Justice, Opportunity and Shared Wealth for all South Australians

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Past Events

Workplace Check-Up

May
26
2021

 

In conjunction with the Working Women’s Centre SA (WWCSA), we would like to offer SACOSS  member organisations free training, to help you deal with common employee issues. 
 

The WWCSA advises workers about their rights at work, and is also funded to provide training to SACOSS members under the small organisation category. The WWCSA takes many calls from workers in the health and community services sector and this session will arm you with the best practice to prevent some of the most commonly-heard complaints. The training will be of particular value to small organistations.

The Workplace Check-Up session aims to give you the tools to make sure your workplace is safe, healthy and an environment in which your employees can thrive. The workshop will cover:

  • workplace equity and respect
  • dealing with workplace bullying and harassment
  • fair supervision and disciplinary processes
  • fair dismissal and redundancy processes.

You will also have the chance to network with other SACOSS members over morning tea.

Date: Thursday 24 June

Time: 9:30am - 12noon

Venue: Marjorie Black Community Room

TO REGISTER CLICK HERE

If you have other suggestions for content, please email Kylie Porter at kylie@wwc.org.au . If it’s not possible to incorporate your question into this workshop, we will note it for further sessions.

Please contact angela@sacoss.org.au with any questions.

                   

Living Without the Basics Conference

May
19
2021

Registrations are now closed

Things are moving fast, but too many are being left behind.

Our Living Without the Basics Conference looks at topical issues relating to housing, energy and water. These areas can all have impacts on health, well-being and costs of living. With parallel sessions, you can choose which sessions are of most interest and relevance for you.

PROGRAM DETAILS

When: Wed 19 May 2021 
Where: Adelaide Convention Centre 

The Conference spans a half day, with a networking lunch included. It will provide a great opportunity to hear from expert speakers across different disciplines. Come along to connect, learn, share ideas, and help create change.

We will be looking into current policies that exist for people who many be struggling, and what might better assist them.

The conference program includes an open from the Hon Dan van Holst Pellekaan MP, and sessions on public and social housing and energy efficiency standards, the state of rental housing in SA, access to drinking water in regional and remote communities, and water services, including access to supports.

With a focus on energy and water as well as housing (which is so topical right now) this is our tenth conference in this series! 

It is of value for people working in the health and community services sector, consumer and community advocates, policy advisors/officers, analysts and managers, those in the energy, water and housing spaces, researchers, and those working in government: senior bureaucrats, program coordinators, policy advisors and more.

More about the Conference ...

The Living Without the Basics Conference will include a look at the intersection of housing policy with energy and water policy, and some of the practical impacts these intersections have in terms of health, well-being and costs of living. What impacts do policies have on the ground for people who may be struggling, and the services that are seeking to support and assist them? We will examine how where people live and whether they have tenure over their homes, impacts on access to decent housing and affordable energy and water. We also look at what can be done, or done better, with opportunities for participants to engage with and influence policy. 

The Conference will also feature the launch of a SACOSS-commissioned report on improving drinking water services for regional and remote communities in SA, and preliminary findings from SACOSS energy efficiency research. It will examine a range of housing-related areas which are extra topical now, including a panel session on the state of rental housing in South Australia. With parallel sessions, attendees can choose which stream is of most interest and relevance for them. 

Who should attend? 
The 'Living Without the Basics' Conference is of value to: 
- People working in the health and community services sector 
- Community sector leaders  
- Consumer/community advocates 
- Policy advisors/officers, and analysts and managers 
- From government: senior bureaucrats, program coordinators, policy advisors 
- Researchers, and more ... 

About the Conference 
Our conferences bring people together from various sectors, such as the community services sector, government, higher education, the energy and water industry. This approach helps to break down silos and provides the opportunity to benchmark against other areas, gain and share ideas, and learn from best practice. 

This Conference will provide a great opportunity to learn, share and network (in person), connecting with colleagues, and hearing from expert speakers, with opportunities to engage with and influence policy in these fundamental areas. 

Speakers and topics include:
Opening keynote - Falling through the Gaps
The state of rental housing in SA
 - Dr Alice Clark, Shelter SA; Prof Chris Leishman, University of South Australia; and Dr Greg Ogle, SACOSS
Water Security in Regional and Remote Communities Workshop - facilitated by Rebecca Law, SACOSS
Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for Housing - Joel Dignam, Better Renting; Dr Lyrian Daniel, University of Adelaide; and Rob Murray-Leach, Energy Efficiency Council
Tenants as Water Customers (including access to hardship supports and dispute resolution) - Dr Sonia Masciantonio and David Coombe, SA Water; Mark Henley, Uniting Communities; and Barbara Johns, South

Our final speaker, Professor Emma Baker from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, will offer a holistic perspective based on insights gained from the conference. Emma is Professor of Housing Research at the University of Adelaide where she leads the Housing and Healthy Cities Research Group and is Director of the Stretton Institute’s ‘Building a City for the Future’ research program.

Portable Long Service Leave: What, Why, How?

May
03
2021

There has been much talk around lately about portable entitlements for employees as they shift jobs, and SACOSS is exploring portable long service leave for the community services in South Australia. Such schemes have been introduced in the ACT, Victoria and Queensland, and it is under consideration in the Northern Territory.

This briefing for our sector, organised jointly by SACOSS and the Australian Services Union (SA&NT Branch) will explore:

  • What a portable long service leave scheme is
  • Why it is important for our sector
  • How it will work and what it will mean for your organisation

Speaker include:

  • Linda White, Former ASU Assistant National Secretary and Board Member of Victorian PLSL Authority Governing Board (tbc)

Monday 3 May, 10.30am

for a 10.45am start

Location: U City, 43 Franklin Street, Adelaide

The event is free, but booking is essential:

Click here to register.

 

Australian Services Union LogoSACOSS logo

Aged Care - After the Royal Commission, What's Next?

Mar
31
2021

Do you work in aged care, or an associated area relating to the care and wellbeing of older people?

The Royal Commission into Aged Care has released its final report, and there is a lot to think about, and a lot to do.

We heard from speakers Jane Mussared, Chief Executive of COTA, and Ian Henschke, Chief Advocate from National Seniors Australia and David Panter from ECH, as we discussed the results of the aged care royal commission and what it will meant for the sector.  

The Royal Commission examined the quality and safety of residential and in-home aged care for older people, and young people with disabilities living in aged care homes, including the extent to which these services meet peoples’ needs, the extent of substandard care, the causes of any systemic failures, and actions that should be taken in response.

It also examined how to best deliver aged care services to people with disabilities living in aged care homes (including younger people), people living with dementia, how to give people more control and choice in relation to their care, and improving engagement with families and carers. The Commission also look at how to best deliver aged care services in a sustainable way through innovative models of care, use of technology, and investment in the aged care workforce and capital infrastructure, as well as future challenges and opportunities, and lessons learned from COVID.

This was a big brief and has delivered a five-volume report of many hundreds of pages. There is much to consider for the sector, advocates, and anyone who is involved in caring for older people. This session provided an opportunity to hear from three leaders in this space and discuss ‘what's next’.

Special Thanks to our Event Sponsor

SACOSS Regional Consultation

Mar
01
2021

SACOSS is heading to Port Lincoln on 1 March 2021 with some of our board and policy council member to meet with service providers and stakeholders across Eyre Peninsula and the West Coast.

We are inviting local community service providers and leaders to discuss what they consider to be key issues for their community and identify ways that SACOSS may be able to provide support through our policy and advocacy work. 

The meeting will run from 9.30am -12.30pm at the Port Lincoln Hotel, with a light lunch and networking from 12.30pm

Local community service providers and leaders can register here.

 

Annual Thank You Breakfast

Dec
10
2020

 

The SACOSS Team would like to thank all our sector colleagues, members and supporters for you invaluable contributions over the last year, so come and celebrate on Thursday 10th December with a scrumptious breakfast on us!

When: Thursday 10th December 7:30am
Where: Marjorie Black House Community Room, SACOSS, 47 King William Rd, Unley

Barista coffee! and breakfast will be provided. 

Register your attendance here.

 

 

 

Working To Make Ends Meet Conference

Dec
09
2020

 

 

 

 

 

 

SACOSS “Working to make Ends Meet” Virtual Conference

Wednesday 9th December 2020 (New Date)

The focus for SACOSS' 'Working to Make Ends Meet' Conference – ‘Waged Poor Households’ – draws on foundational research conducted by SACOSS which examines struggles waged poor households face with the affordability of essential services such as energy, water and telecommunications, and what this means. Waged poor households are households who are mainly receiving income from salaries and wages, but are nevertheless living below the poverty line. We also look at poverty drivers and solutions. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has only magnified the challenges faced by waged poor households, with a sudden reduction of hours and loss of income, leaving many struggling to navigate and access support services. With increased underemployment likely to push a new cohort of households into waged poverty, it is ever more important that governments, the community services sector, and businesses working in the essential services understand and respond to the unique challenges faced by waged poor households.

We have created a program designed to investigate the key drivers of waged poverty, and open discussions on how to address these and share in planning a more equitable future for all. Join us for what promises to be a thought provoking and engaging day.

The conference is of interest for people working in community services and NGOs, as well as utility providers, government departments, unions and professional organisations, and others.

The 'Working to Make Ends Meet' Conference is a new approach to SACOSS's long-running leading Energy, Water and Telco Conference, now in its ninth year!

We have planned an interactive virtual conference experience, including polling, live questions and discussion, and the livestreaming of the event from our SA office, where our local speakers and facilitators will be based.

Due to the changing COVID-19 restrictions across South Australia, we deferred the conference date to Wednesday 9th December 2020 with only  minor program changes.

Please do not hesitate to contact SACOSS Events Coordinator on angela@sacoss.org.au if you have any queries.

DATE: Wednesday 9th December 2020
WHERE: Virtually delivered event

To view speaker bios click here

Event Partner

Major Sponsor

Session Sponsors

       

Technology Sponsor

Alliancing 101: Introduction to Alliancing

Nov
18
2020

 

Some of you will be highly involved in SAHA’s Homelessness Reform processes and at the request of some of our members we’ve been talking with BRSResults about hosting a session on what “Alliancing” actually is and involves? With backgrounds helping to build alliances delivering infrastructure and services in the construction and defence industries their intro to alliancing session (see outline below) will leave you better equipped to ask the RIGHT questions – both of SAHA and likely, other potential alliance partners.

Alliancing 101: Introduction to Alliancing

In this 2 ½ hour session we will cover the following topics:

  • - What is Alliancing and what is considered best practice?
  • - When to use an Alliance vs other procurement models
  • - What is a Joint venture model and what does it mean for risk allocation?
  • - Alliancing commercial models including rates, commercial structure, margins and development of commercial principles
  • - Behaviours within an Alliance
  • - Alliance principles, project objectives and project governance
  • - Roles within an alliance, team and structures required – including Board, leadership and wider team
  • - Non owner participants (NOPs) and how they behave differently on an Alliance
  • - KRA framework 
  • - Pain gain model and what this means for risk allocation
  • - Risk allocation and adjustment investments

Date: Wednesday 18th November,

Time: 1pm – 3:30pm

Venue: Virtually delivered event

Cost: $275 inc GST

Places are strictly limited, so please book fast to avoid disappointment, and we look forward to seeing you there!

To Register CLICK HERE

 

 

 

 

 

AGM and Board / Policy Council Elections 2020

Nov
17
2020

 

Nominations for election to SACOSS Board and SACOSS Policy Council are now Closed.

Following the receipt of nominations ballot elections will be held where necessary. The result of elections will be announced at the 2020 SACOSS AGM.

Due to the current COVID-19 situation this years annual Treasurers Breakfast will be held alongside our SACOSS AGM minimizing the number of times we ask our members to gather face to face during these uncertain times.

For more infomation on our SACOSS Treasurers Breakfast/AGM or to rsvp click here

No elections are required in the Policy Council categories open for election in 2020.

There are wil be an election for the board. Meet the Candidates.

Individual members and Organisation members will be sent ballot papers directly to them via the email address nominated.

 

**SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR ORGANISATION MEMBERS:

Each member organisation is entitled to to votes, which must be made by the representative/s nominated on your membership renewal or membership application form.

If your representative/s cannot be contacted within the time allowed for the ballot, the ballot papers may be completed by a duly delegated representative of your organisation.

Please follow the voting instructions as given, identifying those candidates of your choice. The results are determined on a first-past-the post basis.

The results of the election will be declared at the 73rd SACOSS Annual General Meeting.

 

 

 

Treasurer's Breakfast & AGM

Nov
17
2020

Due to the changing situation here in South Australia we have made the difficult decision to move tomorrows Tuesday 17th November Annual Treasurers Breakfast to an online event. We will start at the slightly later time of 8am and you will be able to access the event via zoom. If you were registered to attend the event you will of received an email with the details of your zoom link.

Please review our in-depth State Budget Analysis, You may want to give it a quick read while drinking your morning coffee before we catch up at 8am.

Following the Treasurer’s presentation, we will move straight into our AGM.

We appreciate your understanding and hope to see you all in the morning. Please do not hesitate to contact our Events Coordinator Angela on angela@sacoss.org.au or the office on 08 8305 4222.

Date: Tuesday 17 November

Time: 8.00am 

Venue: Virtual Event

 

SACOSS wishes to sincerely thank our event sponsors: Hesta