendations made in the �00�-06 HACC Consumer Consultation report. The report focussed on the needs of people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds and the recommendations centred on building the awareness of

the specific needs of the CALD population and increasing their access to appropriate HACC services. Grants were secured by the Polish Association for the expansion of their outreach services and day centre modifications and to the Italian Day Centre for meal delivery, outreach services, day centre upgrades and a vehicle. These grants reflect the project’s specific recommendations to increase transport services for CALD clients and increase funding for ethno-specific services, such as day centres. In addition, in keeping with the TasCOSS suggestion to increase ethno-specific services, the Migrant Resource Centre secured a grant to expand counselling services.

Pauline MarshHACC Project Officer

Advertising Members Non-membersFull page $70 $110Half page $�0 $70Quarter page $�� $�0

Inserts Members Non-members $8� $130

TasCOSS newsletter advertising and inserts rates - 2005

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Productivity Plus Tasmania and the New South Wales Federation of Housing Associations are delivering competency units from the social housing specialization of the Community Services Training Packages

Training Event Date

Orientation to Social Housing 21st March 2006

Manage & Maintain Tenancies 22nd March 2006

Manage Housing Applications 23rd May 2006

Manage Housing Allocations 24th May 2006

SOCIAL HOUSING PROGRAM

2006 Training Calendar FEBRUARY – MAY

CORE SKILLS ADVANCED PRACTIONER MANAGEMENT SOCIAL

HOUSINGCOMMUNITY

WORK

Febr

uary Taking Minutes of

Meetings

Food Handler Training Program

Submission Writing

AWARE for Managers

Thinking Strategically

Respond Holistically to Client Issues

Mar

ch

AWARE Submission Writing

AWARE for Managers

Business & Project Planning

Orientation to Social Housing

Manage & Maintain Tenancies

Respond Holistically to Client Issues

Apr

il

AWARE

Taking Minutes of Meetings

Food Handler Training Program

Mentoring & Coaching

Supervision & Performance Management

Plan & Conduct Group Activities

May

Work Effectively as Part of a Team

Conflict Resolution

Suicide Prevention &

Response

AWARE for Managers

Manage Housing Applications

Manage Housing Allocations

Plan & Conduct Group Activities

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Salary sacrificeSalary sacrifice involves your employer agreeing to pay some of your earnings into your super account before income tax is paid. This strategy can grow your super and reduce your taxable income. Before choosing this option, check with your employer first that your entitlements such as compulsory super payments, holiday loadings and shift allowances will be calculated on your full salary (before salary sacrifice).

After-tax contributionsYou can make after tax contributions. This means your employer can deduct contributions from your pay or you can have payments transferred from your bank account to your super account using direct debit. (Contact your super fund to arrange this option or to make a one-off payment whenever you have a little extra, like a tax refund.)

Government co-contributionsAn advantage of making after-tax contributions to your super if you have assessable income plus fringe benefits under $58,000 and meet other eligibility criteria, is that you may qualify for a Government co-contribution. All you have to do is make extra personal after-tax contributions to your super by the end of the financial year and lodge a tax return. Your super fund will notify the Tax Office about your extra contributions and the Tax Office will decide if you are eligible for a co-contribution using this notification and information about your income from your tax return.

If you earn $10,800 or less a year in assessable income and reportable fringe benefits, your spouse may be eligible to make contributions to your super and receive a tax offset of up to $540. A reduced offset is available if you earn up to $13,800.

Why not use the Salary Sacrifice/Co-Contributions Calculator at www.hesta.com.au to see how making salary sacrifice or after-tax contributions could work for you.

Building your superRetirement is about relaxation and spending time doing things you enjoy. The last thing you want to worry about is whether you have enough money to do the things you want to do.According to the National Survey on Community Attitudes to Saving for Retirement, conducted by the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia in August 2004, 70 per cent of Australians aged between 30 and 69 estimate they will need an annual income of $30,000 (in today’s dollars) to maintain an adequate lifestyle in retirement. Almost 30 per cent would like an income of $50,000 or more.However less than half believe their savings will be able to provide the income they believe they will require in retirement. If your savings won’t be enough, how can you close the gap?There is a choice of ways to boost your super, depending on your circumstances.

H.E.S.T. Australia Limited ACN 006 818 695 AFSL No. 235249 RSE No. L0000109Information provided is of a general nature. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or specific needs so you should look at your own financial position and requirements before making a decision. You may wish to consult an adviser when doing this. For more information about HESTA, call 1800 813 327 for a copy of our Product Disclosure Statement which should be considered when making a decision about the Fund.

Training Event Date

Orientation to Social Housing 21st March 2006

Manage & Maintain Tenancies 22nd March 2006

Manage Housing Applications 23rd May 2006

Manage Housing Allocations 24th May 2006

PO Box 1126Sandy Bay

Tasmania 7006

P - 03 6�31 07��F - 03 6��3 6136

E – admin@tascoss.org.au

www.tascoss.org.au

Pauline MarshHACC Project Officer

Kath McLeanPolicy Officer, Consumer Issues

Mat RowellChief Executive Officer

David OwenPolicy Officer

Luke MartinSocial Policy Officer

Lynne BrowningAdministration Manager

The Tasmanian Council of Social Service Inc. provides a voice for Tasmanians affected by poverty and inequality and acts as a peak council for the community service organisations that serve, support and work for them.

For 44 years TasCOSS has worked to eliminate poverty and create a more equitable society by tackling the causes of disadvantage, not just the symptoms.

TasCOSS regularly meets with political leaders and key decision makers, and participates in a number of important committees and other fora.

TasCOSS is also part of a national network, which comprises Councils of Social Service in all states and territories, and The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), which addresses social, economic and other reforms at the national level.

Help us give a voice to Tasmanians affected by poverty and inequality.