Launch of the 'Meaning of Home' survey
Home is where the heart is. It’s where we spend time with those we love, make memories, enjoy our privacy. It’s a space we can make our own, the place that defines where we find community, and find the peace and stability that helps us take on all the other parts of our lives.
Anglicare Australia, as part of a nationwide project, has launched a survey to learn more about what home means to Australians, from all walks of life and backgrounds.
Want to tell us what it means to you? If so, there are only two questions and you can tell us in your own words by completing this survey.
Anyone can complete this survey anonymously. Please circulate this survey through your networks - we would love to hear from as many people as possible.
The survey is available here.
Robodebt program must be suspended
Anglicare Australia has called for the Centrelink automated debt recovery process to be suspended. The call is made ahead of the release of the Senate Inquiry’s robodebt report.
“This system has no human oversight – and it puts the onus back on ordinary people to correct robotised errors,” said Anglicare Australia Executive Director Kasy Chambers.
“We’ve seen Government Ministers reject out of hand the impact of this clumsy process and the distress it has caused. That’s not good enough.
“The inquiry has heard plenty of evidence that the goal this system is simply to maximise revenue. And while everyone agrees that we should stop overpayments, it beggars belief that we could keep using a system that saddled people with almost $3.5 million in false debt.
“We must suspend this program immediately – and stop its scheduled expansion to Disability and Aged Pensioners,” Ms Chambers said.
Ms Chambers said the robodebt fiasco was the latest in a series of moves aimed at targeting people in need of income support.
“The shift in the onus of proof onto recipients, the barriers to people trying to fix these problems through the Centrelink system, and the growing stigmatisation of welfare, is a step towards the criminalisation of poverty and disadvantage.
“Let’s suspend this failing system and work together to design one that works for people – not just the Government.”
Anglicare Australia's media release is available here.
Anglicare Australia network calls for abandonment of welfare changes
The Anglicare Australia network has released a statement calling on the Government to abandon its proposed welfare changes:
Anglicare Australia affirms its opposition to the Government’s proposed changes to Australia’s welfare system.
Measures such as the new demerit point system, random drug testing and increased obligations to look for work that isn’t there or participate in work for the dole programs, are punitive and not supported by evidence.
These, along with proposals to force people to spend their savings before seeking income support and denying help to people harmed by addiction will simply drive more Australians into extreme poverty. They will come with a terrible cost in human suffering.
The quest for savings through these measures is unethical, and the savings themselves are a mirage. Cutting people off only leads to crisis – and the costs of providing emergency services to people in extreme need are far higher.
We call for the abandonment of the Government’s proposed welfare measures, and the rejection of any relevant legislation by the Senate.
Anglicare Australia Executive Director Kasy Chambers said that the Anglicare network would continue to oppose the changes now that the social services legislation has been introduced.
“Between drug testing, the demerit point proposal, and the recently leaked ‘welfare hotspot’ list, what we have seen in recent weeks is a concerted campaign to demonise people accessing the social safety net.
“Anglicare’s Jobs Availability Snapshot shows that people are already trying their hardest to compete for jobs that just aren’t there.
“But instead of offering relief, people who need help from the government are being scapegoated and criminalised.
“We should be a community that helps people when they need it, instead of kicking them when they’re down.”
Anglicare Australia's media release is available here.
Anglicare Australia holds annual CEO forum
Anglicare Australia has held its annual CEO Forum, featuring a two-day program.
The first day of business focussed on Anglicare Australia's strategic collaboration groups, our research agenda and response to the ongoing Productivity Commission Inquiry into Human Services, and other national priorities.
Our guest dinner speaker at the Forum was Dr Richard Denniss, Chief Economist at the Australia Institute, who provided advice on how to de-code misleading arguments and broaden the policy options available to us in public debate.

The second day involved the Anglicare CEOs meeting with a succession of politicians for discussions on their area of expertise. Some of these discussions have resulted in further contact between politicians and our CEOs.
The second day involved the Anglicare CEOs meeting with a succession of politicians for discussions on their area of expertise. Some of these discussions have resulted in further contact between politicians and our CEOs.
Politicians who spent time with CEOs were:
- The Hon Jenny Macklin MP, Shadow Minister for Families and Social Services
- The Hon Jane Prentice MP, Assistant Minister for Social and Disability Services
- The Hon Bill Shorten MP, Leader of the Opposition
- The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Shadow Minister for Education
- The Hon Michael Sukkar MP, Assistant Treasurer
- The Hon Ken Wyatt MP, Minister for Aged Care; Minister for Indigenous Health
- The Hon Scott Morrison MP, Treasurer
- Sen Richard di Natale, Leader of the Australian Greens
- Sen Nick Xenophon, Leader of the Nick Xenophon Team
- The Hon Alan Tudge MP, Minister for Human Services
- The Hon Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health; Minister for Sport
Anglicare Australia in the media
Anglicare Australia’s calls to suspend the robodebt program were featured across the media in June, including in the Guardian, the Huffington Post, Fairfax newspapers and Pro Bono Australia.
Anglicare Australia’s call to abandon the proposed welfare changes was featured in Pro Bono Australia.
Anglicare Australia joined a call for a Royal Commission into the abuse of people with disabilities, which was covered on ABC News.
The 2017 Rental Affordability Snapshot is also continuing to attract media attention, for example, on SBS and the International Business Times.
Register for Anglicare Australia’s 2017 Conference
Registrations are open for the Anglicare Australia National Conference, to be held at the Crowne Plaza, Coogee Beach.
With a focus on the theme Stronger Together: Our Mission in the Marketplace we welcome workshops and presentations in all service types from member organisations in areas such as:
- Cutting edge service design
- Client experience and co-production
- Communications strategies for advocacy and for service delivery
- Faith-based engagement
- Leadership, management and staff development
- Marketing / fundraising
- Organisational development
- Research, evaluation and outcomes measurement
Papers should be submitted by no later than Friday 16 June 2017.
To register or submit a paper, click here.
Nominations Open: National Awards for Innovation and Excellence
Nominations have opened for the Anglicare Australia National Awards for Innovation and Excellence. The Anglicare Australia National Awards for Innovation and Excellence, sponsored by Telstra, recognise outstanding services, projects and programs provided by the organisations of the Anglicare Australia network, as well as individual volunteers who have made a significant contribution.
The awards are an opportunity to promote successful programs within Anglicare agencies, or recognise the contributions of outstanding volunteers.
To download a nomination form or find out more about the awards, click here.