Community services are unable to meet demand for help, according to this report based on responses from 1182 community services which assisted 2,740,000 people across Australia in the 12 months to June 2005. Nearly two-thirds of service providers reported an increase in the complexity of needs of people in the past year which required more...

ACOSS argues that budget spending should focus on solutions to service shortfalls such as child care, health care, assistance for jobless people, education and addressing indigenous disadvantage.

This plan aims to improve the quality, affordability and fairness of Australia’s child care and preschools system. ACOSS proposes expanding Child Care Benefit, linking its value to the cost of good quality services, axing the Child Care Rebate and creating a national system which gives parents more information about the quality of services, keeps prices...

In nursing homes, child care centres, migrant welfare services, group homes for people with disabilities, and elsewhere around Australia, workers are employed to help other people meet their daily needs. These employees perform paid 'care work' in Australia’s community service industries. Gabrielle Meagher and Karen Healy present a profile of these care workers, using data...

While welcoming the changes to make some exempt from losses in income and activity requirements, this submission highlights the many flaws in the welfare to work legislation.