Budget delivers for low wage families

Published by
michael.docherty
at May 9, 2012 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

UnitingCare Australia said tonight’s Federal Budget is fiscally responsible and fair overall. It will deliver a decent chance at a decent life for more Australians.

National Director, Lin Hatfield Dodds said the suite of Budget initiatives promises a brighter future for families and unemployed Australians.

“Reducing executive tax perks and golden hand-shakes, better targeting superannuation concessions, and deferring defence spending have enabled the Government to spend more on the things that matter.

“Investment in aged care reform, rolling out the National Disability Insurance Scheme, and better access to dental services for low income and disadvantaged Australians are particularly welcome initiatives.

“Previously mooted company tax cuts of $4.5 billion have been shelved and the revenue saved largely redirected to families and unemployed Australians through the new Benefits of the Boom package.

“This package boosts support for families by $1.8 billion, and includes a new supplementary allowance worth $1.1 billion for people receiving Newstart, Youth Allowance and Parenting Payment. While this very modest allowance falls well short of the $50 a week increase we called for, it’s a trend in the right direction.

“We hope it’s a down-payment on a decent increase in unemployment benefits in next year’s budget.

“It’s disappointing to see the Government has proceeded with plans to cut parenting support for single parents whose children are older than eight years, an effective drop in income of almost $120 a fortnight.

“However increases to the Jobs Education and Training program and more childcare for unemployed single parents will assist people as they move into jobs and provide a better start for vulnerable children.

“The new Schoolkids Bonus cashes out an inefficient and ineffective tax refund system that failed to deliver the full education benefit to nearly 80 per cent of eligible households.

“Budgets are all about choices. They expose our values as a nation. This Federal Budget overall delivers a better deal for many Australians,” Ms Hatfield Dodds said.

The UnitingCare network provides social services to over 2 million people each year in 1,300 sites in remote, rural and metropolitan Australia. UnitingCare employs 35,000 staff and 24,000 volunteers.

Media contact, Judith Tokley 0408 824 306 or 02 6249 6717

Government breaks promise with aid cut

Published by
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at May 9, 2012 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Statement from Uniting Church partner, UnitingWorld:

Last night the Treasurer delivered the Federal Budget. In doing so, he broke a commitment. It is a broken promise as unnecessary as it is damaging.

The Budget contained the distressing news that the Government has decided not to increase the aid budget in the coming year from 0.35 per cent to 0.38 per cent of Australia’s Gross National Income (GNI) as promised.

The budget also indicates that the goal of reaching 0.5 per cent of GNI (that’s 50 cents in every $100) by 2015 has been set back to 2016/17.

In effect this means the government has taken $2.9 billion dollars from the lives of people who desperately need our support.

In doing so it has unilaterally turned its back on reaching the Millennium Development Goals on schedule and halving international poverty by 2015.

“This broken promise is unnecessary”, says UnitingWorld National Director Rev Dr Kerry Enright.

“Despite the political rhetoric, Australians do not have to choose between our own needs and those of the 1.4 billion people who live in extreme poverty, many on our own doorstep. It’s a false choice.
We are wealthy enough to take care of both.”

“I would like to thank the many people who expressed their concern to politicians by phone, email and tweet”, continues Dr Enright. “Thank you for your interest and commitment”.

The question now is ‘What can we do about this?’ Immediately, we need to put pressure on the Coalition to stand by their promise.

They too have agreed to the target of 0.5 per cent GNI by 2015. Please contact a local coalition MP today and ask them to ensure the Coalition honours this promise in its Budget reply on Thursday night.

You could also email shadow Foreign Minister Julie Bishop (Julie.Bishop.MP@aph.gov.au) today asking her to safeguard the Coalition’s support for the 0.5 per cent target by 2015.

“We can also commend the matter to our prayers, remembering the decision makers in our parliament and also the millions affected by their decisions,” says Dr Enright. “We can all play our
part in what is truly a matter of life and death for so many in God’s world.”

Media contact, Chris Nichol, Communications Fundraising Manager on 02 8267 4223 or ChrisN@UnitingWorld.org.au

Kildonan UnitingCare to run national energy savings scheme

Published by
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The organisations that will provide financially vulnerable Australians with the tools to be more energy efficient have been selected, the Minister for Community Services, Julie Collins, said today.

“Preparations are well underway for the rollout of the Home Energy Saver Scheme with the appointment of 19 not-for-profit organisations to deliver the program,” Ms Collins said.

“We are providing this extra help to the most financially vulnerable Australians to improve household energy efficiency and to reduce their energy costs.”

The Home Energy Saver Scheme is part of the Australian Government’s plan for a Clean Energy Future.

The Scheme will provide $29.9 million over four years to support low-income households across Australia.

“The not-for-profit organisations will deliver these energy efficiency services to around 100,000 low-income households,” Ms Collins said.

“This will include in-depth assistance through home visits by trained workers to around 50,000 households facing financial and energy hardship.

“They will provide financially vulnerable Australians with the tools to be more energy efficient.

“Householders will also have access to advice, support and referral to financial products such as the No Interest Loans Scheme to enable them to make longer term energy efficiency improvements,” Ms Collins said.

The selected organisations will now focus on recruitment and training in preparation for the commencement of the Home Energy Saver Scheme from 1 July 2012.

Kildonan Uniting Care has been chosen as the National Coordinator of the Scheme.

“The formal selection process is now complete and I congratulate all the successful organisations,” Ms Collins said.

The organisations are:
1. Kildonan UnitingCare
2. Anglicare North Coast
3. Anglicare Tasmania
4. Anglicare WA
5. Australian Red Cross
6. Bridging the Gap Sydney West Inc
7. Creating Links Co-operative Ltd
8. Financial Counselling Hunter Valley Project Inc
9. Geraldton Resource Centre Inc
10. Gosford City Community and Information Service Ltd
11. Granville Multicultural Community Centre Inc
12. Murwillumbah Community Centre Inc
13. Regional Housing Limited
14. The Trustee for the Salvation Army (NSW) Property Trust
15. The Trustees for the Roman Catholic Church of the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes (CentaCare Wilcannia-Forbes)
16. UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide Inc.
17. UnitingCare Wesley Country SA
18. Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (Q) (UnitingCare Community)
19. Youth and Family Service (Logan City) Inc

For further information, visit www.fahcsia.gov.au

Federal Budget will show priorities

Published by
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UnitingCare National Director Lin Hatfield Dodds said the 2012 Federal Budget will provide a road map of the Government’s priorities for Australia.

“A well managed economy must enable us to fund the things that matter.

“This might mean politically challenging decisions, including measures to increase Government revenue, and investing in well targeted, long term measures that deliver whatever it takes for as long as it takes to break the cycles of disadvantage,” Ms Hatfield Dodds said.

“Only this will deliver a decent shot at a decent life for those Australians left out and missing out. Only this will deliver reduced demand for social services.

“Over the last five years the Government has recognised economic challenges and gaps in our social service systems.

“We have seen investment in social and community housing, mental health reform, a commitment to a better deal for people with disabilities through a national disability insurance scheme, and a plan for aged care reform.

“For the first time in this country all parents will have access to paid parental leave. We’ve seen moves to improve life opportunities for children under five, a national approach to protecting Australia’s children, a commitment to a National Children’s Commissioner and better dental health for vulnerable Australians.

“But there is work still to be done. A budget surplus must not be delivered at the expense of disadvantaged Australians.  Poverty is still a reality for too many.

“We need to get our income support right. Only eight per cent of the income support budget goes to unemployment benefits. We need to give people support soon enough and for long enough to solve the problems they face. We need to make it easier for people to find work and to keep jobs through life’s ups and downs. We need to ensure the sustainability of robust social services in every community and for everyone who needs them.

“A tight budget is an opportunity to prioritise spending and savings which will set us up best for the future.

“At the end of the day, we will be looking for measures that genuinely improve people’s lives and prospects, and reduce the demand for social services,” Ms Hatfield Dodds said.

The UnitingCare network provides social services to over 2 million people each year in 1300 sites in remote, rural and metropolitan Australia. UnitingCare employs 35,000 staff and 24,000 volunteers.

Media contact, Judith Tokley 0408 824 306 or 02 6249 6717

Welfare cuts to achieve surplus is poor judgement

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UnitingCare Australia National Director, Lin Hatfield Dodds said the Government’s decision to cut welfare payments to families in order to return a surplus in the Federal Budget is poor judgement.

The Government will cut parenting support for single parents whose children are older than eight years and will also reduce child support payments to couples with children.

Ms Hatfield Dodds said parents will be moved automatically from single parent payment to Newstart once their youngest child turns eight. This is a drop of $187 a fortnight in the base rate for single parents.

“The Government would do better to address the issues that make it difficult for single parents to get a job.

“The Government announced yesterday that it will expand the Jobs Education and Training program with more subsidised childcare places.

“Entry level jobs are scarce, especially in areas where unemployment rates are two to three times the national average. This is a complex issue that demands a comprehensive response.

“Single parents need long-term, reliable jobs, with family friendly hours, as close as possible to affordable housing and transport.

“Most available entry level jobs for young, single women are in retail or hospitality which means weekend and evening shifts. Access to quality out-of-school-hours child care is limited.

“There’s also a well documented lack of reliable, affordable transport options.

“In the face of spending cuts in the pursuit of a surplus and in the absence of budget measures that support job creation measures in areas with high unemployment, the proposed measure will simply see families with children in the critical middle years going through the work search hoops while surviving on the breadline.

“If this measure is about getting people back to work it won’t work. If this measure is about reducing government spending to produce a surplus the government would do better to target industry assistance and a put in place comprehensive minerals resource tax,” Ms Hatfield Dodds said.

The UnitingCare network provides social services to over 2 million people each year in remote, rural and metropolitan Australia. The network employs 35,000 staff and engages 24,000 volunteers.

Media contact, Judith Tokley 0408 824 306

Australians urged to support Community Placement

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at May 3, 2012 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

The Uniting Church in Australia has called on Australians to support the community placement of asylum seekers by getting behind the Gillard Government’s soon-to-be launched Community Placement Network (CPN).

“We warmly welcome the CPN and the opportunity for compassionate Australians to support people and families who have sought refuge in our country,” said National Director of UnitingJustice Australia Rev Elenie Poulos.

“The harmful effects of mandatory detention on asylum seekers have been extensively documented.”

“It is the Uniting Church’s long-standing position that the best and most humane option for housing asylum seekers is in the community.

“At the moment only a small number of asylum seekers are released into the community, and an even smaller number will be housed with Australian families under the CPN.”

Ms Poulos has appealed to all sides of politics, particularly the Federal Opposition, to focus on the facts and stop playing politics with asylum seekers.

“Asylum seekers in community placement will all have undergone security screening and been awarded bridging visas,” said Ms Poulos.

“This is far from a ‘dangerous and reckless policy’ as the Opposition spokesman on Immigration has told today’s Daily Telegraph.”

“These comments only serve to inspire fear and hatred against asylum seekers.

“The vast majority of people who seek asylum here in Australia – 90 per cent in fact – are found to be genuine refugees.

“Australia’s mandatory and indefinite detention policy still stands as one of strictest immigration regimes in the world today.

“We are morally bound to provide a more humane way to help asylum seekers, and the Community Placement Network is a perfect way to do that.”

The Uniting Church in Australia has a long track record of supporting asylum seekers in Australia. Uniting Church ministers, both lay and ordained, provide ministry to asylum seekers in detention centres such as Christmas Island and through our work in service provision, support and advocacy.

Media contact: Matt Pulford on 02 8267 4233 or 0408 634 373

Prominent Australians call on PM to keep her promise

Published by
michael.docherty
at May 3, 2012 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

The Uniting Church has joined with the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), calling on the Prime Minister to ensure next week’s Federal Budget does not break her promise on aid provision.

The council, the peak body for aid charities, has released an open letter (below) to the Prime Minister signed by more than 100 prominent Australians.

Signatories include 2012 Australian of the Year Geoffrey Rush, actors Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness, entertainers The Wiggles, Jimmy Barnes, Missy Higgins, Jamie Durie and Clare Bowditch, former Prime Minister the Rt Hon Malcolm Fraser AC CH, ACTU President Ged Kearney and former Masterchef winner Julie Goodwin.

Prominent business leaders have thrown their support behind the letter, including 2011 Australian of the Year Simon McKeon, Harold Mitchell AC, CEO of Yahoo7 Rohan Lund, Managing Director and CEO of Macquarie Bank Greg Ward, Executive Director of Telstra Rebekah O’Flaherty, Managing Director of KPI Consulting John Stewart and Group Executive for Qantas Lesley Grant.

The nation’s church leaders are also on board, with leaders from many denominations concerned about the effects of Australia backing away from our promise to the world’s poorest people.

“Most of the people living in poverty worldwide live in our own neighbourhood of Asia and the Pacific,” said Marc Purcell, Executive Director of ACFID. “So, as Australians, we know how important it is stay true to our longstanding commitments on aid,” he said.

Rev Tim Costello, CEO of World Vision Australia, said “The Prime Minister promised in the 2010 election to lift Australian aid to just 50 cents in every $100 of our national income, and this commitment cannot be broken for the sake of a surplus”.

“800,000 extra lives could be saved by Australia keeping this commitment, which is part of the international push to halve global poverty by 2015.”

Andrew Hewett, executive director of Oxfam Australia, said: “It is unacceptable that more than 20,000 children still die every single day due mostly to diseases that are entirely preventable.”

“It is in Australia’s national interest to ensure a prosperous, peaceful region and Australian aid can help achieve this,” he said.

Australian of the Year and UNICEF Ambassador Geoffrey Rush said, “We have made enormous progress in the battle against poverty. Australia must not cede the commitment to aid that is held across the political spectrum. To do so will jeopardise the futures of millions of people who have been given the opportunity to lift themselves out of poverty, in no small part, thanks to Australia’s foreign aid”.

CEO of Care Australia, Dr Julia Newton-Howes, said that Australia could afford to spend more on aid. “We are one of the wealthiest nations in the world,” she said, “but right now we rank only 13th on the league table of OECD nations on aid giving.”

Ian Wishart, CEO of Plan International Australia, said that children and families in our neighbourhood were counting on Australia keeping its promise.

“Many millions of men, women and children in some of our closest neighbouring countries owe their lives, their ability to attend school and the safe birth of their children to Australian aid,” he said.

Australians are waiting for the Prime Minister to show the world that when we make a promise, we keep it.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

For Marc Purcell Joy Kyriacou 0412 084 782

For Rev. Tim Costello Martin Thomas 0400 454 695

For Andrew Hewett Chee Chee Leung 0400 732 795

For Dr Julia Newton-Howes Laura Hill 0419 567 777

For Ian Wishart David Cook 0448 816 900

Open Letter

Dear Prime Minister,
In the year 2000, Australia agreed to play its part in global efforts to halve the number of people living in poverty by 2015. Australians can be proud that, so far, their leaders have kept this promise made in our name.
John Howard promised to double Australian aid in 2005. And the Gillard Government has promised to further lift the levels of Australian aid to 0.5 per cent of our national income by 2015.
This commitment has been supported by both sides of politics, as it should be. This is Australia’s promise to the world’s poor, no matter who is in Government.
Millions of Australians, young and old, expect this commitment to be maintained. And millions more of those living in poverty are depending on it.
This is a question of whether Australia can be trusted to do what it says it will do.
Reaching the 0.5 per cent target means just 50 cents in every $100 of our national income will go towards our aid program. This falls short of the global target of 0.7 per cent, but it still means a lot to the world’s poor.
Keeping this promise on aid could save the lives of at least 800,000 extra people over the next four years.
Around the world more than 20,000 children still die each day because of diseases that can be easily prevented and treated like diarrhoea, pneumonia and malaria.
Millions of people live on less than $2 a day in our neighbouring countries like Timor Leste, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
The money the Government has promised to spend on aid is desperately needed.
Australian aid levels are not generous by world standards – currently we are below the average when compared to what other rich nations give. We rank 13th on the league table of 23 rich countries that give aid. But what we do give makes a big difference.
Prime Minister, we hear this will be a tough budget and reports say that aid spending is on the hit list. But we cannot balance the books with the lives of the world’s poor.
We the undersigned, and the more than 2 million Australian households who generously support aid organisations each year, urge you to keep the promise to increase aid to 0.5 per cent by 2015-16.
It is up to you to prove that when Australia makes a promise, we keep it.

Signed:

Geoffrey Rush
Actor, 2012 Australian of the Year & UNICEF Ambassador
Hugh Jackman
Actor & World Vision Ambassador
Deborra-Lee Furness
Actress & World Vision Ambassador
Jimmy Barnes
Musician & UNICEF Ambassador
Missy Higgins
Singer-songwriter & Oxfam supporter
Clare Bowditch
Singer-songwriter & Oxfam supporter
John Doyle (Roy)
Entertainer & UNICEF Ambassador
Tara Moss
Author & UNICEF Ambassador
Rt Hon. Malcolm Fraser AC CH
Former Australian Prime Minister
Harold Mitchell AC
Chair, Care Australia
Katie Noonan
Singer-songwriter & Oxfam supporter
Jamie Durie
Entertainer & Plan International Ambassador
The Hon Kristina Keneally MP
Ambassador, Opportunity International Australia
Julie Goodwin
Former Masterchef Winner & Oxfam supporter
Rodney Cox
Victorian Australian of the Year, Fellow for Public Leadership at Harvard University
Professor Adam Shoemaker
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Education), Monash University
Gabi Hollows
The Fred Hollows Foundation
The Hon John Dowd AO QC
President, ActionAid Australia
Murray Cook
The Wiggles & UNICEF Ambassador
Anthony Field
The Wiggles & UNICEF Ambassador
Jeff Fatt
The Wiggles & UNICEF Ambassador
Greg Page
The Wiggles & UNICEF Ambassador
John Butler
Singer-songwriter & Oxfam supporter
The Hon Dr Meredith Burgmann
President, Australian Council for International Development
Simon McKeon
2011 Australian of the Year, Businessman and Australian Chairman, Global Poverty Project Inc
Rohan Lund
CEO, Yahoo7
Ged Kearney
President, ACTU
Greg Ward
Managing Director and CEO, Macquarie Bank
Rebekah O’Flaherty
Executive Director, Telstra
Lesley Grant
Group Executive, Qantas
Christine Christian
Past CEO Dun and Bradstreet
John Stewart
Managing Director, KPI Consulting
Belinda Rowe
Managing Partner, ZenithOptimedia
Fiona Sinclair-King
Barrister at Law
Michael Gill
Counsellor, Dragoman
Michael Batchelor
Consultant, Deloitte
Deeta Colvin
Consultant, CPH
Most Reverend Mark Coleridge Archbishop Designate of Brisbane
Most Reverend Philip Wilson Archbishop of Adelaide
Most Reverend Adrian Doyle Archbishop of Hobart
The Very Reverend Dr Peter Catt Dean, St John’s Cathedral, Brisbane.
The Right Rev John Harrower OAM Bishop of Tasmania
Bishop Philip Huggins
Anglican Diocese of Melbourne
Rev Shayne Blackman
National Administrator, Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress
Rev Alistair Macrae
President, National Assembly, Uniting Church in Australia
Mr Stuart McMillan
Moderator, Northern Synod, Uniting Church in Australia
Rev Dr Brian Brown
Moderator, Synod of NSW/ACT, Uniting Church in Australia
Rev Kaye Ronalds
Moderator, Synod of Queensland, Uniting Church in Australia
Rev Rob Williams
Moderator, Synod of South Australia, Uniting Church in Australia
Isabel Thomas Dobson
Moderator, Synod of Victoria & Tasmania, Uniting Church in Australia Signed:

Rev Ron Larkin
Moderator, Synod of Western Australia, Uniting Church in Australia
Rev Tim Costello
CEO, World Vision Australia
Andrew Hewett
Executive Director, Oxfam Australia
Norman Gillespie
CEO, UNICEF Australia
Jack de Groot
CEO, Caritas Australia
Dr Julia Newton-Howes
CEO, Care Australia
Ian Wishart
CEO, Plan International Australia
Dimity Fifer
CEO, Australian Volunteers International
Misha Coleman
CEO, Anglicord: Anglican Overseas Aid
Nigel Spence
CEO, ChildFund Australia
Adam Laidlaw
CEO, WaterAid Australia
Jackie Perkins
Executive Administrator, Quaker Service Australia
Marc Purcell
Executive Director, Australian Council for International Development
Archie Law
Executive Director, ActionAid Australia
Rev Dr Kerry Enright
National Director, UnitingWorld
Malcolm Gledhill
Chairperson, Relief & Development, UnitingWorld
Bill Whittaker AM
National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NAPWA)
Maria Deveson Crabbe
CEO, Marie Stopes International Australia
Glenyce Johnson
Chair, Marie Stopes International Australia
Bill Bowtell AO
Executive Director, Pacific Friends of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
Wendy McCarthy AO
Chair, Pacific Friends of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
Brian Doolan
CEO, The Fred Hollows Foundation
Paul Power
CEO, Refugee Council of Australia
Suzanne Dvorak
CEO, Save the Children Australia
Alistair Gee
Executive Director, Act for Peace – National Council of Churches Australia
Chris Sadler
Chairman, Opportunity International Australia
Dermot O’Gorman
CEO, World Wildlife Fund Australia
Joanna Hayter
CEO, International Women’s Development Agency
Geoffrey Armstrong
Executive Director, Global Development Group
Mary Hawkins
President, International Women’s Development Agency
Michael Ahrens
CEO, Transparency International Australia
Christine Franks
Chair, Habitat for Humanity Australia
Jo Brennan
CEO, Habitat for Humanity Australia
Michael Rose
Chairman, ChildFund Alliance
Mohamed Mayat
Country Director, Islamic Relief Australia
John Jeffries
National Director, CBM Australia
Matthew Maury
National Director, TEAR Australia
David Pearson
Chairman, Global Development Group
Greg Thompson
Executive Director International, Transparency International
Mick Turnbull
Chair, Baptist World Aid Australia
John Hickey
CEO, Baptist World Aid Australia
Peter Jennings
Executive Officer, Union Aid Abroad–APHEDA
Professor Dennis Altman AM FASSA
Director, Institute of Human Security La Trobe University
Dr. Michael Henry
Chair of Oxfam Australia
Michael Lynch
CEO, Australian Business Volunteers
Cam Walker
CEO, Friends of the Earth (Australia)
Dr Jim Green
Chair, Friends of the Earth (Australia)
Christian Nielsen
Trustee Australia and Executive Director, Live & Learn Environmental Education
Brother Paul Smith
CEO, Lasallian Foundation

Signed:

Dr. Paul Meyer
Chair, Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS)
Peter Schirmer
Executive Secretary, Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS)
The Venerable Alison Taylor Archdeacon of Kew, Chair of the Board, Anglicord: Anglican Overseas Aid
Major John Rees
Director, The Salvation Army NSW
Major Graeme McClimont
Divisional Commander, The Salvation Army, Tasmania
Alan McLean
CEO, RedR Australia
Elizabeth Taylor
Chair, RedR Australia
Frank Tyler
Director, Australian Aid International
Marc Preston
Director, Australian Aid International
Guy Winship
CEO, World Education Australia Limited
Kay de Vogel
Convenor, Quaker Service Australia, Management Committee
Mark Cubit
Trustee, Planet Wheeler Foundation and Cubit Family Foundation
Prof. Brien A. Holden PhD, DSc, OAM
CEO, International Centre for Eyecare Education
Prof. Gullapalli N Rao, MD, FRCS, FACS, D.Sc, D. Med
Chairman, International Centre for Eyecare Education
Professor Iven Young
Senior Staff Specialist, Respiratory Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Chair, Physicians Training Council, CETI
Ailsa Mackinnon RSM
Executive Director, Mercy Works Ltd.
Clary Castrission
President, 40K Foundation Australia
Robert Dunn
CEO, Opportunity International Australia
Naomi Steer
National Director, Australia for UNHCR
Eric Leach
CEO, Every Home Global Concern
Robert McConaghy
Chairman, Every Home Global Concern
Graham Peck
CEO, The Leprosy Mission Australia
Pam Packett
Chair, The Leprosy Mission Australia
Peter Hunt
Chair, Grameen Foundation Australia
Rev John Deane
Executive Director, Anglican Board of Mission – Australia
John Rock
Chairman, Australian Foundation for the Peoples of Asia and the Pacific (AFAP)
Dr. P. Ketheswaran, MBBS, FRANCR
President and Chairman, Australian Medical Aid Foundation Ltd
Anne Skipper AM
Chair, Plan International Australia
Dr Satish Nagarajah, MBBS, FRACP
Secretary, Australian Medical Aid Foundation Ltd
Garry Weare
Executive Director, Australian Himalayan Foundation
Catherine Burke
CEO, The Hunger Project Australia
Diane Grady
Chairperson, The Hunger Project Australia
Dr Colin Barlow
CEO, Nusa Tenggara Association
Graham Morrison
Chairman, Chairman, International Nepal Fellowship (Aust) Ltd
Duncan Power
CEO, Grameen Foundation Australia
Kerrie Shaw
Executive Officer, Australian Respiratory Council
Lizzie Brown
CEO, Engineers Without Borders Australia
Phil Clarke
Chair, Engineers Without Borders Australia
Margot Sweeny
Chair, Credit Union Foundation Australia
Peter Mason
Executive Officer, Credit Union Foundation Australia
David Chesterman AM FRAIA FPIA
Chairman, Emergency Architects Australia
Levinia Crooks
CEO, Australasian Society for HIV Medicine
Edwina Wright
President, Australasian Society for HIV Medicine
Dr Joanne Ramadge
CEO, Sexual Health & Family Planning Australia
Glen Arundell
President, Project Vietnam
Delene Evans
General Manager, Australian Doctors International

Signed:

Tom O’Connor
CEO, The Oaktree Foundation
Dr Tim Hanna
CEO, Compassion Australia
Rev John Smith
Team Leader, Mission Leadership Team, Tasmanian Baptist Churches
Philip Morris
CEO, International Nepal Fellowship (Aust) Ltd
David Hayes
Chief Executive Officer, Assisi Aid Projects
Neil McIntosh
Chair, World Education Australia Limited
Ps. Graham Clarke
Senior Pastor, Barrabool Hills Baptist Church

Harm reduction needed to offset pokies revenue

Published by
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at May 2, 2012 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

The Uniting Church believes the Victorian State Government needs to act decisively to rein in gambling harm given it expects a further $1.12 billion in poker machine revenue next year.

The Moderator of the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania Isabel Thomas Dobson said while the Government expects an 8.5 per cent increase in the pokies tax take it has failed to support key measures to rein in problem gambling.

“While we welcome the removal of ATMs from pokie venues as of the middle of the year, the Victorian Government should support other measures to reduce the harm pokies are causing in the community. These measures include $1 bet limit per button push, the ability of gamblers to set themselves enforceable loss limits, restricting opening hours of pokie areas of venues from 10 am to midnight and eliminating linked jackpots across machines.

While the Church continues to challenge the Government on gambling issues, Ms Thomas Dobson has welcomed a $336 million reform of the State’s child protection system which, coupled with planned legislative changes, aimed to better protect abused children.
“The Government is to be congratulated for initiatives which include $41 million to help protect Victoria’s most vulnerable children at an early age, $19 million for more child protection workers and $3 million to establish a Commission for Children and Young People. These are the most vulnerable children in the State and we need to do all we can to support them and provide them with an opportunity to move forward with their lives.’’
Ms Thomas Dobson was also critical of the abolition of the School Start Bonus (SSB) of $300 for eligible children entering Prep or Year 7. She said for many struggling parents the SSB – which was in addition to the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) – was a lifeline as it assisted with the cost of buying new school uniforms, sports uniforms, school bags and other items.
“Being well equipped with appropriate school clothing and items ensures children from struggling families are able to fit in from day one at their new school. It means they can feel more comfortable with other children and won’t stand out because their parents could not afford the correct uniform or bag. That sense of belonging is important to children, particularly at a time of great change in their life.”

However, Ms Thomas Dobson said the Government’s budget imperatives need to show more consideration for those in society experiencing hardship. “The small increase in the EMA forecast will not match what is being taken away and I have real concerns that many children from struggling families are being forgotten by the Government,” she said.

For media enquiries, contact Michael Docherty, media liaison on 0466 889 507 or 9251 5222.

National children’s commissoner role welcome

Published by
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at April 30, 2012 in UnitingCare. 0 Comments

UnitingCare Australia said today the Federal Government’s decision to appoint a National Children’s Commissioner should give a stronger voice to all young people, but particularly to the most vulnerable.

National Director, Lin Hatfield Dodds said the historic move raises the profile of the rights and well being of children and young people in Australia.

“Individual states and territories have struggled to meet the needs of children living with poverty and disadvantage,” Ms Hatfield Dodds said.

“This national role has the opportunity to drive systemic reform.

“At first glance, it appears the Commissioner will complement the work of the states and territories and other bodies, helping to build relationships and ensure a consistent approach to issues affecting children and young people.

“The Office of the National Children’s Commissioner must also complement the work of existing institutions, including The Australian Human Rights Commission, Public Advocates and Ombudsman schemes, that are responsible for promoting and protecting the rights of all citizens, including children and young people.

“We welcome the Commissioner’s mandate to engage in, develop, and promote public education to increase awareness and understanding of children’s rights and the UN convention on the rights of the child.

“This is not a substitute for Government responsibilities, but a mechanism to help children and young people, the broader community and government and public agencies further understand their rights, entitlements and responsibilities.

“We expect the work of the Commissioner’s office will be fully funded in the Federal Budget and that allowances will be made for increased funding as the role becomes established over time.

“It is vital that the role is independent and can set its own agenda.

“This long overdue appointment is a welcome culmination of a significant period of consultation and decades of advocacy led by the non government sector.

“UnitingCare Australia will work closely with the Commissioner offering the experience and wisdom of a network that has worked with children and families for over a hundred years,” Ms Hatfield Dodds said.

UnitingCare services manage 12 per cent of all residential aged care places in Australia with over 12,000 aged care beds and a network of community care places from metropolitan to remote communities.

Wesley provides hope for people with disabilities

Published by
media.room
at April 27, 2012 in UnitingCare. 0 Comments

On Tuesday 24th April, Wesley Mission Victoria officially opened its second purpose-built residential facility for people with an acquired brain injury and other neurological disorders who have lived in or are at risk of living in residential aged care.

Wesley’s CEO, Mr Rob Evers, and Mrs Andrea Coote, MLC, Parliamentary Secretary for Families and Community Services, opened the facility in Cranbourne this morning. Also in attendance was Councillor Amanda Stapledon, representing the Mayor of Casey and other members of the local council.

The house was built under the ‘my future my choice’ joint State and Federal Government initiative which aims to reduce the number of younger people with a disability living in residential aged care facilities.

This new centre provides residents with the opportunity to remain connected to the community while developing their independent living skills in a secure and supported environment, as much like being at home as possible.

Wesley CEO, Rob Evers explains what makes the ‘my future my choice’ home in Cranbourne so unique.

“For a person with a disability, living in residential aged care can be a socially isolating experience but within the ‘my future my choice’ home, residents have the opportunity to socialise, stay connected to their families, and develop life skills,” he said.

“Wesley is proud to open this facility, which will provide new opportunities for the residents,” he said.

Residents of the facility participate in the running of the household, prepare their own meals and develop their own daily routines including linking into community programs and services, in a supported, home-like environment.

Mrs Andrea Coote, MLC, said “The my future my choice joint initiative between the Victorian Coalition Government and the Commonwealth is an important step in reducing the number of younger people with disabilities living in Residential Aged Care services.”

“I commend Wesley Mission Victoria for its collaborative and understanding approach to making residents feel safe and in turn, to create a sense of ‘home’. Residents can enjoy their own space and entertain family and friends in a home that has been tailored to their individual needs and style,” she said.

For Valerie*, this new home has changed her life, for the better, after she was forced to live in residential aged care for almost six years.

“Living here is like a dream come true. I’ve got freedom now,” she smiles. “I can come and go as I please, cook my own dinner and see my friends. And I can paint again.”

This is the second house opened by Wesley and the Department of Human Services as part of the ‘my future my choice’ initiative.

* Name has been changed to protect privacy.