Community-based social services
Report
Theorising family and domestic violence work: what is the work and who does it?
This report describes research exploring the domestic and family violence workforce in Australia and the work that it undertakes. It focuses specifically on how the work is done and experienced, why it is done in particular ways, and the structural and organisational contexts that shape this work; with the aim of informing workforce development strategies.
Position paper
ACOSS policy priorities: federal election 2025
The paper calls on the next government to address the hardship people are facing and build a fairer and more sustainable future. It provides a suite of major recommendations including lifting Jobseeker, Youth Allowance and related income support payments, building more social housing to address the housing crisis and investing in home energy upgrades.
Report
Real costs, real impacts: a path to social services sustainability
This report examines the financial sustainability of not-for-profit organisations delivering social services to vulnerable Australians. It highlights staffing issues, service contraction and negative flow-on effects for government. The report recommends Australian governments respond with an evidence-informed contracting process, indexation of funding, an impact-based response to social and economic shifts, and data asset development to enhance...
Survey Report
Under pressure: Everybody’s Home sector survey
The survey captures the perspectives of organisations operating across multiple service sectors, including homelessness, domestic and family violence support, financial counselling, and emergency relief. Their insights paint a concerning picture of a system under strain, where rising costs and a lack of affordable housing are creating insurmountable barriers for vulnerable people.
Journal article
Measuring outcomes experienced by users of community services
This article reports on the development and testing of a framework for measuring outcomes for the human services sector. The process included action research methods and produced the Community Services Outcomes Tree and a survey measurement tool.