JANUARY 2016
FEBRUARY 2016
MARCH 2016
Released 2016/17 Pre-budget submission to the Queensland Government outlining 10 clear actions within five key areas: community resilience, regional Queensland, cost of living, housing and homelessness, and financial resilience. Also provided Lend your voice advocacy kit for members.
First Love Your Tender webinar, a COSS collaboration and part of a series of four, attracts a fantastic sign-up.
First stage of the ELC project completed – including online surveys and interviews in both Ipswich and Cairns – with the second stage now underway.
Continued advocacy for vulnerable energy and water consumers with a submission to the Department of Energy and Water Supply supporting changes to ensure vulnerable on-supply customers can access their energy rebate entitlements and improved access to justice through the Energy and Water Ombudsman Queensland. Reduce Your Juice – an Australianfirst program helping low-income households save money on their energy bills – won Best Residential Energy Efficiency Project at the National Energy Efficiency Awards. 11
QCOSS and Q Shelter jointly welcomed the federal government’s announcement to spend $250 million to provide energy efficient community housing. Welcomed new Board member Sue Mason-Baker, from IFYS Limited, in the capacity of regional member. Two additional HSQF workshops held this month due to demand from the sector. The interactive workshops have been extremely well received, assisting any organisations to implement a quality system.
QCOSS hosted a Multicultural Forum with the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse led by Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald AM. QCOSS Chair and CEO met with several ministers and senior staff to discuss the Pre-budget Submission and to advocate for improved services and supports for vulnerable people living throughout Queensland.