TasCOSS Newsletter March 2004

Volume 5, Issue 1

March 2004

Inside this Issue The ’Winners’ and ’Losers’ of our economic recovery

1

From the Driector’s Desk 2 TSPC Report

3

Tasmanian Medicare Action Group

4

Consumer Issues Project Update

4

Training for Electricity 5 Consumers The Changing Relationships Project

5

The Just Jobs Conference

7

The Poverty Coalition

8

Wage Increases for 8 Tasmanian Community Workers Changes to the Tenancy Act

9

A New Report from SARC

10

Super Funds

10

News in Brief

11

Afritas Restaurant

11

ISSN 1446 — 2796

Tasmania’s Economic Recovery: David Owen ‘Winners’ and ‘Losers’

Policy Officer TasCOSS

Tasmania’s economy is growing. Really growing not just Government spin, but real growth and real employment creation. It has been as welcome as it has been unexpected for some of us. Count me in as one of the skeptics who thought we had no chance of significantly closing the unemployment-rate gap with other states in such a short time. I would have wagered my very last sheep-station that the 2003 calendar year would produce no more than about 3000 extra jobs and a small reduction in the unemployment rate. I was wrong.

David Crean, who seemed to be ludicrously optimistic with his predictions, was right.

Some 9000 new jobs were created, and the gap with other states narrowed dramatically. I guess that’s why he was Treasurer, not me.

Where does that leave us?

Can we now leave it to the Tasmanian Government to consolidate that very welcome growth spurt?

Can we avert our eyes from the employment picture and concentrate on other issues instead?

Clearly not. If we take a closer look at the impacts, thus far at least, of Tasmania’s economic recovery we will see that much needs to be done to tackle some deeply entrenched patterns of poverty and disadvantage.

We need to remind ourselves that our interest in boosting job numbers was driven by our strong

full citizens communities.

in

their

So we need to pose the question: what impact is the current economic recovery having on the incomes of those Tasmanian households who have been struggling to avoid both deprivation poverty and participation poverty? Has it made a difference to date, and is it likely to make a difference in the forseeable future?

If we compare two important indicators Much needs to be done derived from Centrelink statistics to tackle some deeply - the number of entrenched patterns of Newstart recipients and the number of poverty and disadvantage Tasmanians holding Health Care Cards or Pensioner Concession Cards we see a disturbing trend. evidence base that longNote first, however, that term unemployment has the use of Newstart figures been the most significant is not an attempt to push ‘driver’ of poverty in this aside the Australian Bureau state in recent years. Yes, of Statistics employment/ we are interested in unemployment figures. employment as a source of TasCOSS has consistently fulfilling, identity-forming relied on the ABS trend activity for all of us. figures in its public However our primary statements on changes in interest as a sector is in our labour market and will employment as a source of continue to do so. But we income - income that will need to remember that it is allow Tasmanian possible to be struck off the households to not only meet their basic material (Continued on page 6) needs but to participate as

From the Director’s Desk It is with excitement that I write this column for the first edition of the TasCOSS Newsletter for 2004 and from where I sit, there is a definite air of excitement at TasCOSS. For those of you who don’t know me, let me introduce myself. A Launceston boy originally, migrating south for university about 10 years ago, I completed a Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Tasmania.

A string of locum social work positions in Child and Family Services, Centrelink and Education, before settling into school social work in the northern suburbs for a while.

I had a change of scenery when I moved from the government to the community sector in 1998 to work for Colony 47 as the Coordinator of the Reconnect service. For me this was the turning point. Working in a dynamic, ever changing nongovernment organisation brought with it considerable challenges, but al so a wealth of v a lua bl e experiences, opportunities and learning. I loved it, and decided that the community sector was where I should be. From there, to Anglicare as Quality Manager/Program Policy Consultant, and now, TasCOSS. During my few years in the community sector I also did some post graduate studies in community sector management – and continued to develop a keen interest in the unique influence that non government organisations can have in various arenas, as well as the need for community organisations to be more street-wise when it comes to funding, management, staffing and accountability.

Given these interests, and a commitment to social justice developed during my social work training, TasCOSS seemed the

natural next step.

Hence the excitement. I am excited about the challenge before me of working with the sector, with our members and non-members to support a constantly changing and developing sector in an environment of economic challenge.

TasCOSS has some other new faces as well, both on the staff and on the board, and with a full complement of staff now we are able to cast our minds to developing a sense of team work, refocussing our priorities, both internally and externally, and implementing the new 2004 – 2006 Strategic Plan, to be launched this month.

There has been a change in our HACC Consumer Consultation Project. Carol Dorgelo left us in December to take up a policy position in the Department of Health and Human Services. Whilst I did not have the opportunity to work with Carol, it is my understanding that she will be an asset to her new employer. Carol undertook the task of consulting with consumers and potential consumers of the HACC prog ram with much energy, commitment and success.

This particular sector will miss her as much as the staff at TasCOSS. Stepping into this role is Angela Maccallini, who comes to us from the Community Options Program at Glenorchy City Council.

Angela brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience of the HACC program and of the issues faced by HACC consumers. We welcome Angela, her enthusiasm and commitment to giving consumers a voice will be a wonderful addition to the team.

We want to reassure HACC consumers and consumer organisations that this project will continue and will be back in full swing within the next few weeks. The priorities for consultations are currently being negotiated and we will let you know what they are as soon as we can.

Anglicare’s loss is our gain in the face of our Communications Officer. This position has been unoccupied for some time, as our incumbent, Ruth has been unwell, and our best wishes are with her. For the mean time we have temporarily filled the role with S t a c e y v a n D o n ge n .

A communications professional, Stacey comes to us from two years in a similar role at Anglicare.

We welcome her also to the team, and look forward to her contribution to our communications strategies.

The Office area has also had a change of staff. Sandra Faulkner left us in December, and Catherine Cooper left us during February to pursue other opportunities. Thanks to both for their contributions to TasCOSS during their time with us. Lynne Browning commenced work in the new revised position of Office Administrator last week and has already begun to make a difference to our office systems and accounting procedures. Lynne comes to us with a strong finance and administration background in a number of private sector companies, both here and interstate.

With a number of new faces, some new priorities and with a new strategic plan to work with, TasCOSS is looking forward to an exciting, challenging and interesting 2004.

With a continued commitment to systemic change and advocacy for disadvantaged Tasmanians, you will notice that the theme of this newsletter continues our discussions about the increasing gap between the “rich and poor”. Please enjoy the insights and snapshots from the team,

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Tasmanian Social Policy Council Report

David Owen

Policy Officer TasCOSS

Mat Rowell

Executive Director TasCOSS

you will find them both timely and interesting reading On behalf of the staff and board of TasCOSS, I would also like to take this opportunity to formally thank Anne Hughes for her time and energy as Acting Executive Director between November and January.

Ann stepped in to fill the gap left between Lis’ departure and my arrival.

It is never easy to fill the role previously occupied by another person, and about to be occupied by someone else and to establish yoursel f with the team and stakeholders.

Under these circumstances most would not achieve anything other than keeping things ticking over. Ann managed to attend to a number of outstanding issues, including internal operational issues and policy related issues.

Ann handled the media commitments with professionalism and credibility and ensured that the reputation of TasCOSS as a spokesperson on social issues was not lost.

Thank you Ann for the energy, enthusiasm, skill, and flexibility you brought to the role in your time with TasCOSS. Finally, I would just like to extend an invitation to members and nonmembers, to provide us with feedback about this newsletter, or any issues of concern. If there is anything that you would like to discuss with me, about the sector, about our policy work, or about the work of TasCOSS, please feel free to contact me. I am happy to hear the views, concerns and suggestions for improvement of the sector.

I can be contacted on: E: mat@tascoss.org.au Ph: 0409 214 781

The TSPC had its first 2004 meeting on 19 February, with a good attendance and some valuable discussion about a range of policy issues.

Prison) can be obtained from Joanne ( 6 2 3 3 7 6 4 9 o r joanne.keil@justice.tas.gov.au).

February Guest Speaker

There are currently five working groups reporting to the Social Policy Council:  Disability  Families / Relationships  Housing  Community Care  Employment Each of these groups would appreciate the input of TasCOSS members and others from the nongovernment community services sector who share an interest in these issues.

Guest speaker for this meeting was Victoria Henderson from the Forensic Mental Health Project within the Department of Health & Human Services. Victoria provided an overview of the development of the new Secure Mental Health Unit (SMHU) to be commissioned late in 2005 on the Risdon Prison site.

Victoria, who has oversight of the transition of responsibility for the SMHU from the Department of Justice to DHHS, was assisted by Joanne Keil, Correctional Health Liaison Officer from Justice. Making up what was an extremely valuable resource team for this presentation were Janine Combes and Sally Barker, who many of you will know in their roles as consultants managing the stakeholder consultations as part of the wider Prisons Infrastructure Redevelopment Program.

Victoria’s presentation covered the historical background to the decision to establish the SMHU and its move from Justice to DHHS - and the key elements of the new Unit.

TSPC members had previously expressed concern about the potential use of the Unit for individuals outside the Justice system, and there was considerable discussion about this issue.

Victoria has kindly offered to make available the overheads she used in her presentation.

Please contact me if you would like access to these. Remember also that information on the SMHU can be obtained directly from DHHS. A specific information sheet on the SMHU is available from Victoria ( 6 2 3 0 7 8 0 0 o r victoria.henderson@dhhs.tas.gov.au) and information on the Correctional Health Centre (located at the

TSPC Working Groups

Other TasCOSS members have also expressed interest in working on health and education issues, especially the underlying trends towards the privatisation of services in these sectors. It will not be possible to develop working groups until we have a ‘critical mass’ of people able to sustain these groups, so if you would like to see policy work occurring on these major issues, please contact me and I will link you up with others prepared to share the load.

Continuing the pattern of high-quality guest speakers, the March meeting of the TSPC will addressed by John Ramsay, Secretary of the Department of Health & Human Services. We have asked John to address the range of initiatives being planned / taken by DHHS under the banner of ‘integration’ the attempts at ‘silo smashing’ designed to ensure that service systems are flexible and robust enough to meet the multi-faceted needs of DHHS clients (and indeed service users in our own non-government sector).

Remember, any TasCOSS member (individual or organisational) is able to participate in the TSPC. Please contact me for more information or to express interest in any of the working groups mentioned above.

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Tasmanian Medicare Action Group TasCOSS continues to be actively involved in the Tasmanian Medicare Action Group (TasMAG) and has been busy lobbying against aspects of the federal government’s proposed ‘Medicare Plus’ package. TasMAG sent a submission that highlighted the problems with the package, as well as its few positive points to the Senate Select Committee on Medicare in December

The $5 increase in the Medicare rebate mentioned above is meant to provide an ‘incentive’ to doctors to bulk-bill these groups. Apart from being inadequate, it differentiates between categories of people and provides a disincentive for doctors to bulk-bill anyone else. In addition, with no cap on doctors’ fees, health care costs, as well as out-of-pocket expenses are certain to rise.

Our biggest concern with the package is the introduction of a ‘safety net’ designed to partially reimburse (80%) expenses once a certain level of out-of-pocket spending on medical services is reached ($500 for concession card holders and families who receive Family Tax Benefit A, and $1,000 for other individuals and families). This will obviously require complex accounting systems and additional bureaucracy. The introduction of a ‘safety net’ undermines the principles on which Medicare is based, that is, universality, equity, efficiency and simplicity. The ‘safety net’, along with the increase in the Medicare rebate by $5 for concession card holders and children, entrenches a two-tiered public health system.

There is no place for a ‘safety net’ in a universal health care system.

With costs of health care rising and bulk-billing rates falling, there is evidence of a worrying trend of people not seeking medical treatment when it is needed. The necessity to pay doctors upfront in full has meant that people on low incomes cannot always afford to see a doctor when they need to. There is also evidence that people are increasingly using public hospitals for treatment that is more appropriately delivered by GPs. The TasMAG submission supported the government’s commitment to recruit more doctors and nurses to work in rural and other currently under-serviced areas. However, we urged the government to ensure that their recruitment of overseas doctors does not occur at the expense of the health care workforce needs of other countries.

Consumer Issues Project Report As foreshadowed in its Budget Priorities Statement of last year, TasCOSS has recently submitted for funding to the Attorney General, Judy Jackson, a two-part consumer information and advocacy project.

The first stage of the project involves funding to TasCOSS for a six month full-time position focusing specifically on creating support and referral networks and doing the groundwork for the establishment, in the second stage, of an independent, non -government Tasmanian consumer information

and advocacy service. The service would provide state-wide coverage through a telephone service as well as through the provision of regular information sessions in regional areas, and through the production and dissemination of printed consumer education materials.

The submission, which is now also with the Treasurer, has the support of the informal Consumer Issues Group that has been meeting since October last year.

Kath McLean Policy Officer TasCOSS We highlighted the serious shortage of dentists in Tasmania and the need for the increased recruitment, training and equitable deployment of government funded allied health professionals throughout the country.

In spite of its rhetoric to the contrary, the federal government appears intent on radically altering and ultimately destroying Medicare as we know it – by increasing the rebate for some and not others, bulk -billing for all is rapidly becoming a thing of the past.

And by unnecessarily complicating a relatively simple and efficient system, the government may eventually claim that it is unworkable, and Medicare may end up being a marginalised part of a largely private, for-profit health care system.

Those interested in becoming involved in the Tasmanian Medicare Action Group may do so by contacting Kath McLean at TasCOSS Ph: 6231 0755 or E: kath@tascoss.org.au

Kath McLean Other consumer-related activities have included seeking feedback from Tasmanian community service organisations for the Australian Co m p etitio n a nd Con s u m e r Commission (ACCC) regarding its Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Consumers Campaign.

The feedback has been passed on to the ACCC and will contribute to the redesign of its referral guide and to further refinement of the processes of and publicity for the Campaign.

Kath continues to sit on the ACCC’s Consumer Consultative Committee.

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Electricity Training for Consumers TasCOSS has recently been funded by the National Electricity Consumers Advocacy Panel to run a series of training sessions for domestic consumers of electricity and/or their representatives. We became involved in this project after recognising that few domestic electricity consumers are equipped with the knowledge and information necessary to actively participate in discussion, debates and planning around electricity issues.

There are major changes ahead of us as Tasmania moves toward joining the National Electricity Market via Basslink.

This will radically alter the way electricity is supplied in our state and is certain to have an impact on prices in the long run.

As consumers and representatives of consumers, we need to be informed of these changes. We need to know how electricity works, what it costs to generate, transmit and

distribute, and what drives prices.

All consumer groups require informed representation in electricity issues and this is especially true for those disadvantaged and vulnerable consumers who are unable to represent themselves.

We would like to see community sector workers who work with disadvantaged and vulnerable people participate in this free training program so that they can better represent their clients’ interests in this area.

This training project aims to provide trainees with information about the electricity supply industry in Tasmania, including generation, transmission, distribution, retail supply, billing and regulation, as well as about environmental issues and the operation of the National Electricity Market. The training will be provided by experts from

Kath McLean the Tasmanian electricity industry, including suppliers and regulators, as well as by critics of the industry. We hope the result will be a series of informative, balanced, and enjoyable training sessions that will equip participants with sufficient knowledge, understanding and resources to become active and effective participants in future electricity consultations and debates.

Four training sessions will be h e ld th ro u g h o u t 2 0 0 4 , beginning in April. They are all free and refreshments will be provided.

If you would like further information about this project, including a detailed training program, or if you would like to register as a participant, please contact Kath McLean at TasCOSS Ph: 6231 0755 or E: kath@tascoss.org.au

Changing Relationships Project Report The Changing Relationships Project is managed by TasCOSS as a mechanism for dialogue and collaboration between the Department of Health and Human Services and the various nongovernment service-providers and peak bodies that DHHS funds.

In mid-2003, a new focus for the Project was agreed between DHHS and sector peak bodies. Instead of the previous concentration on the ‘protocols’ operating between agency and sector, it was agreed that, wherever possible, the various forums and working groups that comprise the Project would have an explicit issues focus. While there will still be forums that will provide opportunities for our sector to raise concerns and aspirations relating to funding, service agreements and the other important structural elements of our relationship with DHHS, the emphasis will be on collaboration aimed at developing and implementing policies and programs of immediate interest to the parties.

This refocus has led to a rapid mushrooming of forums and working groups (and no, I don’t mean the kind of mushrooming where we are kept in the

dark, etc). There are now over twenty separate structures that involve sector representatives in collaborative work with DHHS. These range from ‘top level’ structures like the Agency Sector Consultative Forum (bringing DHHS senior management and sector peak bodies together each quarter) through to working groups that have very specific workplans based on short timelines.

Each DHHS Division that funds nongovernment community service organisations is now significantly involved in the Project. I am delighted to report that after a longish period of agency-sector inactivity in the Community, Population & Rural Health Division, there are now some very exciting and challenging forums and working groups being developed. In Housing Tasmania Division, the very welcome Affordable Housing Strategy funding announced late last year has led to the development of a wide range of working groups that will assist DHHS in implementation of the Strategy.

Children & Families Division, for so long now the most consistent and energetic part of DHHS with regard to these

David Owen

Policy Officer TasCOSS collaborative structures, continues to resource a range of important forums and working groups.

All this is very exciting, and very scary.

It is exciting because our sector has unparalleled opportunities for genuinely collaborative work with DHHS on a wide range of issues that we have nominated as crucially important. It is scary, however, because it stretches already scarce resources in our sector.

Few of us are able to drop our serviceproviding tasks to attend the meetings involved in the Project, or to take on the additional tasks of consulting with peerorganisations or disemminating information from meetings.

Service agreements with DHHS don’t currently acknowledge this sort of work as part of what we should be doing for our money.

As a result, many of the same people find themselves under pressure to wear multiple ‘hats’ in a range of different forums.

For more information regarding the Project, please contact me. An updated list of the forums and working groups and the issues they are working on can be found on the TasCOSS website: www.tascoss.org.au

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Tasmania’s Economic Recovery:

‘Winners’ and ‘Losers’continued ...

(Continued from page 1)

ABS unemployment count for having worked as little as one hour in the past week. More importantly, it is possible to work many more hours than that and still be on such a low income that eligibility for (at least partial) Newstart payments continues.

If our primary concern is with the poverty impacts of unemployment, then we are obliged to pay close attention to changes in the numbers of Newstart recipients.

So, what do these figures show?

Below is a comparison of Dec 2002 figures with Dec 2003 figures:

Dec 2002 Dec 2003

Newstart Recipients 20,210 18,853

HCC / PCC Holders 144,988 151,656

While employment may have grown by some 9000 jobs during 2003, the number of people reliant on Newstart fell only by some 1350.

More worrying, the number of Tasmanians on incomes sufficiently low for them to be eligible for of Health Care Cards or Pensioner Concession Cards increased by some 6600 in the same period, an increase of 4.6%.

How do we understand these seemingly contradictory trends? First, we need to recognise that much of the work represented by the new Tasmanian jobs has been part-time or casual, and often at the lower end of the wage spectrum. Getting a job does not represent an escape from poverty unless and until the wage is a reasonable one. Many Tasmanians found work, but at an income level that still left them eligible for Centrelink assistance. Note that while across Australia, a massive 87% of all jobs created were full-time, that figure was only 65% in Tasmania. Gender patterns come into play here too. The national pattern was for jobs to be created in the building, construction and IT sectors. Those jobs were wellpaid and overwhelmingly went to men - 78% of those jobs in fact.

In Tasmania, on the other hand, some 67% of the new jobs went to women,

frequently in the less-well-paid sectors (like tourism and hospitality, call centres, etc).

Either way, not many of the new jobs being created are going to long-term job -seekers. In the past year of our economic recovery, there has been no change whatsoever in the percentages of Newstart recipients who have been seeking work for more than one year (60% of all job-seekers) or two years (40% of all job-seekers). Once again, if ou r p ri m ar y fo cu s i s on th e impoverishing role of unemployment, then we cannot ignore the cumulative impact of long-term joblessness. Our rates of long-term unemployment continue to be much higher than other states, even if the gap on overall unemployment is closing.

It may be, of course, that the hoped-for ‘trickle-down’ effect of economic growth will still eventuate, with longterm job-seekers finding work easier to obtain.

To be confident of this, however, we would need to understand just which industry sectors are likely to be interested in those job-seekers.

Interested, that is, in older males discarded by shrinking manufacturing and agricultural sectors. In job-seekers who are likely to have relatively little to show in the way of formal education or qualifications.

TasCOSS has consistently argued that both the Australian and Tasmanian Governments will need to specifically target these jobseekers - and potential employers - with assistance packages that are far more generous and comprehensive than are currently available.

The alternative, growing prosperity at one end of the wealth-income spectrum and continuing entrenched poverty at the other, is a very expensive one in social, political and financial terms, especially over the longer term.

Meanwhile, we have witnessed, as part of our economic ‘boom’, some dramatic changes in our housing market. House prices and private rents in major urban centres in Tasmania no longer a ‘cushion’ against the effect of low incomes. For those who already have

David Owen

Policy Officer TasCOSS equity in their own home, or whose existing pattern of wealth and income allows them to invest in this rapidlyinflating housing market, things look fairly rosy. These are the ‘winners’ from our economic growth.

However, for those who are on a low and/or insecure income, and are struggling to pay rent in the private market, that same economic growth has made life even more difficult. For those whose income is essentially fixed because of a dependency on a social security payment, the house price-rent ‘boom’ will have left no prospect of achieving home ownership. Given that any chance of accessing secure, affordable housing via our public housing system will have all but disappeared over the past few years, this ‘maturation’ of our housing market has been very bad news indeed.

Yes, some of the folks who are buying into Tasmania to take advantage of the remaining price-disparity between mainland capital cities and our own housing will undoubtedly add energy and skills to our economy. And yes, in time that will help create new jobs.

Our Tasmanian economy will grow as a result of this in-migration. The cost, however, will be more immediate and more severe: greater levels of housing stress for an increasing proportion of our low-income households.

As important and as welcome as the Tasmanian Government’s Affordable Housing Strategy is, it cannot carry the burden of disadvantage created by the continuing impacts of long-term unemployment and the more recent impacts of rent-price inflation.

For TasCOSS and our member and constituent organisations, this means that our social policy advocacy work needs to focus not just on the growing levels of poverty and disadvantage in our communities, but on the growing inequalities between the ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ arising from our much-vaunted economic recovery. We look forward to your support, your energies and your ideas over what promises to be a challenging year.

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TasCOSS JUST JOBS 2 State Employment Conference Vince McCormack

Enterprising Communities — Creating Work This 2004 State Employment Conference, Just Jobs 2, (Enterprising Communities) is being convened by TasCOSS following the success of the 2002 Just Jobs State Employment Conference. One of the outcomes of Just Jobs 1 was the 2003 State Government Budget allocation of $1.4 million PARTNERSHIPS TO JOBS PROGRAM for the delivery of sustainable employment opportunities for disadvantaged job seekers.

Project Officer TasCOSS

of new employment opportunities are created by existing businesses. Just Jobs 2 will enable business to express their future workforce needs and provide input to Government policies and programs as well as identify potential community partnerships – growing your business with the skilled people you need.

JOB NETWORK PROVIDERS and JOB SEEKERS

on building inclusive enterprising communities and developing social and economic enterprises.

Particular emphasis will be on creating positive employment outcomes for disadvantaged communities and job seekers— partnerships for jobs!

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

At Just Jobs 2 local communities from around Tasmania will be coming together Creating the future world of work and Just Jobs 2 (Enterprising Communities) with strong representation from Local creating enterprising communities that will build on this development. This will Government. At the heart of healthy work will be a central focus of Just Jobs 2. be a working conference. enterprising local communities is local Employment is more than statistics and government. We will The Enterprising be learning from each Communities conference other, both locally and will provide a structured from overseas, and process that will capture sharing resources, and contributions from all so building the capacity participants, ranging from of our local the chang ing wo rk communities. What is Wednesday 16 – Friday 18 June 2004 environment to practical the story your local at local enterprise examples, government community The Grand Chancellor, Hobart leading to understanding has to tell about the and commitment to future creation of enterprising ideas and actions.

Conference Purpose and Approach working communities?

TasCOSS JUST JOBS 2

State Employment Conference

This Conference will explore how work and increased opportunities for economic and social participation for all people throughout Tasmania can be created by  businesses and community economic development  local community work creation programs and partnerships for jobs  c om mun ity sec to r employment through social enterprise and innovation.

“Together we will make Tasmania an icon for the rest of the world by creating a proud and confident society where our people live in harmony and prosperity”

NON-GOVERNMENT and COMMUNITY

Just jobs 2 will be exploring the changing world of work and the Conference Facilitators: Gil Sawford and Tony Ibbott employment market.

Leaders from the New Zealand Community Employment Group Workers in the will share with us some amazing stories of Enterprising Comcommunity and nonmunities that create work … along with our own stories. government sectors meet daily the negative For Conference Information and Registration: and disqualifying impact contact Vince McCormack at TasCOSS these changes have on Ph: 6231 0755 or E: uwn@tascos.org.au peoples’ lives. At Just Jobs 2 we will work together to build a new f u tu re – tu rn in g filling job vacancies. There are stories to negatives into positives, leading to new be told, stories to be listened to and skills for new jobs, promoting social We will work together through new stories yet to be heard. Just Jobs 2 will inclusion and the rebirth of hope. coalitions and partnerships to generate hear these stories and author new stories new enterprise and work opportunities in that will map the pathways of tomorrow. our local communities.

EDUCATION Just Jobs 2 will provide pathways back into social and economic engagement for job Many young people leave school each year CONFERENCE BENEFITS seekers in partnership with Job Network to enter the changing world of work.

Providers.

Through this conference you will BUSINESS understand how the work environment is GOVERNMENT changing and what employers will require Understanding the changing world of work is essential to finding staff with the skills you need, to address skill shortages and to achieve triple bottom line results.

This Conference builds on research that shows that in successful economies, 70%

Tasmania Together

Participation in Just Jobs 2 by Government will further promote the Goals and Targets of Tas Together by providing a forum for furthering partnerships with the Tasmanian community. The focus will be

in the future. You will develop new relationships with all of the above stakeholders as a basis for partnerships and programs that promote and foster work opportunities.

Page 7

Voices from the Sector: The Poverty Coalition “If you find yourself in a coalition in which you feel comfortable – that coalition is not broad enough!”

So said Bernice Johnson Reagon, historian and founder of Sweet Honey in the Rock the black activist feminist a cappella group. While being involved with the Poverty Coalition is not usually unsettling, this quote is a valuable reminder of how challenging and extending working in coalition can be.

A coalition can provide its members with opportunities which are much more that the sum of its parts.

The Poverty Coalition is a network of community welfare and advocacy groups working co-operatively with globally focussed aid and development organisations to eradicate poverty.

The Coalition is very much founded on the awareness that the causes of poverty within Australia and overseas are linked and need to be tackled together.

We started life in 1995 as T a s m a n i a n C o a l it i on fo r Eradication of Poverty. Readers understand that under this title it hard to find a catchy headline media releases!

the the will was for

Our beginning was linked to seminars undertaken by ACFOA (the Australian Council for Overseas Aid) which marked the declaration of the United Nations Decade for the Eradication of Poverty. Representatives of groups concerned about poverty and social justice, whether in Australia or elsewhere, met to discern where

there might be areas of shared understanding and action. Sadly, the UN Decade draws to a close and it appears that the gap between the rich and the poor is widening. However, we take heart that there are signs of hope in many areas of the world and many indicators of absolute poverty show improvement.

Since the Coalition was formed we have undertaken a range of activities including:  su b m is s ion s t o g o vern men t enquiries and budget formulation  contribution to political debate including delegations to politicians and “calls to the parties” at election time  marking, each year, 17 October the day designated by the United Nations as the international Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

A tradition has developed that we hold a breakfast with an inspirational speaker The group is informally organised – with all the strengths and occasional difficulties of such a structure. We operate in a low key way, meeting monthly with minutes and other information usually disseminated by email. Sharing information about what the constituent groups are doing has been one of the especially useful functions of the coalition. Members have gained strength and inspiration from each other’s activities, especially at

Ann Hughes The Poverty Coalition

times when it has been hard to remain convinced of our agreed belief that poverty can be eliminated from the world – it just requires the will to make it happen.

The groups that have been involved include TasDEC Global Learning Centre, Tasmanian Council of Social Service (TasCOSS), National Council of Women (Tasmania), Caritas, Tasmanian Commissioner for Children, Oxfam Community Aid Abroad, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Tasmanian Council of Churches, Business and Professional Women, State Superannuants Association of Tasmania, COTA (the Council on the Ageing), Unions Tasmania, Uniting Church Social Responsibility Committee, Tasmanian Catholic Justice and Peace Commission, Baha’i Community, RESULTS (ending global hunger), United Nations Association, Anglicare and World Vision.

Individuals from an even wider network are also active in the coalition, including some politicians.

The Poverty Coalition welcomes new members. If you share a commitment to the elimination of poverty as the correct and possible course of action, please join us.

Contact David Owen at TasCOSS or any of our member groups.

Voices from the Sector: Australian Services Union Stage set for wage increases for Tasmanian Community Services workers The Australian Services Union has won recognition from the Tasmanian Industrial Commission of the need to revalue community services work in Tasmania.

Deputy President Watling accepted the ASU’s claim that there has been a significant increase in the value of the work performed by community services workers and that this should be reflected in wage increases. This represents a substantial move forward in improving the conditions for these workers and clears the way for the next round of the Australian Services Union’s campaign for fair and equitable

wages for employees under the Tasmanian Community Services Award.

Deputy President Watling found that “changes have taken place in the nature of work, skill and responsibility of employees so as to constitute a significant net addition to the work requirements” By any reasonable measure, Tasmanian Community Services workers are underpaid.

They receive far less than employees in the State Service and interstate community workers.

This decision recognises the increased skill and responsibility of dealing

with increasingly more complex client needs.

It recognises the demands of workers that arise from new legislation such as privacy and mandatory reporting. It recognises that new ways of working with government and in community organisations demand a higher level of skill.

The ASU is pleased that the decision also recognised the increased responsibility of managers and coordinators, particularly the role they play in developing and implementing partnership arrangements with government departments and agencies. The ASU acknowledges the employers’ concerns

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Voices from the Sector: Tenants’ Union of Tasmania Inc Welcome Changes to the Residential Tenancy Act, 1997

Sandra A Kent

Coordinator

Tenants’ Union of Tasmania Inc The Attorney General, Judy Jackson, ensured that new and returning students at the University of Tasmania who will be renting this year, along with all other tenants in our state, would not be required to pay up-front fees for a residential property. On February 1, 2004 the Attorney General by proclamation brought forward the amendment to section 17 of the Act. The real estate industry was given prior warning of the introduction through the Real Estate Institute newsletter two weeks before it became law. In the first week Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading, the government department responsible for monitoring the Act, received three complaints. Upon investigation, apparently the fees were charged due to administrative error.

They were let off with a warning.

Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading Director Roy Ormerod has stated that from now on any real estate agency that breaches section 17 of the Act will be prosecuted.

If you are aware of tenants being charged an up-front fee, regardless of what it is called, it should be reported to Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading – 1300 654 499.

When the Residential Tenancy Act, 1997 was introduced the intention of section 17 was to prohibit real estate agents from charging tenants fees. The Tenants’ Union argued that the real estate industry was ‘double dipping’,

owners of properties paid an agent to secure a tenant. The Attorney General, Judy Jackson in her speech to parliament last year, while introducing the amendment, also stated that these fees were ‘double dipping’ by agents.

Upon the introduction of the Act the real estate industry sought legal advice and were informed that it was possible to charge the fees for providing a service to tenants. Unfortunately, Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading were not confident of a successful prosecution, so did not enforce section 17.

The Tenants’ Union supported individual tenants to proceed with claims to the Magistrates Court, Small Claims Division.

Tenants who took their claim to the court ultimately had these fees returned.

This is not the only good news for tenants; towards the end of last year changes to the Magistrates Court Civil Division saw the replacement of the Small Claims Division with the Minor Civil Claims division. With the introduction of the Minor Civil Claims came a change in the filing fee structure.

This saw an increase of $60.00 to tenants wising to lodge claims for such things as repairs.

In March this year we have been informed by the Attorney General that for matters brought to the Minor Civil Claims Division of the Magistrates Court for a claim under the Residential Tenancy Act the cost for filing will be reduced to $33.30.

The Tenants’ Union would like to thank all those who supported our campaign and lobbied the Attorney General to ensure that the cost for filing fees be reversed.

We can also look forward to further changes to the Residential Tenancy Act, 1997 commencing on March 5, 2004.

These amendments include:  a prescribed time for the security deposit (bond) to be returned – 3 working days;  a fixed term agreement will remain in place when a property is sold;  open homes will need permission in writing from a tenant;  owners will be required to provide copies of any relevant strata title bylaws;  charging for water to tenants may be done where water is metered;  tenants will be able to apply to the courts for urgent and emergency repairs;  the definition of essential service will include the removal of grey water;  a notice to vacate will expire after 28 days if not acted upon; and  a tenant can apply to the court for an owner to secure the property.

These are only some of the amendments to be introduced. The Tenants’ Union will be contacting organizations shortly with a view to providing training.

Boarding and Rooming House legislation is not expected to be introduced until mid year.

Ian Paterson

Industrial Officer Australian Services Union about the funding for wage increases arising from the decision. The Union remains committed to working with employers to lobby State and Federal Government to fund the cost of the final outcome in this case. Employers are already claiming that without increased funding, services will be cut and redundancies will be more likely.

We have demonstrated that the value of work in the community sector has increased significantly. We now need to ensure that the cost of this recognition

does not fall on those workers, clients and voluntary board members.

To a significant extent the change in work value relates to the heightened expectations and requirements that funding bodies have placed on community services. It is only fair and reasonable that they cover the costs.

The Union will now initiate negotiations with the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry on new wage rates and classifications for the Community Services Award, as well as

lobbying for full cost supplementation by government. Following a meeting of the ASU active members network on 25 February, the ASU is developing a wage position based on a proposed 18% wage increase phased in over a three-step process.

Members (and prospective members, please!) should contact Ian Paterson on 6224 3411 for more information about the wage claim and about forthcoming meetings on this issue.

To read the full text of the Commission’s decision go to: www.justice.tas.gov.au/tic/ decisions/2004/t9925_s23_2004.htm

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Voices from the Sector: Anglicare Tasmania Social Action Research Centre

Bread and Board: When the basics break the budget: A New Report from SARC Strong economic growth has provided significant opportunities for Tasmanians during the past two years.

Many people have been able to gain employment and improve their standard of living. However, there continue to be thousands of Tasmanians who experience significant disadvantage, living on very low incomes, and struggling to make ends meet.

The latest research from Anglicare’s Social Action and Research Centre investigated the experiences of more than 800 Tasmanians who turned to Emergency Relief and Financial Counselling agencies during a two week period in November 2003. The report of this research, Bread and Board: When the basics break the budget was launched in

Hobart on February 25.

Researcher Kelly Madden said that low incomes, big bills and difficult personal circumstances interact to cause financial crisis in the lives of many Tasmanians.

“The overwhelming majority of the people interviewed were unemployed, sole parents or people with disabilities and almost half of them were caring for children,” she said.

“We were shocked to find out how many people were going without meals, had no phone, couldn’t afford medical bills and weren’t getting the assistance with their power bills that they are entitled to.”

Ms Madden said key findings included

that:  59% of respondents had gone without meals in the past year due to a shortage of money;  42% of respondents had been unable to heat the home at some stage in the past year;  23% identified health costs as a big or very big problem for their household;  24% reported that they or a family member in their household had a mental illness; and  almost 20% did not have a phone The report makes a range of recommendations for action at a State and Federal level. Copies of the report are available from the research section of the Anglicare website www.anglicare-tas.org.au or from the Social Action and Research Centre on 6234 3510.

A message from one of our sponsors: HESTA Can you name your super fund?

In an environment of low returns and often high fees, it’s vital that you know where your super is and how different types of funds operate.

Industry funds are multi-employer funds and usually cater for the superannuation needs of workers in specific industries (for example, HESTA was set up for people working in health and community services).

Industry funds were originally established to accept Award super contributions so that workers’ super entitlements could be invested for their benefit and not eroded by high fees and charges.

Industry funds don’t have external shareholders to pay dividends to, so all profits are for the benefit of fund members. Typical industry funds have low administration fees, no entry or exit fees and no up-front or ongoing commissions.

Industry funds also offer benefits like death and disability insurance at competitive rates and may also offer members access to other services. For example, HESTA members can access

commission-free financial planning and banking services like low cost home loans and a credit card with one of the lowest interest rates in the market, according to financial research company CANNEX. They also have access to health insurance with premiums around 7% lower than those charged by major health funds.

Master trusts allow large numbers of people or companies to carry out super arrangements as a single group.

Generally offered by life insurance companies, banks and specialist superannuation administrators, they often have relatively high administration, entry and exit fees.

Retail funds are structured in a similar way to master trusts and are also generally offered by life insurance companies, banks and specialist financial services providers catering for the general public.

An APRA working paper released in February 2003, The Investment Performance of Australian Superannuation Funds, found that retail funds produced the lowest returns and had the highest

charges of all super funds.

The balanced investment options of industry funds, like HESTA’s Core Pool, on the other hand, have generally performed much better, delivering positive annual returns to members in 2003 when most retail funds with typical balanced portfolios averaged – 2.5% (Rainmaker Information 2003).

HESTA’s 2003 return for it’s balanced investment option was +1.5%, capping off over 15 years of positive annual returns for the investment option where the majority of HESTA members have their super.

If you would like to compare super f u n ds fo r y ou rs el f , Ra i n m ak e r Information has developed www.selectingsuper.com.au, a web site that provides independent information about superannuation and super funds in Australia. You’ll also find a wealth of super information at www.hesta.com.au.

Call 1800 813 327 for more information or a copy of our Product Disclosure Statement which should be considered when making a decision about HESTA.

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News In Brief VOLUNTEERING TASMANIA

COLONY 47 Sue Ham, CEO of Colony 47, has been re-appointed for the next 3 years to the national Youth Advisory Consultative Forum.

The Forum provides advice to Family and Community services and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, the Hon Larry Anthony, on youth issues and servicing. It also operates as a think tank on relevant issues. For further information contact Sue at sueham.ceo@colony47.com.au

TASMANIANS WITH DISABILITIES There have been some recent big changes for Tasmanian s with Disabilities. Lorrine Herran, who has b een th e ogan isat ion ’s St at e Coordinator for 3 years, is moving to Forth for a sea change.

Her knowledge and enthusiasm will be sorely missed in the disability sector.

The new State Coordinator is Helen Fielder-Gill.

Tasmanians with Disab ilities h ave also had a geographical change – the new address is 20 Creek Road in Lennah Valley.

Mid last year, Volunteering Tasmania was funded through the HACC program to look at the reimbursement of volunteers for out-of-pocket expenses in HACC -funded organisations.

The project is due to be completed in the next few months, and will result in a set of guidelines, with recommendations for implementation, on how HACC se rv ic e p ro v id e rs sh o u ld approach the reimbursement of their volunteers. The guidelines are based on consultation with all Tasmanian HACC-funded organisations that involve volunteers, and with HACC volunteers themselves from around the state. For further information on the project, please contact Volunteering Tasmania’s Policy Officer, Kathleen Flanagan, on: Ph (03) 6231 5550.

THE MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL The third Mountain Festival is on from 18 to 28 March this year.

Described as a community-based, sense of place festival, Tasmania’s Mountain Festival has developed through a strategy of developing community partnerships and innovative arts projects which link the arts, science, community and environment.

The mission of the Mountain Festival is to:  Inspire and facilitate community based participation  Raise awareness of connectedness to the environment  Give conscious expression to sense of place  Develop links between the arts, science and the environment  Create innovative new work For more information on the Festival, including the Program, go to www.mountainfestival.org

A UNIQUE DINING AND CULTURAL EXPERIENCE Imagine dining at the edge of the Kalahari Desert with quality African food passionately prepared and presented with good-humoured personality – and you haven’t left Hobart!

Come to AfriTas and experience a fusion of culture and cuisine and enjoy the colour, vibrancy and spirit of the African people, combining the exotic flavours of Africa with fresh Tasmanian produce.

The African Community of Hobart now numbers some 700 people – a diverse group of people, many arriving as refugees from a number of African countries including Sierra Leone, The Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Rwanda, Liberia and Ghana.

The AfriTAs Restaurant was chosen as the first enterprise of Africa Enterprise Inc which was formed in 2003, born out of the TasCOSS Unemployed Workers Network Project. Many significant partnerships resulted, in particular with STEPS Employment and Training Solutions who also provided an integrated training program for restaurant staff, with all trainees coming from the African Community.

Your patronage of AfriTas will be greatly appreciated.

201 Liverpool St - Hobart - 6231 4999

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Editor’s Note This is my last edition of the TasCOSS Newsletter as editor. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this role over the last year, in particular its been a great way to keep up-to-date with the inspirational work coming out of TasCOSS and to find out about all the exciting stuff happening out there around the sector. I would like to thank all those who have so enthusiastically contributed with articles and information about what they’re doing. I would also like to thank Cal Heath for her fabulous design and layout skills, and Ann Hughes for being the best and quickest proof reader in the world.

Sally Barker Layout Cal Heath

Sally Barker

Welcome to New TasCOSS Staff Angela Maccallini Project Officer HACC Consumer Consultation Project

Stacey van Dongen

Communications Officer

Lynne Browning Office Administrator

With Thanks TasCOSS would like to thank Hesta, Newprint and Aurora for their ongoing support of our newsletter.

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