This report provides information about the state of Australia’s community service sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is based on survey data collected in July 2020 from 744 community sector workers around Australia. Respondents included 201 frontline practitioners, 264 leaders of organisations (CEOs and senior managers) and 279 staff in other roles.

The survey explored the ways community sector workers are experiencing the crisis; the changing circumstances and patterns of demand that services are confronting; and the ways the sector is responding to the high levels of poverty, social disadvantage and inequality in the community in the context of the pandemic.

Findings reflect the deep commitment of Australia’s community sector to its communities, and to rising to meet the challenges of COVID-19. However, organisations are operating in contexts of converging crises and constraints. The pandemic has placed significant unanticipated costs on organisations, at a time of funding loss and urgent need.