UnitingCare Australia

18 February 2010

The Major Church Providers’ (MCPs’) Community Services Industry Issues Forum was held on February 18, providing a shared opportunity to hear presentations on the pressing industry issues the sector is facing and to discuss potential impacts of taxation, industrial and wider sector reform on not-for-profit social services. There were about 100 people present, with a large proportion being UnitingCare Agency CEOs, management and Board members.

Productivity Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald presented on the key outcomes of his recent review of the contribution of the NFP sector and challenged Forum participants to be bold and proactive in policy debates, and to extend our leadership of a social justice agenda. Presentations were also given on the potential impacts of industrial reforms, via legislative changes and wage claims and the progress of the WIP workforce development project being led by The Salvation Army and involving the Anglicare, Catholic Social Services and UnitingCare networks.

Our own Joe Zabar presented on his leadership of advocacy on services sustainability and the specific issues we are addressing regarding tax reform, the FBT, and their impact on funding arrangements and workforce issues.

You can download and read his speech, Services Sustainability and Taxation, here. All the presentations from the Forum are available on our website here.

UnitingCare Australia Media Release
16 February 2010

Mr Peter Bicknell, Chair of UnitingCare Australia, announced today that Lin Hatfield Dodds has stepped aside as the National Director of UnitingCare Australia.

“Ms Hatfield Dodds has been preselected as a candidate for the Australian Greens for an ACT Senate seat in the upcoming Federal election.” Mr Bicknell said. “She will be working as Director of Network Development with UnitingCare Australia’s National Office, on a part time basis.”

“Ms Susan Helyar, currently UnitingCare Australia’s Director of Service Development, will act as the National Director from today until the results of the Federal election are determined.”

Susan Helyar can be contacted at the National Office.

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Download the pdf version of the media release here.

12 January 2010

Take a path you never expected…with UnitingCare

“Leading community services provider, UnitingCare NSW.ACT is seeking compassionate, caring people to volunteer in 2010. Volunteers can donate as much or as little time as they would like to brighten the lives of children, young people, families and older people. Craig did and it changed his life, leading to career satisfaction he hadn’t thought possible...”

UnitingCare NSW.ACT is a practical arm of the Uniting Church. Services include aged care, disability programs, services for vulnerable families, children and young people and quality early childhood education and care. Volunteers are able to help in a number of capacities ranging from chatting with or reading a book to older people or children through to providing support to staff in areas such as gardening or crafts. The amount of time donated will vary with each volunteer but any time given is greatly appreciated.

If you have a skill or talent you would like to share through volunteering with UnitingCare NSW.ACT or would like more information please visit www.withoutfearorfavour.org.au/volunteer.

Read UnitingCare NSW.ACT’s full media release, including Craig’s story, here.

18 February 2010

A note from Lin Hatfield Dodds inviting the network to a MCP Community Services Industry Issues forum:

As you know, UnitingCare Australia is part of the Major Church Provider group – made up of the national bodies for the UnitingCare, Anglicare, Catholic Social Services and Salvation Army networks. Between us, we deliver around 70% of social services across Australia. For all of 2009, we have together put a huge amount of work into the pressing industry issues facing us now.

Attached is your invitation to a Community Services Industry Issues Forum convened by the MCP group and open to our four networks and beyond. Please encourage people in your organisation with an interest in the kinds of issues that will be covered: industrial relations issues for the community sector including award modernisation, federalisation of the SACS award etc, tax reform including the FBT and its impact on our sector, and workforce development and retention issues. Relevant Board Chairs and members are also encouraged to attend.

Productivity Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald will outline the challenges facing us in these complex issues at the beginning of the day, followed by workshops led by sector experts. The day is aimed at CEOS, relevant Board members and senior management. Anyone from the community sector is welcome to attend.

Please mark this important date in your diaries and forward the invitation to anyone you think might benefit from the forum.

RSVPs are due to the UnitingCare Australia national office by Friday 29 January.