MEDIA RELEASE

VCOSS welcomes today’s announcement by the Victorian Government that public transport across the network will be free for a month from Tuesday 31 March.

VCOSS CEO Juanita Pope said:

“We’ve heard from our members that the rising cost of fuel caused by the war in the Middle East is putting extra strain on tight household budgets.”

“For many people who were already struggling to pay the rent, put food on the table and keep the lights on, the additional source of cost and worry is unmanageable. This new measure will help.”

“We applaud the Victorian Government for taking concrete action to support Victorians with the cost of living. Being able to access free public transport across the network will help many people get their kids to school and themselves to work, and ease one source of strain on household budgets. This is a very positive step.”

With inflationary pressures and rising costs continuing to be caused by the international situation, VCOSS looks forward to seeing other measures to ensure that Victorians who are doing it tough are not left behind. This includes increased support for the community services that people rely on, especially in difficult times.

MEDIA RELEASE

The Victorian Council of Social Service has welcomed the Victorian Government’s Midday Power Saver as an initiative to help Victorians save on their power bills and benefit from renewable energy.

VCOSS CEO Juanita Pope said:

“Many Victorians, including students, older Victorians and people currently unemployed who can move their energy usage to the middle of the day will be able to take advantage of the Midday Power Saver.”

“By encouraging consumers to use appliances in the middle of the day when there is plenty of solar power available, the scheme will also work to reduce pressure on the grid at other times which, if regulated effectively, can benefit all energy users.”

“We support the Victorian Government taking the time needed to design this scheme well. Starting the scheme in October allows time to develop the regulatory safeguards and pricing controls to make sure that vulnerable consumers aren’t swindled, and the public benefit of the scheme is optimised.”

“VCOSS is pleased to see that the Essential Services Commission will play a critical role in reviewing pricing for the Midday Power Saver, and that there will be regulations in place to ensure consumers are well informed about potential costs or savings, before opting into the offer.”

“While the Midday Power Saver will help many Victorians, we know there are also many households struggling with energy bills that aren’t in a position to shift their usage to benefit from the scheme. These include people in poor quality housing, renters with inefficient heating, and frontline community service workers who can’t avoid using energy at peak evening times. It’s important these Victorians are supported to reduce their energy costs as well.”

MEDIA RELEASE

• Floods more likely to hit those experiencing disadvantage – and exacerbate it
• Annual disposable income $22,818 lower in flood-affected areas one year later, compared with similar households elsewhere
• Government action urgently required to invest in improved risk reduction, preparedness programs and recovery measures

As communities across Victoria come out of intense flooding and an extreme bushfire season, new research sheds light on the link between socioeconomic disadvantage and disasters, and the long-lasting effects on impacted communities.

The Ripple Effects report, published by the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) and University of Melbourne, presents the first major comprehensive quantitative analysis of spatial injustice and the 2022 floods which impacted 63 of Victoria’s 79 local government areas.

The report found that:

• A majority (59%) of regional flood-affected areas had rates of poverty above the regional average
• Poverty increased after the floods, with one in five people in affected areas experiencing poverty the following year, as well as a higher risk of depression
• After the floods, disposable income was $22,818/year lower for households in affected areas compared to similar households elsewhere
• Affected areas also saw an increase in unemployment and nonparticipation in the labour force, along with the need for government income support
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as well as culturally and linguistically diverse people were more likely to live in regional flood-affected areas

VCOSS CEO, Juanita Pope, said the report was the first of its kind to provide a comprehensive analysis of spatial injustice taking community-level impacts into account, such as regional economic impacts and pressure on local service systems.

Spatial injustice refers to the unequal distribution of resources, hazards and opportunities based on location. Research shows that where people live impacts everything from healthcare to access to education. Regional geographies often experience spatial injustice in Victoria, as do some parts of Melbourne.

“This report shows that major disasters affect everyone, but not equally. People experiencing poverty and disadvantage were more likely to live in the hardest-hit areas during the 2022 floods, and this inequity was exacerbated afterwards,” Ms Pope said.

“As climate change drives more extreme weather events, there’s an increased risk that natural disasters will further entrench inequality, poverty and disadvantage across Victoria. This report will help government authorities address and prevent that risk.”

The Ripple Effects report was produced in collaboration with Dr Ang Li and Mathew Toll from the University of Melbourne’s School of Population and Global Health, who conducted a comprehensive analysis drawing on data from multiple sources including Emergency Management Victoria, the ABS Index of Household Advantage and Disadvantage, VCOSS’ Poverty Maps dataset, and the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics (HILDA) Survey.

Dr Li and Dr Toll said the report investigates the social, economic, and health trajectories of exposed communities using a causally focused approach, and highlights the overlap between uneven exposure and uneven vulnerability.

“Spatial injustice in exposure means that those who are most vulnerable in the 2022 Victorian floods were also the ones who were more exposed to the hazard. This report raises questions of climate justice and the need for risk reduction to support the social, economic, and health recovery of exposed communities,” Dr Li said.

Recommendations

The Ripple Effects report includes vital recommendations for all levels of government on how to prevent the risk of future flood events further entrenching inequality, including:

• Investing in risk reduction and preparedness programs for people experiencing poverty in high flood-risk areas
• Supporting First Peoples and multicultural communities to lead emergency preparedness, response and recovery
• Increasing financial support for people who experience natural disasters, including additional supports to address loss of income and employment during recovery

A full copy of the report, including detailed analysis and recommendations, is available on this VCOSS webpage.

The redevelopment of Victoria’s 44 public housing towers is a major infrastructure project that impacts the lives of thousands of Victorians, and entails considerable investment at a time when Victoria urgently needs a large-scale social housing build.

Such a project requires careful planning, genuine consultation and a commitment to transparency in order to ensure Victoria uses its resources most effectively to end homelessness, and that we bring the public – in particular residents of the housing towers – on the journey in a genuine, informed way.

We, the undersigned organisations, believe it is timely for the Victorian Government to review the execution to date of the redevelopment program generally, and we look forward to having that conversation in the near future.

We wish to raise and focus on a number of concerns we have regarding the latest announcement for redevelopment of seven towers currently dedicated to providing public housing to Victorians over the age of 55 at the following locations:

• 29 Crown St, Flemington
• 159 Melrose Str, North Melbourne
• 150 Victoria Avenue, Albert Park
• 94 Ormond St, Kensington
• 25 and 27 King St, Prahran
• 150 Inkerman St, St Kilda

It is essential to maintain dedicated older persons’ housing

We call on the Government to commit to maintaining dedicated older persons’ housing in any redevelopment, and not just dedicated floors for residents over the age of 55.

Older residents report dedicated buildings give them a feeling of safety and security.

Dedicated buildings also make it easy for older people who are ageing in place to access bespoke services in the home. If a revised model results in older residents being dispersed, it will be difficult to maintain the same levels of support due to services already being overstretched.

Offers of new homes must be appropriate

Given the age of some residents in these towers, the next home they move to will be their final home before moving into aged care.

We call on the Government to commit that all offers of accommodation will be appropriate, provide long-term tenure and not be headleased, and maintain the current rent.

Planning for support of residents through the transition

We call on the Government to present its plan for how residents will be supported throughout their move and once they are settled in their new homes.

We need to be presented with a plan for how residents will be:

• clearly communicated with;
• supported once they move to ensure they can continue to access their current support services; and
• prepared for the significantly different living conditions that will affect them in their new housing, such as higher bills, and tied access to embedded infrastructure networks.

Additional support services must be properly resourced

Any additional support services committed to older people as part of the relocation must be properly resourced.

The Commonwealth Aged Care support system is not equipped to provide the support residents need, due to eligibility criteria, assessment, long wait times and service availability. For example, under this approach, residents may need to be reassessed if they change areas, reassessed when and if they move back and then wait for the supports to come in at all. This in an environment where there is already a long waitlist for assessments.

Residents’ existing Victorian service providers are the most appropriate organisations to provide addition support, but they are already at capacity and cannot scale up without additional funding.

We call on the Government to commit to increasing resourcing to the existing Victorian service providers to provide additional support services to residents during the relocation.

Support workers must be independent

The Government has stated that each resident will have a dedicated relocation support
worker.

We call on the Government to commit that these support workers will be independent, not employed by Homes Victoria. The principle of distinct housing and support workers is a key Housing First principle. As Homes Victoria is the landlord for these tenants, having the resident’s support worker also be from Homes Victoria would be contrary to best practice.

Certain right of return

Residents’ right to return after redevelopment is currently expressed in Government documentation with the significant qualification “Residents can also come back to the neighbourhood after it is redeveloped if their eligibility and needs are the same and the new homes are suitable for them” [our italics]. This qualification makes it impossible for any resident to know if they will actually have a right to return.

Residents subject to relocation experience extreme destabilisation and understandable stress, and the uncertainty of this statement extends their anxiety.

Government representatives have informally indicated to us that residents will have a right to return, and we ask the Government to put that same commitment in writing to provide certainty and reassurance to residents.

We also call on the Government to commit that residents will be returning as public housing tenants, and they will be returning “for life”.

Clarity around the future of the towers

Finally, we call on the Government to provide more clarification around the ground lease
model for these sites, and confirmation that the land and properties will revert to
government control.

Signed by:

COTA Victoria
Council to Homeless Persons
Elder Rights Australia
Housing for the Aged Action Group
Tenants Victoria
Victorian Council of Social Service
Victorian Public Tenants Association

MEDIA RELEASE

Victoria’s peak body for community services has expressed alarm at the type of public service cuts announced by the Victorian Government, following the release of the Silver Review.

The Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) understands the necessity of making hard decisions to get the best outcomes from Victorian public money, especially where there are demonstrable inefficiencies and duplications in the public sector.

But an analysis of how and where Government is choosing to withdraw or redistribute funding raises serious questions about the impact on some of our most important service systems.

VCOSS’ key concerns include:

• The decision to disband VicHealth as a standalone health promotion and prevention body, absorbing some of its functions into the Department of Health. VicHealth has been at the heart of Victoria’s public health successes for nearly 40 years and its independence has been critical to its impact.  
• The decision to abolish Sustainability Victoria and cease its functions. Climate change is one of the greatest threats to the state’s economy and social fabric. Over the past 40 years, Sustainability Victoria has catalysed change that builds community and economic resilience. It’s typically been ahead of the curve – a driving force initiating solutions to some of our most pressing emerging environmental challenges.
• Cuts and proposed funding model changes that will directly impact the delivery of frontline services by community services providers. VCOSS continues to seek more information about changes foreshadowed in the Review.
• Changes to the architecture of regulation and oversight bodies, as well as cuts to independent advisory bodies (such as Infrastructure Victoria), advisory and reference groups and other engagement and consultation mechanisms. While VCOSS understands the need for government to work in ways that are efficient and impactful, there is a risk that evidence-informed decisions and government transparency and accountability will be eroded if these changes are not carefully enacted. The Victorian Government cannot solve the state’s big social and economic challenges on its own – it not only needs a capable public service, but to leverage the deep expertise of those on the frontline of these issues.  

VCOSS urges the Victorian Government to delay the implementation of these cuts to allow for further consultation. This can ensure that any changes have the desired effect of making the public service more effective, without hurting Victorian communities.  

Quotes attributable to Juanita Pope, Chief Executive Officer, VCOSS:

“The Government said that the Silver Review wouldn’t cut frontline services, but these changes effectively do that by clawing back funding from contracted community services organisations and dismantling entities that partner with the community sector to provide vital support for vulnerable Victorians.”

“These ‘contracting reforms’ for community service organisations will hit hard, especially in regional areas where labour shortages and poor system stewardship by government are the actual cause of perceived ‘under-performance.’”

“If Victoria disbands VicHealth as an independent health promotion and prevention body, the consequences for all Victorians will be dire. This so-called ‘cost saving’ will prove to be an expensive mistake. Chronic disease is rising, hospitals are struggling under the weight of crisis demand, and public health misinformation and disinformation are flourishing.

“Now is the time to double down on, not cut, prevention. Decisions announced today will not only drive up pressure for hospital care, but will produce more demand for social assistance from the community services sector – which is also slated for funding cuts.”

MEDIA RELEASE

The Victorian Government’s push towards an electric future will result in cleaner, healthier and more affordable energy for all Victorians – especially those facing disadvantage. 

Premier Jacinta Allan today announced a raft of measures to support Victoria’s transition to a sustainable energy network that will require new homes to be all-electric from 2027. 

VCOSS particularly welcomes new Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for rental properties to be introduced from 2027, which will include a switch from gas heaters to reverse-cycle air conditioning and new requirements for draught sealing, ceiling insulation and water-efficient shower heads. 

“This is a major win for renters in Victoria at a time when they really need it,” said VCOSS CEO Juanita Pope. 

“We know that the rental market includes some of the worst quality homes in Victoria, which compounds the effect of other challenges faced by renters during a cost-of-living crisis. 

“More and more people are accessing energy hardship programs because they are struggling to pay their energy bills. We also know there is a direct connection between poor quality rental properties and poor health outcomes. These standards will literally save lives.” 

The reforms announced today will also require homeowners to replace gas hot water systems at the end of their life with electric alternatives from March 2027.  

Homeowners will be supported in switching from gas to electric appliances through the expansion of the Victorian Energy Upgrades scheme and other Victorian Government incentives such as the Solar Homes and Solar for Apartments initiatives.     

Together, the new measures are expected to result in a long-term shift away from the use of fossil fuels in Victorian homes, which VCOSS has long advocated for. 

“This is a brave move by the government to future-proof Victoria’s energy network despite a scare campaign from some parts of the fossil fuel industry,” Ms Pope said. 

“VCOSS strongly supports this shift. Whether we like it or not, the reality is that gas is no longer a viable source of energy for Victorians. It’s bad for our health, bad for our wallet and bad for the environment.” 

MEDIA RELEASE

Victoria has delivered a modest budget which does just enough to keep critical programs ticking over, according to Victoria’s peak social advocacy body VCOSS.

The budget includes a series of welcome measures to provide temporary cost of living relief, such as $400 one-off payments to offset school costs ($280m) and $3.5m for food relief grants to community support organisations (including Neighbourhood Houses).

The budget preserves a raft of critical social programs, such as family violence, homelessness services, women’s health, disability advocacy, and energy assistance.

“These measures are welcome, although they don’t do much more than keep existing programs ticking over,” VCOSS CEO Juanita Pope says.

However, VCOSS is concerned the government will slow the rollout of Victoria’s Best Start, Best Life early childhood education reforms and the delivery of Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals. These reforms are too important to let drift.

“We acknowledge the workforce constraints contributing to these delays, and believe Victoria needs a strategic, holistic and funded plan to solve these broader challenges.”

Additionally, Ms Pope applauded new funding to reform and improve the state’s household energy upgrades scheme ($5m) and support Victorian renters ($1.2m).

Victoria’s flagship Early Intervention Investment Framework (EIIF) has earmarked more than $1billion for a range of social interventions. VCOSS welcomes these investments and urges the government to continue to work with the social services sector to develop and implement innovative interventions.

• Read the full VCOSS budget analysis

MEDIA RELEASE

Many Victorian renters are struggling to have their rights realised, three years after rental laws and tenant protections were significantly strengthened in Victoria.

A new VCOSS report, ‘Renting in Victoria’, has been released to mark three years since Victoria introduced world-leading renters’ rights and protections.

Based largely on engagement with frontline community sector workers who support struggling renters, the report finds:

• Too many rental properties are still not meeting minimum standards, with mould a common concern.
• Rents are way too expensive.
• Evictions are confusing – and remain too common.
• Family violence challenges still persist, and
• VCAT is hard to access and navigate.

The report also identifies supply as an ongoing issue, with workers reporting “it’s near impossible to find a place”.

“Renters are feeling powerless and insecure. It’s a grim situation,” VCOSS CEO Juanita Pope said.

“The hardship currently facing renters is staggering.”

“Our rental regime is being tested by unforeseen circumstances. It’s a perfect storm of low vacancy rates, stagnant wages and income support, an over-cooked property market and the rising cost-of-living.”

“Victoria has some of the best rental laws in the world, but they’re not being properly enforced. The Victorian Government is acting with a new Renting Taskforce, but further action is needed to genuinely protect renters.” she said.

“FURTHER ACTION IS NEEDED”

Almost universally, frontline workers consulted for the report called for stronger monitoring and enforcement action by Consumer Affairs Victoria, which manages Victoria’s rental laws.

(Last month, the Victorian Government announced a new Renting Taskforce, with additional resources to employ more intelligence analysts, inspectors, investigators and lawyers – a move welcomed by VCOSS.)

The report calls for consideration of a new scheme, where property investors would be required to engage an independent assessor to verify a property meets minimum standards before it can be leased. 

“This would put the onus on landlords to ensure properties actually meet minimum standards,” Ms Pope said.

The report also calls for the Victorian Government to:

• ESTABLISH a formula for fair rent increases
• FORCE landlords to proactively explain and justify rent increases
• EXPAND rental minimum standards (to include cooling, insulation, draughtproofing and hot water systems) and
• BUILD even more public and community housing (in addition to existing commitments).

The Victorian Government’s Housing Statement aims to deliver 80,000 new homes each year across the state over the next decade. We believe at least 6,000 of these 80,000 new dwellings should be new social housing dwellings (a target of at least 60,000 new public and community homes over 10 years.)

MEDIA ALERT

New VCOSS research has revealed the link between Melbourne’s hottest and most disadvantaged suburbs.

Urban ‘heat islands’ are built-up areas that trap heat and make hot days even hotter.

For low-income Victorians living in ‘heat island’ suburbs, the local environment is working against them on hot days.

As the research notes, “the implications for policymakers responsible for addressing urban heat are that data should be used to target interventions at local government areas with high levels of disadvantage and high urban heat island effect”.

• Access the original research
• Read summary analysis.

Attributable to VCOSS CEO Juanita Pope:

Poorer people are living in hotter suburbs, often in cheaper housing, and feeling the heat a lot more.

For low-income Victorians in ‘heat island’ suburbs, the local environment is working against them.

Extreme heat is a threat to everybody, but especially those already living with a health condition or on a low-income.

Living on a low-income or with a health condition severely limits your ability to prepare for a heat wave and stay cool.

Part of the solution is greening our suburbs; more trees, more parks and less concrete.

But we also need to that recognise people on lower incomes, who live in cheaper housing in hotter areas, need extra support to deal with heat.

We need more investment to help low-income households keep cool, including free housing retrofits to enhance energy efficiency and comfort.

===ENDS===

MEDIA RELEASE

Victoria should stop allowing energy retailers to pass on marketing costs to people using Victoria’s no-frills default power offer.

That’s a key recommendation from a new policy submission co-authored by the Victorian Council of Social Service.

The Victorian Default Offer is a government-mandated baseline electricity deal used by many low-income earners. The price is set by the Essential Services Commission following representations from the power companies.

Last year, the ESC increased the baseline power cost by 25%.

• The Victorian Default Offer (VDO) is Victoria’s government-mandated baseline electricity deal.
• About 400,000 Victorians, or 15% of homes, use the VDO.
• The way the VDO is currently calculated, electricity companies can pass on the costs of telemarketers and other marketing activities (so-called “customer acquisition and retention costs”)
• This is unfair and should stop.

As part of the current process, power companies are allowed to include the cost of telemarketers, in-house marketing teams and participation in third-party comparison websites in their price proposals, and the ESC is obligated to include these in their final calculations.

VCOSS CEO Juanita Pope says that’s ludicrous.

“Low-income Victorians using the VDO aren’t benefiting at all from the power companies’ marketing spend.”

“They’re on the VDO because they don’t have a lot of money or because the power companies have already failed them.”

“If the power companies want to splurge on marketing they should find better and fairer ways to pay for it.”

The submission — prepared in partnership with the Brotherhood of St. Laurence, Consumer Action Law Centre, Council of the Ageing Victoria, Energy Consumers Australia, Financial Counselling Victoria and Good Shepherd — also calls for the ESC to:

• Give less weight to the power companies’ desired profit margins,
• Ensure the retailers are fulfilling their obligation to offer customers the best deal, and
• Make sure retailers are offering adequate customer supports to people in hardship.

The VDO is a valuable safeguard for Victorian power users doing it tough,” Ms Pope said.

“Changes are needed to ensure the VDO remains fair and genuinely affordable.”

“Everybody should be able to afford enough energy to live a comfortable and healthy life

Submission co-authors include VCOSS, the Brotherhood of St. Laurence, Consumer Action Law Centre, Council of the Ageing Victoria, Energy Consumers Australia, Financial Counselling Victoria and Good Shepherd.

Statement from the VCOSS Board

Juanita Pope has been appointed CEO of the Victorian Council of Social Service.

Ms Pope has been serving as interim CEO for two months while the VCOSS Board undertook a comprehensive recruitment search following the departure of CEO Emma King OAM.

Prior to joining VCOSS, Ms Pope spent a decade at Justice Connect’s Not-for-profit Law program, and worked as a lawyer and consultant assisting social and not-for-profit organisations improve their governance and performance. She also has experience in advocating for better regulation and laws affecting the sector and defending charities’ rights to advocate.

She says it’s a “great privilege” to be selected to lead VCOSS at a time of immense social change.

“VCOSS plays a critical role giving social service organisations a powerful and united voice, and working with governments to adopt smart social policies that will improve people’s lives,” she said.

“This work has never been more vital.”

“People are struggling to afford the basics, housing is out of reach for many, inequality endures, and disasters are becoming more prevalent. At the same time, big shifts are taking place regarding the kind of society we want, how we maintain social cohesion and a shared vision for the future, and the role civil society organisations should play to drive social change.”

“Under my leadership, VCOSS will continue working with members, politicians and policymakers to tackle these and other profound challenges, while also exploring new and innovative ways to engage and empower local communities.”

VCOSS Board President Damian Ferrie congratulated Ms Pope on her appointment.

“After an extensive search, Juanita was the obvious choice to lead VCOSS.”

“Juanita knows the sector and its challenges intimately, and will bring fresh energy and insights to the role of CEO.”

Ms Pope’s appointment as VCOSS CEO takes immediate effect.

Subscribe to VCOSS emails

Connect with Juanita on LinkedIn

MEDIA RELEASE

When Daniel Andrews was elected Victorian Premier in 2014, he said he wouldn’t waste a minute. 

He has lived up to this promise. 

Premier Andrews has had unwavering commitment to social equity and an ambitious reform agenda.

Over the past nine years, the community sector has worked closely with the Andrews Government on wide-ranging system transformation.

It’s hard to think of an area of social policy and service delivery that hasn’t been the subject of progressive reform over this period. 

VCOSS recognises the landmark achievements of the Andrews Government.

These include:

• Formal recognition of the status, rights, cultures and histories of Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Victorians through the Treaty process
  The Andrews Government has done what no other government did before it by establishing a Treaty process that seeks to reckon with the past and ongoing injustices of Victoria’s colonial history on First Nations peoples. This has included turning a spotlight on the Government itself through the truth-telling work of the Yoorrook Justice Commission and supporting representation of First Nations people through the First People’s Assembly of Victoria.
  
  
• Making Victoria the Education State
  Early on, Premier Andrews recognised the connection between postcode and educational outcomes. He built an explicit reform agenda around this nexus, in a way no other political leader had attempted previously.
  
  
• Putting TAFE back at the centre of the vocational training system
  The Premier oversaw significant investments in TAFE as a quality benchmark in vocational training and removed critical barriers to skills and training through making TAFE free.
  
  
• Tackling family violence
  The Premier prompted a radical re-framing of family violence when he declared it Victoria’s top law-and-order issue, kicking off a historic Royal Commission and the implementation of its 227 recommendations. In Victoria today, as the Premier has said, family violence is everyone’s business.
  
  
• The Gender Equality Act
  This world-leading reform has focused on improving workplace gender equality in the Victorian public sector, universities and local councils, with a dedicated Commissioner for Gender Equality tasked with making it stick.
  
  
• A just transition to a renewable energy future
  The Andrews Government has made important future-focussed investments in renewable energy and in coal-job reliant communities such as the LaTrobe Valley through community-building and transition support including the LaTrobe Health Assembly.
  
  
• Mental health reform
  Premier Andrews recognised the mental health system is broken, and initiated an ambitious reform to re-imagine the mental health system by putting wellbeing at the centre. This involved another groundbreaking Royal Commission, and a pledge to act on all of the Commission’s findings.
  
  
• Social housing
  The Andrews Government delivered a nation-leading investment in social housing through the $5.4 billion Big Housing Build.
  
  
• Making renting fairer
  In another example of nation-leading reform, the Andrews Government’s rental reforms addressed the power imbalance between renters and landlords. These changes recognised that many Victorians will rent their whole lives, and that measures to improve quality of housing (such as the introduction of minimum standards), security of tenure, and stronger rights were needed to provide fairer, safer housing for renters.
  
  

VCOSS sincerely thanks Daniel Andrews for his passion for social equity and for the vision he has shown during his time as Premier of Victoria.

Under his leadership, strong foundations have been laid for future reforms and continued progress.

VCOSS and the community sector look forward to continuing to work in partnership with the Victorian Government on implementation of the reforms initiated by the Andrews Government, to achieve a fair and equitable Victoria.

Daniel Andrews recorded a thankyou message to the community sector at the height of the COVID pandemic.

MEDIA RELEASE

A new analysis from the Victorian Council of Social Service reveals a staggering 800,000 Victorians are living in poverty, including more than 200,000 kids.

“This is not something we can tolerate,” VCOSS CEO Emma King said.

The new ‘Poverty Maps’ findings, compiled in partnership with economic modelling group NATSEM, reveals poverty exists in every single Victorian community, but is more acute in certain areas and amongst particular groups.

“For example people with a disability and those who don’t speak English very well, are more than two-and-a-half times more likely to live in poverty.”

“Aboriginal Victorians are twice as likely to live in poverty.”

“And, according to our data, there is not a single older person living in public housing in country Victoria who is not living in poverty. The poverty rate is literally 100%.” Ms King said.

Interestingly, there has been a noticeable decrease in the rate of poverty across country Victoria since 2016, although this is mostly explained by higher-income Melburnians moving to the regions during COVID.

Other key findings include:

• Victoria’s overall poverty rate is 13.3%.
• The gap between the rates of poverty in regional and city areas is narrowing.
• Roughly 50,000 more women than men are living in poverty (women represent 55% of all adults in poverty).

Ms King said the interactive VCOSS Poverty Maps and accompanying data dashboard allow people to explore the rates and types of poverty in their own neighbourhood.

“But it will also help government departments, local councils and community service organisations design more tailored social programs to combat poverty.”

“This is an invaluable tool to help people understand their local areas better,” Ms King said.

STATEMENT ON THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES

Attributable to VCOSS CEO Emma King:

The Commonwealth Games were always more than a sporting event.

The Games were going to deliver thousands of social and affordable housing properties, especially in regional areas where the shortage of housing is dire. Accessible upgrades for regional sporting facilities and transport infrastructure, and inclusive traineeship programs on Games projects, were also planned.

Securing the housing and social benefits of the Games despite their cancellation is a big win for Victoria.

Today, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has rightly identified housing as our state’s “biggest challenge” and has pledged $1 billion for at least 1,300 additional new housing units.

More social and affordable housing for Victoria is unequivocally good news.

VCOSS looks forward to working with the Victorian Government over the coming months to help shape the next stage of this rollout to the benefit of all Victorians.

===Ends===

MEDIA RELEASE

Victoria’s leading social, legal, financial and consumer rights’ bodies have united to oppose a dramatic planned rise in power prices across Victoria. 

The state’s independent energy regulator, the Essential Services Commission, is proposing a 31% increase to basic power bills this winter. 

Such an increase is both unjustified and dangerous, according to an alliance of groups including the Victorian Council of Social Service, Good Shepherd, Uniting, the Brotherhood of St Laurence, the Consumer Action Law Centre, Financial Counselling Victoria and CISVic. 

In separate formal submissions and representations to the ESC, the groups argue deliberately driving up power bills this winter — during a rental and cost-of-living crisis — will force thousands of Victorians into poverty, hardship and ill-health. 

“People will go hungry, go cold and go without essential items to pay their power bill, with tragic consequences,” VCOSS CEO Emma King warns. 

“Energy is an essential service. We shouldn’t price it like a luxury item.” 

The proposed 31% increase is part of the ESC’s review of the Victorian Default Offer, which is a baseline, ‘no-frills’ power deal available to all Victorians. The ESC regularly reviews the VDO price, considering cost and market factors facing energy retailers. 

In addition to the immense social damage it will cause, the groups say the proposed price hike is unjustified on both technical and economic grounds also. 

In their submissions, the bodies critique how the ESC calculates the energy companies’ expenses, and what level of profit the companies deserve to make selling a ‘no frills’ power plan. 

The groups say extra Victorian Government support will be needed to help vulnerable Victorians weather the impacts of any price hike. 

To arrange interviews
VCOSS. Ryan Sheales, 0418 127 153
Good Shep. Saraya Musovic, 0407 091 383
CALC. Mark Pearce, 0413 299 567
BSL. Steph Jones, 0482 163 395
Uniting. Cam Tait, 0407 801 231
FCVic. Sandy Ross, 0417 557 420
CISVic. Kate Wheller, 0407 670 125

MEDIA RELEASE

The Essential Services Commission’s proposed 31% hike to Victorian power bills would drive tens of thousands of people further into poverty, Victoria’s peak social advocacy body has warned.

The independent energy regulator is planning to increase the Victorian Default Offer by 31%, pushing the average annual household bill from $1,403 to $1,829. That’s an increase of about $426.

“Make no mistake, this price hike will drive tens of thousands of people further into poverty,” VCOSS CEO Emma King said.

VCOSS will make strong representations to the Essential Services Commission detailing the damaging impact such an increase would have on struggling Victorians, and the need for any increase to be minimal and fully justified. The ESC will make its final determination in late May.

In the meantime, VCOSS is urging the Victorian Government to urgently strengthen protections for low-income households.

“If a power bill storm is about to crash on Victoria, then the government must raise the levee banks protecting our most vulnerable.”

Ms King said this urgent action must take the form of:

• Increased rebates for people with unavoidable high-use or medical conditions,
• Additional direct support for people simply unable to pay their bill,
• Greater funding for household energy saving programs, and
• More support for people to transition to solar power.

She said these measures must be done in concert with the Victorian Government’s existing, popular and highly effective Power Saving Bonus.

“Energy is a necessity.”

“Nobody should be skipping meals or medicine, shivering through winter, getting sick or plunging into debt to service their power bill.”

Ms King also put energy retailers on notice about any unjustified price-jacking or profiteering.

“People are struggling. This is not the time for power company CEOs to be making up excuses to inflate their profit margins.”

“My message to the retailers is simple: don’t price gouge. Keep your prices as low as possible,” Ms King said.

The Victorian Default Offer (VDO) is an essential safeguard. It is a standardised electricity offer open to all Victorian power customers. The VDO is used as a baseline for other power plans and priced deals.

VCOSS backs First Nations Voice

The Uluru Statement From The Heart contains a clear request for allyship.

It invites all Australians to “walk with” Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people towards a better future.

The Victorian Council of Social Service gratefully and enthusiastically accepts this invitation.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have an unbroken and unbreakable connection to the lands of modern Australia.

They have shaped, nurtured and nourished it for an indeterminate time. With this enduring connection comes knowledge and wisdom. That sovereign custodianship continues today, and forever.

It’s therefore right to formally embed a First Nations Voice in the tapestry of Australia’s social and political institutions.

This is a crucial step towards reconciliation and self-determination for Indigenous people in Australia.

It will be a powerful way for the nation to acknowledge the unique position held by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and to ensure First Nations views and aspirations are properly heard in all decision making.

Enshrining this Voice in the Constitution will ensure it is never silenced.

VCOSS will support Aboriginal communities and organisations — where welcome and appropriate — as they work to realise this meaningful change.

We will do so while also supporting Treaty and truth telling in Victoria.

We urge all Victorians to vote in support of the Voice. 

         —  The Victorian Council of Social Service

• Revisit the Uluru Statement From The Heart.
• Support the at official YES campaign.

MEDIA STATEMENT

VCOSS is urging action in response to surging gas prices.

Major retailers are warning household bills will jump by about 25 per cent (or roughly $480) over the coming year, as reported by the Herald Sun.

In the short term, people need help to pay their bills and stay warm this winter.

But gas is yesterday’s fuel.

Ultimately we need to get all Victorian homes off gas, and using efficient appliances powered by clean electricity.

New technologies have expensive up-front costs. Even with positive government initiatives, the best and most effective new technologies are still out of reach for the lowest-income households.

More can be done to bridge this gap.

VCOSS CEO Emma King said:

“Gas price hikes are going to hit Victorian families hard.

“As we head into winter, people will be forced to choose between heating and food.

“Those hurting the most will be people earning lower incomes, living in poorer quality homes and using outdated heating and cooking appliances.

“This is a global challenge, but the impacts are very local.

“The Victorian Government should be offering direct cash subsidies and more no-interest loans to help renters and struggling homeowners upgrade to electric appliances.

“This would allow more Victorians to benefit from the shift to cleaner and cheaper renewable energy.

Specifically, the 2023 VCOSS Budget Submission calls for:

MEDIA RELEASE

A new report is urging immediate action to prevent a spike in regional rents, a deterioration in housing affordability and increased homelessness ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The report has been produced by the eight-member Victorian Housing Peaks Alliance, of which VCOSS is a member.

The Alliance is proposing a raft of pre-emptive measures, including action to:

• bolster crisis accommodation, 
• curb regional rent increases and 
• stop a rush of rentals being listed on Airbnb instead.

It’s also urging the Victorian Government to vow not to “move on” visible homelessness from around Games sites, and to earmark at least 30% of athletes’ villages to become social housing after the Games.

• Read the report.
  

Attributable to VCOSS CEO Emma King:

Big sporting events have been known to drive up rents, make housing less affordable and exacerbate homelessness.

The good news is the Victorian Commonwealth Games are still years away.

Victoria has time to sidestep a series of damaging unintended consequences in the leadup to the Commonwealth Games.

With careful planning, Victoria can host a world-best Games without making homelessness and housing affordability worse, and leave a positive and enduring Games legacy.

Housing is not a game.  

As Victoria plans new and upgraded Games infrastructure, housing must be front of mind.

Victoria needs to design a system of rent controls for regional areas and create more short-term crisis housing to protect regional communities before and during the Games.

At least a third of the housing build for athletes should be converted into social housing down the track.

If we get this right, Victoria hosts a wonderful Games, local communities are protected and we end up with more social housing.

But if we get it wrong, Victoria is looking at an utterly avoidable human catastrophe.

STATEMENT

Response to Victorian Labor’s plan to revive the SEC and bring back and ramp up Victoria’s climate transition targets.

This is a bold energy reform plan.

More government ownership and involvement in energy generation—as proposed by the reviving the State Electricity Commission—should provide extra certainty. It will also rein in corporate profiteering.

Speeding up the pathway to net zero and boosting renewable energy targets is good policy.

If executed properly, this reform plan will put downward pressure on power bills over the longer term, and help combat global warming.

The challenge will be supporting low-income people with any price bumps during the implementation phase, and assisting traditionally coal dependent regions to diversify their local economies.

VCOSS and the Victorian community sector look forward to working with the government on a just transition to net zero.

• This policy has been added to the VCOSS Policy Tracker

“I’m over it” – Victorians share their feelings and hopes after the lockdown years.

Victorians have nominated loneliness and the ‘digital divide’ among their chief concerns, in a comprehensive investigation of community sentiment undertaken by the Victorian Council of Social Service.

VCOSS embarked on a statewide ‘Listening Tour’ from February to May 2022. Twelve face-to-face group consultation sessions were held across regional Victoria and suburban Melbourne, in addition to three online sessions. These were complimented by phone polling. 

In total, more than 750 people were engaged in conversation about their life.

“We created a safe place for people to come and tell us about their own lives, in their own words,” VCOSS CEO Emma King said.

“And we spoke with everyday Victorians who don’t ordinarily have their voice heard in policy making.”

VCOSS made sure the sessions were diverse, collecting the views of people from multicultural communities, young people, older people, people with a disability or caring for a person with a disability, parents and carers, Aboriginal people and family violence survivors. Responses were analysed thematically according to location, cohort and age.

Ms King said a series of “cross-cutting themes” emerged, as documented in the Voices of Victoria report.

“Wherever we went, people were tired and frustrated,” she said.

“Concerns about the ‘digital divide’, about access to decent food and housing and about the rising costs of living also featured heavily.”

“These challenges were compounded, people told us, by an overwhelming sense of exhaustion after the hard years of 2020 and 2021.”

“In short, people are over it,” Ms King said.

Listening sessions took place after the COVID lockdowns, but before the war in Ukraine sparked another rise in living expenses.

“This report is essential reading for all policymakers and political parties, especially in an election year,” Ms King said.

VCOSS is recommending a series of policy responses to address the identified challenges, including measures to :

• Support people with meeting their immediate and pressing needs such as cost of living pressures, loneliness and isolation, and housing.
• Invest in the foundations of a ‘good life’ that provide everyone with the opportunity to thrive and protect against poverty, homelessness and poor health over the long term. 
• Empower all people to participate fully in community and economic life, and remove barriers to inclusion.
• Commit to Victoria becoming a wellbeing economy, and undertake more consultation to understand how Victorians want this to look.

The VCOSS Listening Tour was held was in partnership with Neighbour Houses Victoria.

You can access the full Voices of Victoria report at vcoss.org.au/VoicesofVictoria

MEDIA RELEASE

The Victorian Council of Social Service is welcoming a new push to build and support the state’s social sector workforce. 

The Victorian Government has announced a plan to match newly trained community service workers with a decent job to kickstart their careers. 

VCOSS CEO Emma King says the social sector is under immense pressure, especially following the COVID pandemic. 

“Social service organisations are struggling to find, train and retain appropriately skilled workers,” she said. 

“This is due to many factors, including funding arrangements, competition for workers, increased demand and the challenging nature of some jobs.” 

“VCOSS welcomes government initiatives to address these systemic challenges.” 

Ms King said significant jobs growth is forecast in the social and community sector, and this growth must be properly supported and managed. 

VCOSS will consult with its members and provide feedback to the government as it finalises the design of the proposed Jobs Guarantee. 

Ms King says she is pleased flexible support will be offered to students, new workers and employers. 

CEO STATEMENT

VCOSS is pleased to confirm community sector organisations funded by the departments of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) and Health will receive 4.6% funding indexation for 2022-23.

This increase to current funding is designed to help services meet rising costs.

The breakthrough comes after extensive discussions between VCOSS as the community sector peak, Treasurer Tim Pallas, Minister Colin Brooks and their staff. It follows the recent Fair Work Commission decision to raise the minimum award wage. 

VCOSS thanks Treasurer Pallas and Minister Brooks for the positive and constructive spirit in which they engaged with VCOSS to strike a fairer deal for services.

To deliver on this commitment, the Victorian Government will spend an extra $48.4m this financial year, in addition to the $90.4m (over four years) allocated in the May budget.

After the recent Fair Work Commission decision, VCOSS was able to renew discussions with the government on the longstanding challenge of reliable indexation that reflects the real cost of delivering services.

Thanks to the sector’s sustained advocacy and the government’s commitment to listen and work with us, a strong outcome has now been achieved.

Significantly, the Victorian Government recognises the need for greater funding certainty for the social and community sector, and is committed to working with VCOSS, other peak bodies and unions on broader, long-term reforms to make our sector stronger. 

EMMA KING
VCOSS CEO

STATEMENT ON MINISTERIAL DEPARTURES

Creating social change is all about partnerships. 

The mantra “we go fast alone, but further together” is forever true.

Over recent years, VCOSS has had strong partners in Ministers Merlino, Foley, Neville and Pakula.

Between them, they’ve had carriage of some of the key portfolios affecting VCOSS, its members, the people we serve and the wider state of Victoria. These include education, disability, health, mental health, housing, inclusion, children and justice.

These ministers have shown immense vision and leadership in these portfolios. But just as importantly, they have been willing to work in partnership with the social and community sector.

VCOSS plays its role championing policies and approaches that will make Victoria fairer, stronger and more just. 

But our state benefits the most when people around the Cabinet table are making this same case.

On behalf of VCOSS, I thank Ministers Merlino, Foley, Neville and Pakula for their service and partnership.

I wish them all well in their post-parliamentary endeavours.

EMMA KING
VCOSS CEO

MEDIA RELEASE

Victoria is on an absolute winner with its new $9 billion early childhood package, according to the state’s peak social advocacy body, the Victorian Council of Social Service.

The Victorian Government has announced it will make kinder free for three-year old children, introduce a fully funded “pre-prep” year, and build and operate 50 new childcare centres offering high quality, affordable and accessible care. The wide-ranging package will be phased in gradually from 2023.

“This is a big, bold and transformational reform package,” Victorian Council of Social Service CEO Emma King said.

Ms King said the package will deliver significant change in three key areas.

“This will save families money, make it easier for many women to re-engage in work and boost kids’ early development and wellbeing.”

“That’s a triple whammy of benefits,” Ms King said.

“This is so much more than an education package. It’s a cost-of-living package and a workforce equity package too.”

Ms King said the broad reform initiative shows the Victorian Government has listened to families, carers and experts, and has been prepared to take bold steps to lead the nation.

“This is what good governments do: listen, and lead,” Ms King said.

This is one of the leanest Victorian budgets in years, according to Victoria’s peak social advocacy body VCOSS.

“This budget doesn’t have the big spending initiatives of recent years, and actually cuts funding in some program areas,” VCOSS CEO Emma King said.

VCOSS notes significant investments in health and education.

We also welcome $500 million of new funding for prevention and early intervention initiatives that promote wellbeing.

“We hope this is an early step towards a genuine wellbeing approach.”

Welcome new investments have also been made in:

• vocational pathways in secondary education
• kindergarten for three year old children
• literacy and numeracy support
• Aboriginal self determination
• mental health
• women’s health are also welcome.