Australian Council of Social Service
Encyclopedia
The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) is an Australian advocacy group
that represents the interests of organisations and individuals engaged in social welfare in Australia. It was formed in 1956.
ACOSS is active in areas of social policy
that are of interest or benefit to these organisations and individuals, mainly social security
and social service matters. Indirectly, ACOSS also advocates on behalf of those primarily serviced by social welfare organisations and individuals, such as the working poor
and unemployed
, the homeless
, the disabled
, and those otherwise impacted by social disadvantage
or poverty
.
The current ACOSS CEO is Dr Cassandra Goldie who was previously the Director of the Sex Discrimination Unit at the Australian Human Rights Commission (HREOC).
The ACOSS CEO is often interviewed by Australian media
for social comment on social matters and policies of the Government of Australia
.
Advocacy group
Advocacy groups use various forms of advocacy to influence public opinion and/or policy; they have played and continue to play an important part in the development of political and social systems...
that represents the interests of organisations and individuals engaged in social welfare in Australia. It was formed in 1956.
ACOSS is active in areas of social policy
Social policy
Social policy primarily refers to guidelines, principles, legislation and activities that affect the living conditions conducive to human welfare. Thus, social policy is that part of public policy that has to do with social issues...
that are of interest or benefit to these organisations and individuals, mainly social security
Social security
Social security is primarily a social insurance program providing social protection or protection against socially recognized conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment and others. Social security may refer to:...
and social service matters. Indirectly, ACOSS also advocates on behalf of those primarily serviced by social welfare organisations and individuals, such as the working poor
Working poor
- Definition in the United States :There are several popular definitions of "working poor" in the United States. According to the US Department of Labor, the working poor "are persons who spent at least 27 weeks [in the past year] in the labor force , but whose incomes fell below the official...
and unemployed
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
, the homeless
Homelessness
Homelessness describes the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are unable or unwilling to acquire and maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence." The legal definition of "homeless" varies from country...
, the disabled
Disability
A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
, and those otherwise impacted by social disadvantage
Disadvantaged
The "disadvantaged" is a generic term for individuals or groups of people who:* Face special problems such as physical or mental disability * Lack money or economic support....
or poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
.
The current ACOSS CEO is Dr Cassandra Goldie who was previously the Director of the Sex Discrimination Unit at the Australian Human Rights Commission (HREOC).
The ACOSS CEO is often interviewed by Australian media
Media of Australia
Media in Australia is an important component of the Australian economy. Australian media is widely accessible and caters to a wide variety of audiences...
for social comment on social matters and policies of the Government of Australia
Government of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, which became the six states...
.
Governance
ACOSS has a 20 person volunteer Board of Governors. An Executive of 7 carries out business between Board meetings.Presidents
- November 2009-present: Simon Schrapel
- May-November 2009: David Thompson (interim)
- 2005-May 2009: Lin Hatfield DoddsLin Hatfield DoddsLin Hatfield Dodds , Australian social activist and former Churchill Fellow, was an unsuccessful candidate for political office for the Australian Senate representing the Australian Capital Territory at the 2010 federal election, for the Australian Greens.-Early life and background:Hatfield Dodds...
- 2001-2005: Andrew McCallumAndrew McCallumAndrew McCallum is a professor and researcher in the computer science department at University of Massachusetts Amherst. His primary specialties are in machine learning, natural language processing, information extraction, information integration, and social network analysis.McCallum graduated...
- ?-2000: Michael Raper
- previously: Merle Mitchell, Judith Green,
National ACOSS Members
- A.C.E. National Network
- Anglicare AustraliaAnglican Church of AustraliaThe Anglican Church of Australia is a member church of the Anglican Communion. It was previously officially known as the Church of England in Australia and Tasmania...
- Australian Association of Social Workers
- Australian Bahá'íBahá'í FaithThe Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
Community - Australian Council of State School Organisations
- Australian Federation of AIDSAIDSAcquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
Organisations - Australian Foster CareFoster careFoster care is the term used for a system in which a minor who has been made a ward is placed in the private home of a state certified caregiver referred to as a "foster parent"....
Association - Australian Institute of Welfare and Community Workers
- Australian Psychological SocietyAustralian Psychological SocietyThe Australian Psychological Society is a professional association established to represent psychologists in Australia. The APS has more than 18,500 members, making it the largest professional body representing psychologists in Australia...
- Brain Injury Australia
- Brotherhood of St LaurenceBrotherhood of St LaurenceThe Brotherhood of St Laurence is an Australian not-for-profit organisation. Based in Melbourne, the Brotherhood has a national profile. The organisation's vision is for an Australia free of poverty. In working towards this vision it undertakes research and develops and delivers services and...
- Carers Australia
- Collective of National Link of Neighbourhood Houses & Community Learning Centres
- Community Housing Federation of Australia
- Consumers' Health Forum
- Council of Australian Humanists' Societies
- COTA/National Seniors
- Cystic FibrosisCystic fibrosisCystic fibrosis is a recessive genetic disease affecting most critically the lungs, and also the pancreas, liver, and intestine...
Australia - Deafness Forum of Australia
- Doctors Reform Society of AustraliaDoctors Reform Society of AustraliaThe Doctors Reform Society of Australia , set up in 1973, is a medico-political think tank and a medical association of medical practitioners and medical students that has advocated a range of alternative views to those of the Australian Medical Association.Their initial focus was on universal...
- Family Services Australia
- Homelessness Australia
- Jewish Care Australia
- Job Futures Ltd
- Jobs Australia
- LifelineLifeline (Counselling service)Lifeline is a free, 24 hour telephone counselling service in Australia. Volunteer counsellors provide suicide prevention, crisis support and mental health services via telephone. This service can be accessed by calling 13 11 14 within Australia....
Australia - Mission AustraliaMission AustraliaMission Australia is a provider of family and community services throughout Australia. The organisation has at least 3200 staff, 1,000 volunteers and 300 services in every state and territory of Australia, and is one of the largest community organisations in the nation. It is currently headed by...
- National Association of Community Based Children's Services
- National Association of Community Legal Centres
- National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS
- National Association of Services Against Sexual Violence
- National Council of Single Mothers and their Children
- National Rural Health Alliance
- National Shelter
- National Welfare Rights Network
- People with Disability Australia
- Public Health Association of Australia
- Relationships AustraliaRelationships AustraliaRelationships Australia began in 1948 under the name of Marriage Guidance Council. They are an Australian not-for profit organisation providing professional services to support relationships across Australia....
- Catholic Social Justice Council
- SANE AustraliaSANE AustraliaSANE Australia is a non-profit organisation which works to improve the attitudes toward and treatment of people with mental illnesses. It was formed in 1986 as Schizophrenia Australia Foundation, and is based in Melbourne....
- Secretariat National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care
- Superannuated Commonwealth Officers Association
- The Salvation ArmySalvation ArmyThe Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
Australia Eastern Territory - The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory
- The Smith FamilyThe Smith FamilyThe Smith Family is an Australian, independent non-profit children's charity committed to unlocking opportunities for disadvantaged children and their families to participate more fully in society, using education as the key.-The Smith Family history:...
- UnitingCare AustraliaUnitingCare AustraliaUnitingCare Australia is the Uniting Church in Australia's umbrella community services body. UnitingCare Australia is committed to values based advocacy, speaking with and on behalf of those who are the most vulnerable and disadvantaged, for the common good.It is a sister body to UnitingJustice...
- Women with Disabilities Australia
- Women's Electoral Lobby Australia
- WESNET – The Women’s Services Network
- Young Women's Christian AssociationYMCAThe Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
of Australia
Affiliate ACOSS Members
- Australian Education UnionAustralian Education UnionThe Australian Education Union is an Australian trade union, founded in 1984 as the Australian Teachers Union, which is registered with Fair Work Australia as an employee group, and is affiliated with the Australian Council of Trade Unions...
- National Council of the YMCAYMCAThe Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
s of Australia