31 countries call on Australia to change its laws – Embarrassing!
31 countries, including Canada, France, Germany and Spain have called on Australia to change its laws and raise the age of criminal responsibility. This followed representation made by a coalition of groups to the United Nations on 20 January 2021 highlighting that Australian States and Territories have youth justice laws permitting the incarceration of children as young as 10 in youth detention centres. It is embarrassing that 31 countries have felt compelled to petition Australia to stop this practice. Support the Raise the Age Campaign.
QCOSS Raise the Age strategy meeting open for registrations
QCOSS is calling on stakeholders to join a strategy meeting for the Raise the Age campaign to raise the age of criminal responsibility in Queensland to 14 years old. The meeting will be held on Friday, 5th February at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers in Brisbane. For those unable to attend in person, the session will also be hosted online via Zoom. Find out more and register.
Hope and Healing for foster care update
PeakCare recently completed the report outlining the information from the Logan Workshop held in December 2020. This report has been distributed to relevant parties however if you have been not been sent the report and believe you should have received it, please contact Rebecca Foley via email to rfoley@peakcare.org.au to obtain a copy. Arrangements are currently underway to hold further workshops in Rockhampton and Townsville as we are really keen to see if the same themes and trends are present for our North Queensland carers and support workers.
Survey for professionals, carers and young people in out of home care
The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare is conducting a survey that aims to identify the key needs and service gaps in the out-of-home care sector. Findings from the survey will be used to assist in obtaining direct grant funding that drives sector innovation and reform. The survey will close 29th January. Find out more.
REMINDER: Nomination of candidates to stand for election to the PeakCare Board due soon
Member organisations are reminded that nominations of candidates to stand for election to five positions on the PeakCare Board are due by COB Friday, 12th February. Have YOU got what it takes to perform the important role of a Board member in ensuring the sound governance of PeakCare? If this is a role that isn’t right for you, but you know of others who might fit the bill, please forward this information on and encourage them to accept a nomination to stand for election. For more information about who is eligible to stand for election and the process for lodging nominations, click here.
REMINDER: Vote for your preferred PeakCare Award candidates
Hundreds of votes have now been cast for the PeakCare Award candidates – the SIC, the WOKE, the DEADLY and the LEGEND. The only way of making sure that your preferred candidates receive an award is to vote for them and to encourage your colleagues and friends to do the same. Given that all candidates are extremely worthy, you will need to give careful and close consideration to the statements in support of their nominations. Copies of these statements and instructions about how to vote can be obtained by clicking here or visit our website and click on the scrolling red words that appear on the home page. Voting closes COB Friday, 5th February 2021.
New toolkit for supporting refugees and migrants in Australia
The Settlement Council of Australia (SCoA) has developed a governance toolkit for settlement services and community organisations providing services to support refugees and migrants in Australia. The "Best of Both Worlds" toolkit is particularly aimed at smaller organisations, that might need some guidance to understand and apply the various laws, rules and regulations that govern organisations in Australia. The toolkit examines what good governance looks like, including the importance of a management committee, and practical considerations such as recording meeting minutes and managing finances. Access the toolkit.
Charity reform on the national agenda
Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Senator Zed Seselja have announced, in agreement with all State and Territory Treasurers, the development of a cross-border recognition model to streamline financial reporting and provide a single registration point for charities across Australia. This will reduce the costs and administrative burden for ACNC registered charities that conduct fundraising across state borders. Currently, groups or organisations must apply for a fundraising licence in every state or territory in which they hope to raise funds. The reforms will be in place by 2022. Find out more.
OFT extends deadline for holding 2020 AGMs
The Queensland Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has extended the period in which incorporated associations must hold their AGMs to 30th April 2021. The extension will be available to any incorporated association due to hold its AGM between 23rd March 2020 and 29th April 2021. The OFT encourages all associations to hold their meetings as soon as possible while adhering to social distancing requirements. The OFT has confirmed that relevant organisations could conduct their meetings on video conferencing platforms without updating their rules. The OFT website will be updated to confirm this extension for incorporated associations.
Nomination deadline extended for 7News Young Achiever Awards
Nominations for the 7News Young Achiever Awards will be open until Sunday, 31st January. Category winners will each receive $2,000 in prizes and a trophy, and every nominee will receive a dedicated media release sent to their local paper encouraging them to write a story and will receive a certificate of achievement. The Awards aim to acknowledge, encourage and most importantly promote the positive achievements of all young people throughout Queensland up to and including 29 years of age. The Awards span 8 categories including Women Empowering Others, Creating Change, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Achievement, Volunteer, and more. Find out more and nominate.
Finalists announced for HESTA Impact Awards
The eleven finalists for the inaugural HESTA Impact Awards have been announced. Finalist achievements covered sustainability, gender equity, health and diversity and inclusion initiatives, including a hospital-wide recycling program, health literacy sessions for culturally and linguistically diverse communities and a free online career support program for women in need. The finalists were announced across three categories of Team Innovation, Outstanding Organisation, and Individual Distinction. Each category winner will receive funding support to continue their good work. Find out more.
Re-engaging volunteers and Covid-19 - Volunteering Australia survey
Volunteering Australia is seeking to record via conducting a survey, how the volunteering sector has been affected by, has adapted and is now managing as COVID-19 restrictions change. The data collected will be used to inform advocacy, respond to national inquiries and share across the sector to help inform practice. Learn more and take part.
Community Child Care Fund Grant Round 3 open
The Federal government's Community Child Care Fund Grant Round 3 is now open, and will close 22 February. The applicant must be a Child Care Subsidy approved provider of an approved child care service, and be located in, or servicing families from a CCCF Priority Area; OR service a regional, remote or very remote area; OR provide specialised childcare services to a vulnerable or disadvantaged sector of its community; OR have been previously funded under CCCF Round 1 or 2. Find out more and apply.
