The Government wants to hear your views

The Australian Government has launched a discussion paper – Inclusion for people with disability through sustainable supported employment.

Caretaker Period

On 17 July 2010, the Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, announced that a federal election would be held on 21 August 2010 and as such the Australian Government has assumed a caretaker role.

Social enterprise initiatives

Senator Stephens launches two social enterprise and innovation initiatives.
“We need to work in partnership to achieve lasting change…”
 

Disadvantage Consultations

As part of its research on Breaking the Cycle of Disadvantage, the Board will be holding public consultations in each capital city.

Golden Gurus Grants Released

Golden Gurus organisations can apply for 50 Golden Gurus grants of $10,000 each. Applications open 1 July 2010 and close 30 July 2010.

Social Inclusion Award

The 2010 National Disability Awards are open and calling for nominations in the Social Inclusion Award category.

ATO updates for Third Sector

The Australian Tax Office shares information that may help Third Sector organisations by providing free updates on key Not-For-Profit sector tax issues.

Indigenous business support

The Australian Government will provide greater support to Indigenous businesses, including financial support for state and regional Indigenous chambers of commerce and will establish a new business advisory group.

Have your say

The Australian Government today released a draft of its long-term strategy to increase participation of Indigenous Australians in the economy.

Services from one location

Minister for Human Services Chris Bowen and Minister for Employment Participation Mark Arbib announce an initiative to help get highly disadvantaged job seekers into work.

Apprentice Kickstart

12 May, 2010 - The second stage of the Government’s Apprentice Kickstart campaign, to employ 22,500 more teenage apprentices across the nation.

FOGS promote employment

12 May, 2010 - Former State of Origin greats (FOGS) are teaming up with the Rudd Government to tackle Indigenous unemployment in Rockhampton.

Budget Media Releases

Australian Government Budget media releases that have an impact on organisations, community groups and individuals supported by the social inclusion agenda.

AG thanks Volunteers

A thank you message from the Federal Attorney-General, on behalf of the Australian Government, to emergency volunteers, their employers and self-employed volunteers.

Communiqué for MCTEE meeting

A new initiative guaranteeing a pathway from vocational education and training to university announced.

New youth employment program

Plans to deliver better career and tertiary education services to young Australians are now ready to be rolled out by the States and Territories.

Compact welcomes 150 Partners

The National Compact welcomes Neurofibromatosis Association of Australia Inc. (NFAA) as the 150th organisation to sign up as a Compact Partner.

FOGS promote Indigenous jobs

Former Origin Greats (FOGS) will join forces with big industry and local businesses in Cairns to promote job opportunities for young Indigenous jobseekers and students.

Address to mental health body

Senator Ursula Stephens addressed mental health peak body, the Queensland Alliance, to launch a research paper into anti stigma initiatives in mental health

‘Meet the Senator’ event

On 13 April 2010, Senator Ursula Stephens hosted an online event with the Golden Gurus community to discuss ideas for the program.

National Strategy for Young Australians

The Minister for Youth Kate Ellis launches the National Strategy for Young Australians.

New study investigates needs

Productivity Commission to research factors impacting on the early childhood, schooling and vocational training workforces.

Data of child care landscape

Two new reports that give updated information about the state of the Australian child care sector have been released.

Social Inclusion interviews

Members from the Australian Social Inclusion Board offer insight into Social Inclusion themes-videos now available.

Compact welcomes 100 Partners

The National Compact welcomes Drug Free Ambassadors Australia as the 100th organisation to sign up as a Compact Partner.

Senator Stephens interview

Senator Ursula Stephens spoke about the National Compact with Richard Aedy on Radio National’s ‘Life Matters’ program. Interview Transcript.

National Compact Launch

On 17 March 2010 The Prime Minister Kevin Rudd launched the National Compact between the Australian Government and the Third (or not-for-profit) Sector.

Indigenous Opportunities

The Australian Government is working to create increased Indigenous employment, training and supplier opportunities through government procurement activities under the new Indigenous Opportunities Policy.

National Compact update

The Australian Government recently announced the launch date for the National Compact with the Third Sector and the release of the National Compact Consultation Report.

Productivity Commission Report

Productivity Commission report highlights importance of not-for-profit sector in the Australian economy and society.

National Standard Chart of Accounts

The Government is currently inviting comments on a draft National Standard Chart of Accounts for the not-for-profit sector.

Philanthropy remains strong despite global economic downturn

A new report has found that Australia’s major companies have continued to support and invest in our communities despite tough economic conditions faced in 2009.

Social Inclusion Conference Keynote Presentations now available

Copies of keynote presentations from the Australian Government’s inaugural Social Inclusion Conference, held from 28-29 January 2010 in Melbourne, are now available.

"A Stronger, Fairer Australia" – a new social inclusion strategy

Launched on 28 January 2010, A Stronger, Fairer Australia sets out the Australian Government’s vision and strategy for social inclusion, now and into the future.

The Golden Gurus Networking Online Forum is live!

The forum will allow Golden Gurus participants to discuss their experiences, learn from others, raise new ideas for the program, access resources and participate in virtual events.

How Australia is Faring, Report of the Australian Social Inclusion Board

Patricia Faulkner AO, the Chair of the Australian Social Inclusion Board, today launched the Board’s report, Social Inclusion in Australia: How Australia is faring.

Third Sector Reform – new research

Reports by the Centre for Social Impact explore the role of government and the Third (or non-profit) Sector in promoting social inclusion initiatives.

New online forum topic

What does a socially inclusive Australia look like? Have your say now by registering and/or logging in to the online forum.

Volunteer Grants provide financial support to non-profit organisations and to encourage volunteering

Volunteers around Australia will be assisted through Volunteer Grants to continue their good work in helping to foster vibrant and resilient communities.

Minister launches Indigenous Child Health and Wellbeing Report

The Hon Mark Arbib MP, Minister for Employment Participation, recently launched a report into child health, development and wellbeing in far western New South Wales.

Golden Gurus supporting the community and small business

The Golden Gurus program has commenced (encouraging mature-age Australians to transfer their skills and experience by mentoring community organisations and small businesses).

International Migrants Day

International Migrants Day is a reminder of the need to support migrant populations.

Funding boost helps low-SES higher education student places

The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, recently released draft guidelines to boost access to, and participation in, higher education

Comments sought on Indigenous Education Action Plan

The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, welcomed commencement of public consultation on the Indigenous Education Action Plan.

Measuring the Outcomes of Community Organisations

Contributions sought for discussion paper to examine the measurement of community organisation outcomes.

Speakers announced for the upcoming Australian Government Social Inclusion Conference

We invite you to join in a national conversation about effective and innovative social inclusion policy and practice.

Government unveils new $1.7 billion Disability Employment Service

 
The Minister for Employment Participation has announced the successful organisations for the Australian Government’s new $1.7 billion Disability Employment Services.

Read More

Opening of Blacktown Marist Youth Care Head Office – a holistic approach to addressing disadvantage

On 3 December 2009, Senator, the Hon Ursula Stephens, Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector opened the new Head Office for Marist Youth Care in Blacktown, New South Wales.

Innovation Fund delivers $6 million to create jobs

On 7 December 2009, the Australian Government announced more than $6 million for 14 innovative job-generating projects which focus on helping up to 3,500 disadvantaged jobseekers.

Read More

Celebrating Achievements in Human Rights in Australia

Held to coincide with International Human Rights Day, the Australian Human Rights Medals and Awards ceremony acknowledges outstanding contributions in the areas of social justice and equality in Australia.

Golden Gurus launched at the Gold Coast

Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, Senator Ursula Stephens, launched the national Golden Gurus program at the International Volunteers Day Awards ceremony at the Gold Coast.

Australian Giving Week

Looking for advice about how you can make a meaningful contribution to your community in the lead up to Christmas and beyond?

International Volunteer Day - 5 December 2009

International Volunteer Day is an opportunity to acknowledge and express appreciation for the enormous efforts of volunteers, and for their role in supporting social inclusion in Australia.

International Day of People with Disability

International Day of People with Disability is a United Nations sanctioned day that aims to promote an understanding of people with disability and encourage support for their dignity, rights and well-being.

Terry Moran addresses Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management

In a recent address to the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM), Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet Mr Terry Moran AO discussed how important it is for Government to engage with the not-for-profit sector.

Social Inclusion Week is here!

After much anticipation, Australia’s first Social Inclusion Week and National Street Party Weekend are now upon us.

Innovation Fund Creates Opportunities for Young People in Wollongong

Innovation Fund projects help achieve the Australian Government’s Social Inclusion Agenda by supporting strategies to help disadvantaged job seekers on their pathway to employment.

Collaboration on a National Volunteering Strategy begins

Volunteering Ministers and the Volunteering Policy Advisory Group held their first meetings on 23 October 2009 to work collaboratively towards a National Volunteering Strategy.

Senator Stephens discusses Compact with non-profit managers

On 26 October 2009, Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, Senator Ursula Stephens spoke at the Catholic Social Services Australia Directors’ Forum.

National Conversation turns to Social Inclusion

Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds met at Parliament House on 26 October 2009 to have their say on a National Strategy for Young Australians.

Save the Date - 2010 Australian Government Social Inclusion Conference

The Australian Government would like to invite you to attend its social inclusion conference in Melbourne on 28 and 29 January 2010.

The Australian Government supports social enterprise at World Forum

Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, Senator Ursula Stephens, chaired a master class on “Demonstrating Value” at the second Social Enterprise World Forum in Melbourne on 8 August 2009.

Anti-Poverty Week – 11-17 October 2009

Anti-Poverty Week in 2009 runs from Sunday 11 October and ends on Saturday 17 October. The UN’s International Anti-Poverty Day is Saturday 17 October.

Productivity Commission Draft Report on Third Sector Released

The Australian Government welcomed the release of the Productivity Commission's draft report - Contribution of the Not for Profit Sector on 14 October 2009.

$500,000 each year to support young Australians

On 7 October 2009, the Minister for Youth, the Hon Kate Ellis MP launched a new Federal grants program to support the development and participation of young Australians, aged 12 to 25.

Paving the Way for Golden Gurus

Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion, Senator Ursula Stephens, today launched the Golden Gurus website and invited interested organisations to become involved in the new national Golden Gurus program.

National measurement of early childhood development a first for Australia

On 19 September 2009, the Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, and Minister for Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Youth, Kate Ellis, announced the completion of the first stage of data collection for the Australian Early Development Index.

Next Forum Topic – What do you want to discuss?

Now we have the tools for an online community - connected to the social inclusion website - let’s continue to use them.

We want your ideas for the next topic for the online forum, what issues would you like to discuss?

Submissions on developing a national compact

The online forum for the national compact ran from 3 August to 30 September 2009. Ideas are now being sought about new topics for discussion in that forum.

Release of the National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy

On 14 September 2009, the Minister for Employment Participation, Senator Mark Arbib, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services, the Hon Bill Shorten MP, released the Government’s National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy.

Senator Stephens visits Abbotsford Biscuit Kitchen

Senator Stephens, Tony Ally, Loretta Sartori, Shane Smith and Julie Edwards check out the Kitchen

On Wednesday 3 September, the Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, Senator Ursula Stephens met with bakery assistants at the Abbotsford Biscuit Kitchen social enterprise.

Australian Government to provide $11 million to charitable and non-profit organisations

The Australian Government is providing $11 million to charitable and non-profit organisations to enable them to continue to deliver valuable community services to people who are disadvantaged during the economic downturn.

Invitation to join our new online subscription service

An online subscription service has been launched on the Social Inclusion Website to enable users to subscribe and automatically receive the Social Inclusion Website’s e-Newsletter, the Social Inclusion Update, each quarter via email.

Meeting with Jonathon Welch and the Choir of Hope and Inspiration

Senator Stephens met Jonathon Welch and the Choir of Hope and Inspiration at Albury Scots School on Saturday, 14 August 2009. While in town, Jonathon and the Choir took the opportunity to meet local young people and held a mentoring workshop. The workshop was a chance for young people to not only to be inspired by the personal stories of the Choir, but to discuss their own challenges and hurdles.

Continuing our commitment to support children’s early learning

On 7 August 2009, the Minister for Early Childhood Education and Child Care, Kate Ellis announced the expansion of the Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters to include an additional 14 locations for 2010.

Australian Workplace Conference 2009

The Australian Workplace Conference, held recently in Sydney, explored the theme “Crisis and Renewal in Australian Workplaces”. The conference is held annually to explore and discuss the issues facing Australian workers.

Vision 2020: National Member Forum

The National Member Forum of Vision 2020 Australia was held on 28 July 2009. Vision 2020 Australia was established in 2000 as part of ‘VISION 2020: The Right to Sight’, a global initiative of the World Health Organisation and the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness.

"Where do they go?" - Homelessness and missing persons

National Homeless Persons' Week is hosted by Homelessness Australian every year in the first week of August.

The effects of the economic downturn on the not-for-profit sector

Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion, Senator Ursula Stephens, recently attended the release of a report on the impact of the economic downturn on Australia's not-for-profit sector. The report, Managing in a Downturn, was produced by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Fundraising Institute of Australia and the Centre for Social Impact.

National Compact Takes a Great Leap Forward

Over 70 non profit sector leaders and government representatives gathered in Canberra on 20 July 2009 to debate and finalise the draft principles for a national compact between the Australian Government and the Third Sector.

Libraries Fostering Social Inclusion

Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion, Ursula Stephens, recently attended a Public Libraries Summit convened by the Australian Libraries and Information Association at the National Library of Australia.

Visit by Naomi Eisenstadt, Director of the UK Social Exclusion Taskforce

On 13 July Naomi Eisenstadt, Director of the Social Exclusion Task Force for the UK Government, met with Senator the Hon Ursula Stephens, Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector to discuss lessons learned from the UK Social Exclusion experience.

COAG National Partnership on Youth Attainment and Transitions

On 2 July 2009, the Council on Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to a National Partnership on Youth Attainment and Transitions.

Eleven New Priority Employment Areas to keep Australia working

On 8 July 2009, the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Julia Gillard, was presented with the interim Keep Australia Working report by the Minister for Employment Participation, Senator Mark Arbib, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Employment, Jason Clare.

ABC Radio National Breakfast story - Heath Ducker

The inspirational story of a young man, who was given an opportunity which helped him overcome disadvantage and change his life, was recently broadcast on ABC Radio National.

Australian youth get a voice around the country

On 30 June 2009, the Australian Youth Forum (AYF) hosted the ‘youTHINK: Your Say’ event in partnership with The Salvation Army which brought around 1000 young people together across the country to discuss some really important issues.

Compendium of Social Inclusion Indicators

 The Australian Social Inclusion Board has prepared a Compendium of Social Inclusion Indicators to generate discussion about how to measure disadvantage and social exclusion on issues such as income, access to the job market, social supports and networks, effects of the local neighbourhood, access to services and health.

Building Community Resilience Brochure’

In June 2009, the Australian Social Inclusion Board released a brochure on how to build inclusive and resilient communities.

Regional Social Inclusion Forum - Goulburn NSW

The forum was an opportunity for local non-profit organisations and businesses to come together to develop a regional social inclusion strategy.

Senator Stephens' Introduction to the Social Inclusion website

Watch a video explaining what is meant when we talk about Social Inclusion and the Social Inclusion priorities the government is addressing.

Compendium of Social Inclusion Indicators - Media Release

Best Brains Contribute to Community Jobs Summit

In a demonstration of the critical importance of community engagement and employment creation, the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Employment Participation were all in Melbourne on Friday 1 May to participate in a Community Jobs Summit.

First meeting of the National Compact Joint Task Force

The National Compact Joint Task Force met for the first time on 11 May to commence drafting a new compact between the Australian Government and the third sector

Principles for Social Inclusion in Australia

The Australian Government's Principles for Social Inclusion in Australia are endorsed by the Australian Social Inclusion Board.