Past Events

Join Shelter SA, Better Renting, Anti-Poverty Network SA and SACOSS to discuss the pressing issue of housing affordability for renters in SA. The ability to find affordable housing used to be a given in South Australia, thanks to a well-resourced public housing sector - what's happened? This event will have a focus on the West Torrens area but renters from other areas are also welcome to attend. We'll hear about the challenges, and also what's needed. We'll be joined by member for West Torrens Tom Koutsantonis MP and Greens candidate for the area Peta-Anne Louth.

We hope you will join us for this special AGM event!

The AGM Luncheon will provide an outstanding opportunity to not only hear a thoughtful and insightful presentation from Peter as our guest speaker, but a chance to connect with friends old and new, and colleagues across our SACOSS community and the sector. Also, for those from member organisations, we will have the usual AGM business, with a chance to catch up on SACOSS news and activities from across the year.

SACOSS AGM Luncheon and Special Presentation -
Housing the Australian Nation: learning from the past to fix the future

Guest Speaker: Peter Mares
Location: Adelaide Pavilion, Veale Gardens, South Terrace, Adelaide
Date and time: Thurs 25 November, 12noon arrival for a 12:30 start. Finish 3pm
Cost: $35 per person (inc 2-course set menu)

To book your tickets Click Here

Putting the spotlight on public housing, which benefits the whole community

SACOSS has been calling for a significant investment in public housing stock as a key element of our current advocacy. Public housing offers a range of benefits across the community. It provides homes for those who are left out of the housing market, adds supply to the market to help make housing more affordable for everyone, and can provide economic stimulus in construction. But the stock of public housing in SA has declined over recent decades. In fact, the waiting list sits at 53% of total public housing stock - the third highest proportion on the country. So there is significant unmet need. Our AGM Luncheon will cast a further light on this important area, with the theme being 'learning from the past to fix the future'.

'Housing the Australian Nation': The story behind the title

The title of the presentation at our AGM Luncheon 'Housing the Australian Nation' is a reference to a pamphlet from 1942 that helped argue the case for Australia's post-war investment in public housing, by pointing to the primary role of housing in wellbeing and to the market failure in providing decent affordable homes for people on the lowest incomes.

About our special guest speaker, Peter Mares

Peter Mares is the author of No Place Like Home: Repairing Australia’s Housing Crisis. His 4-part radio series, Housing the Australian Nation, aired on ABC Radio National in 2020 and he writes about housing and other issues for Inside Story magazine. In his day job Peter is lead moderator and program director at the not-for-profit Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership, a partnership between The Myer Foundation, Vincent Fairfax Ethics in Leadership Foundation and Monash University. Peter previously worked for 25 years as a broadcaster with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. He grew up in South Australia.

Very special thanks to our sponsor

Climate change has been recognized as a priority across the banking, investment, insurance, energy and communications sectors. Governments worldwide are recognizing that failure to act will result in increased frequency and intensity of weather events and disasters.

People living with poverty and disadvantage are most impacted by these events, as they are unable to afford to mitigate against the risks and may lack the mobility or transport to escape. This results in increased inequity, poverty and worsening health outcomes.

South Australia is expected to experience increased heatwaves, fires and the resultant smoke pollution, drought and dust pollution, more intense storm activity with flooding, and coastal inundation from rising sea levels and storm surges.

These events pose risks for health and community service sector organisations, their assets, people, clients and communities.

Join us for a workshop to get a greater understanding of the risks to your organization, learn how to access and use risk assessment tools and build preparedness and resilience in your organization, clients and community.

There are multiple sessions available in the metro area targeting different parts of our sector, so choose the session that most suits you, and register up to 3 people from your organization.

Our August sessions will focus on smaller organisations and the aged care sector.

Additional sessions are being planned to cater for regional areas in the Riverland, Eyre Peninsula and the Limestone Coast, as well as the Aboriginal community controlled sector.

Metropolitan sessions available - book at the link

• Small organisations (eg under 50 staff) - Wed 18 Aug
• Aged care - Wed 1 Sept
• Large organisations - Tues 14 Sept
• Disability services - Wed 20 Oct
• Housing and homelessness - Wed 27 Oct
• Health - Tues 2 Nov

Regional sessions available - book at the link

• Eyre Peninsula - Mon 20 Sept
• Limestone Coast - Thurs 11 Nov 
• Mount Barker & Adelaide Hills - 24 Nov

You can find out more in the program, or call Kathy on 8305 4231. You can also access this flyer for use in your organisation.

We hope you can join us!

These workshops are delivered by SACOSS and the Australian Red Cross. This project was funded under the Disaster Risk Reduction Grant Program and joint initiative of the Commonwealth Department of Home Affairs and the South Australian Government.