ACOSS National Conference

The annual ACOSS National Conference was held from 25-26 March in Canberra.

This year the focus was on issues affecting low income Australians and the community sector.

The Assistant Treasurer Senator Nick Sherry opened the conference, focusing on the Labour Government’s commitment to A Stronger, Fairer Australia and on tax reform, an area in which he acknowledged that there is “extensive speculation on several issues of significant interest to [the third sector].”

He said that the Henry Review was still under consideration by the Rudd Government, but that the Government has delivered significant tax relief for low-income earners over the past two years and will deliver further assistance from 1 July this year.

The Senator also mentioned the recent National Compact that signals the government and the third sector working together and that now has over 100 signatories.

“The Government is working hard to build better and stronger relationships with the not-for-profit sector and the business community,” he said.

“We are working hard now through our tax, health and education reforms to lay the foundations to respond to the emerging pressures we will face as a community – and to make sure Australia remains strong and no-one is, indeed, left behind.”

For more information and to see the conference papers visit the ACOSS website.

NESA Working Communities International Congress

The NESA Working Communities International Congress was held from 24-26 March in Melbourne, with the theme of Uniting to Improve Social and Economic Participation.

The conference addressed a wide range of issues, including the governance of employment and skills development, green jobs, employment outcomes for indigenous people and ideas for social and economic inclusion.

NESA is a peak body for providers of employment and related services in Australia. NESA members comprise of both for-profit and not-for-profit organisations that deliver government-contracted employment services.

For more information and to see conference papers visit the website for the Working Communities International Congress.