MEDIA RELEASE, 18 JANUARY, 2017 ​ ​Anglicare Australia Executive Director Kasy Chambers has supported calls by ACOSS, the National Welfare Rights Network and others to suspend the Centrelink automated debt recovery process, and for government to sit down with the people most affected to put a more respectful process in place.

SUBMISSION Anglicare Australia in conjunction with Benetas has written the following paper as a submission on Redesigning Dementia Consumer Supports, the 2016 Ministerial Dementia Forum Discussion Paper. It represents the views expressed from members of Anglicare Australia, compiled on the network’s behalf by Melbourne based aged care provider and Anglicare Australia member, Benetas.

Anglicare Australia’s Executive Director Kasy Chambers spoke to the New Daily about rights for renters yesterday. According to the piece by Jackson Stiles, a rental rights and tenancy advocates are demanding that better protections for renters, currently under consideration in Victoria, be rolled out nationwide. After almost two years of submissions, the Victorian government has released an options paper that summarises the best, evidence-based reforms raised so far – some of which would push Victoria well ahead of other states. Kasy Chambers argued that the “long queue” for affordable housing, coupled with the fact that landlords in all states and territories can terminate leases early without cause, makes renters “afraid” to challenge rent hikes and ask for repairs or modifications. “We find that people in rental situations are very much the poor cousin in that relationship,” Ms Chambers told The New Daily. “It’s a really important area long ignored by policy makers.” To read the article, click here ​

Opinion Piece, 6 January, 2017 Executive Director of Anglicare Australia Kasy Chambers had the following Opinion Piece published on the Huffington Post Australia Blog and syndicated across Fairfax publications including the Age and the SMH. The Opinion Piece responded to comments from Liberal Democrat Senator David Leyonhjelm about entitlements to the aged pension. Drawing on examples from the Anglicare volunteer network, Chambers argued that as a nation – rather than penalising or shaming our elderly citizens – we should be celebrating their particular contributions, regardless of their economic status, and regardless of whether at some point in their lives they will need to rely on a government payment. To read the article, click here

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM KASY CHAMBERS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ANGLICARE AUSTRALIA For the last couple of years Anglicare Australia has been using the theme of not leaving anyone behind. It is rumoured this theme came from a proud Anzac tradition but in truth it probably started long before and is at the heart of compassionate and practical notions of society. As a theme, it is a useful, clear and understandable standard against which to judge policy. Anglicare Australia is always non-partisan. We comment on policies, ideas and the effect they have when they are bundled in particular ways or by particular idealism. So it serves us well to have such a visual and powerful measuring stick.

Anglicare Australia has offered the following response to the Superannuation (Objective) Bill 2016. Anglicare Australia welcomes the Government’s commitment to legislate the objective of superannuation. A clear objective that requires any new policies to be compatible with its purpose will help to guide future reform. The lack of a formal objective has allowed superannuation to be used as a vehicle for various objectives, including tax avoidance, wealth accumulation and estate planning. It is important, then, for the objective to be considered in the context of creating a sustainable and fair retirement income system that will support people for decades to come. This will strengthen the likelihood that any changes to superannuation will support a holistic, well-functioning and balanced retirement income system that provides adequate retirement incomes for all.

Anglicare Australia has written a letter to support the response of EPIC Assist to the Disability Employment Services Discussion Paper and add some reflections that come from the network more widely. The Disability Employment Services discussion paper strongly echoes discussions being had in other areas of service delivery: the need for more user choice and control, more competition, better outcomes and the right funding models to deliver them.

Anglicare Australia has made the following submission to a draft model for the delivery of an integrated carers' support system. Anglicare Australia argues that the design of a comprehensive integrated carers’ support system demonstrates a real investigation into the complexity of life for the many people in Australia who are voluntary, mostly family, carers. As commentary in the draft model makes clear, the proposed new system needs to draw on the connections with the ongoing reforms in aged and disability care.

Anglicare Australia has made a submission to the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council regarding the Fifth National Mental Health Plan. Our response is shaped by shared view that the Australia does not yet have an inclusive, coherent, positive approach to mental health despite years of inquiry, analysis and planning. Anglicare Australia recognises there has been a considerable body of government work, including four previous National Mental Health Plans, a ten-year COAG Roadmap for Mental Health Reform and a Review of Mental Health Programs and Services by the National Mental Health Commission.

Positions Vacant? When the Jobs Aren’t There is the title of the 2016 report, and it is informed by Anglicare Australia's first Jobs Availability Snapshot.