Uniting Communities has made a submission to the Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs – Community Affairs Referencing Committee regarding the government’s ParentsNext program. This submission provides responses to a number of the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference, with an emphasis on the disadvantaging effects that the ParentsNext program has on children and their parents, with…
The Prime Minister of Australia delivered the 11th annual Closing the Gap report today. Last year, three of the seven targets were on track and this year only two are on track. The gap appears to be widening, not narrowing. Simon Schrapel, CEO of Uniting Communities: ‘It seems that after more than ten years of…
Chief Executive, Simon Schrapel, has contributed an editorial to today’s In Daily, looking at the latest data on children being placed in out-of-home care and asking whether South Australia’s increased expenditure on child protection is leading to better outcomes. Read the full article.
On Wednesday 23 January 2019, a media release from the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Senator Nigel Scullion, outlined changes to the Community Development Program (CDP) which he states will be implemented from March this year. The bulk of these changes had been included in the Social Secutiry Legislation Amendment (Community Development Program) Bill 2018 which…
As we age, we become more prone to heat stress. It is important that we are aware of some of the symptoms of heat-related illness, including rapid heartbeat, muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting, disorientation and confusion, fainting, delirium, paleness and hot dry skin. There are a number of factors that may increase the risk of…
As published in The Boomer lift-out of The Advertiser in December 2018. A broken bone will slow us down at the best of times but, as we age, it can result in losing independence or even needing support at home or in a residential aged care facility. Falls are the leading reason for older people…
As published in The Boomer lift-out of The Advertiser in August 2018. It’s no secret that Australia’s population is ageing – in fact, by 2050, close to 1 in 4 Australians will be aged 65 or over. Not only are Australians living longer but, in general, we’re also enjoying a higher quality of health and…
On Thursday 13 December 2018, the Minister for Families and Social Services, Mr Paul Fletcher, announced the Liberal-National Coalition Government’s decision to extend the Cashless Debit Card trials and Income Management program across all existing sites for a further 12 months. All compulsory income management measures in Australia have now been extended until 30 June…
Uniting Communities has made a submission to the House of Representatives Select Committee on Intergenerational Welfare Dependence, setting out a critique of how income support (or ‘welfare’) and its definition, purpose and function in society is understood and explained. Read the full document
