QCOSS Budget Priority Statement 2017-18Putting people first

March 2017

About QCOSS

The Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) is the state-wide peak body representing the interests of individuals experiencing or at risk of experiencing poverty and disadvantage, and organisations working in the social and community service sector.

For more than 50 years, QCOSS has been a leading force for social change to build social and economic wellbeing for all. With members across the state, QCOSS supports a strong community service sector.

QCOSS, together with our members continues to play a crucial lobbying and advocacy role in a broad number of areas including:

place-based activities citizen-led engagement cost-of-living advocacy sector capability and capacity building.

QCOSS is part of the national network of Councils of Social Service lending support and gaining essential insight to national and other state issues.

QCOSS is supported by the vice-regal patronage of His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, Governor of Queensland.

Lend your voice and your organisation’s voice to this vision by joining QCOSS. To join visit the QCOSS website (www.QCOSS.org.au).

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Table of contents

Introduction........................................................................................................................... 4

Priority Area 1 - Place-based activities..................................................................................5

Priority Area 2 - Citizen-led policy development....................................................................6

Priority Area 3 - Cost of living................................................................................................7

Priority Area 4 - Sector capacity building...............................................................................8

Conclusion............................................................................................................................ 9

Summary of Actions............................................................................................................10

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IntroductionAccess to high-quality human services contributes to the wellbeing of individuals and the welfare of the community as a whole. Community welfare is enhanced by the social cohesion and equity benefits of people having access to a minimum level of human services, regardless of their means or circumstances.1

As such the provision of community services to meet the needs of all Queenslanders should be a key priority of any state government budget.

This document outlines the specific priorities Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) and its members believe are critical to the wellbeing of all Queenslanders in the 2017-18 Queensland State Budget.

Our priorities are based around QCOSS’ four focus areas of: place-based activities citizen-led policy development cost-of-living advocacy sector capacity and capability building.

Our approach and the identified actions are based on the experiences and activities we undertake with our members and stakeholders throughout the year. From this we have surveyed our members to ensure we are on the right track and to ascertain priorities. This year over 100 members responded to our survey and their responses have formed a critical element of the final submission.

The priorities are underpinned by the understanding that equity and inclusion for individuals, self-determination for communities, access to a basic standard of living and services to support an identified need are the key to social and economic wellbeing for all.

There is a role for everybody - individuals, communities, businesses, services, and all levels of government. This document however outlines the actions that we believe the Queensland Government needs to put in place now and why those actions are important for Queensland.

1 Productivity Commission, 2016, Introducing competition and informed user choice into human services: identifying sectors for reform Productivity Commission Study Report OverviewPage 4 / March 2017 QCOSS Budget Priority Statement 2017-18

Priority Area 1 - Place-based activitiesQCOSS has been working in communities and with individuals to strengthen community capacity for local understanding of challenge and opportunity, and to drive local action. This work positions local organisations and people who experience poverty and disadvantage as the central reference point of the work and collective impact as the purpose.

While the outcomes for each community are unique and owned by that community, it is expected that there will be certain shared outcomes across the state. This includes stronger partnerships across sectors, strengthened capacity to collaborate and co-create locally, and an opportunity to proto-type new and innovative approaches.

The Queensland Government is to be congratulated for its commitment to consult and meet regularly with the community and key stakeholders and using this to inform policy development and achieve the best outcomes for all Queenslanders. Implementing place-based approaches owned, led and driven by communities will also support Ministers, staff and Departments to effectively fulfill key portfolio priorities.

Why is it important? Engaging communities in understanding the issues and opportunities in their community and asking

them to innovate new solutions will be important in reducing poverty and disadvantage.

This will require good access to data, the ability to interpret data and define problems in the local context, and processes to help generate solutions collectively. It will also require good process facilitation and the ability to engage multiple parts of the service system – specialised and universal, citizens and business community – in the work.

The place-based work already undertaken by QCOSS has demonstrated considerable success. Across many sectors – homelessness, child and families, youth justice, and disability – place-based activities have engaged a diverse range of stakeholders to better utilise the limited resources available. Better coordination between stakeholders has provided easier access to a range of services and greater transparency in the delivery of these services. Prototype projects are driving innovation in communities with opportunity for systemic change.

Across all the projects delivered, participants highlighted the benefit of having additional resources available to undertake the work required to drive the coordination and integration of the work. This is not work that can be done within the existing resources of organisations or communities.

Moving to true outcomes-based investment can be supported through place-based community planning driven with a shared community goal. With government, the community sector, business sector, the community and people experiencing poverty and disadvantage all at the table to make decisions there will be social and economic benefit for everyone.

ACTION:1. Provide funding of $2.5million/annum for coordination roles in communities throughout Queensland

to drive and implement coordinated responses to local issues. Based locally in 10 communities around the state, these positions will provide an additional resource for these communities and support innovation and integration.

An additional annual $1million “innovation fund” would support prototype projects from place-based work that address a community-identified need with a community-identified solution. Being able to fund these projects would assist communities to solve local issues or respond to local opportunities.

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“Ideas to action at a local level honours local commitment and energy - as long as the innovation can draw on known models and adapt, as starting with totally new ideas can reject very useful pilots and learnings,” QCOSS Member.

Priority Area 2 - Citizen-led policy developmentWith one in seven Queenslanders experiencing poverty2, policy decisions that support vulnerable people to participate and contribute to the social and economic wellbeing of the community are critical.

QCOSS is committed to working on a range of strategies to engage individuals in our policy and program development.

The QCOSS Emerging Voices Project supports a long-term program of empowering current and potential consumers to have a voice in key policy reforms, collective problem solving, and generating community based ideas and action.

The Queensland Youth Strategy places young people front and center as informants of the strategy. 3 The YMCA Youth Parliament provides an opportunity for the Queensland Government to engage with young people and provides an opportunity for bridging the gap between legislators and youth in Queensland. Further activities of this kind can support other cohorts to likewise have a voice and be heard.

Why is it important? On the back of controversial electoral decisions around the world, there has been much

commentary on the need to engage individuals who feel marginalised by the political, economic and social systems.

Policy and program decisions have a significant impact on access to services and the opportunities individuals have to participate in and contribute to the social and economic life of their communities.

Including the perspectives and needs of consumers, past, current and potential, in policy and program decision-making processes is fundamental to achieving optimal individual and community outcomes.

Building a culture of engaging consumers as part of the system requires development of the confidence and capability of both consumers and policy makers over time. Such an approach honours the fundamental principle of a democratic state – that power is to be exercised through, and resides in, its citizens.4

ACTION:2. Funding of $2 million over two years to develop a comprehensive and coordinated program of

citizen engagement to inform Queensland Government policy development, ensuring system users are supported to provide advice, views and information of their lived experience and the communities in which they live.

Priority Area 3 – Cost of living

2 QCOSS Indicators of Poverty and Disadvantage Report, 20133 Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services, Queensland Government, https://www.communities.qld.gov.au/communityservices/youth/queensland-youth-strategy 4 Homes, B, Citizens’ engagement in policymaking and the design of public services, Department of Parliamentary Services, 22 July 2011.Page 6 / March 2017 QCOSS Budget Priority Statement 2017-18

“By engaging those impacted we can address the need to inform communities of real experiences, not just media portrayals,” QCOSS Member.

“The ‘silent majority’ must be heard and included on policy setting otherwise we will see a continuation in the rise of conservatism/populism as is currently being seen overseas,” QCOSS Member.

QCOSS plays an important role in advocating to Government and industry on initiatives to reduce cost-of-living pressures for individuals and families.

The constant stress associated with a lack of money has been found to contribute to health problems and stress on family relationships as well as financial hardship outcomes such as children missing out on school activities and adequate health care.5

Through our substantial expertise on energy pricing and literacy we have been delivering a range of projects focused on cost-of-living issues facing low-income households including housing affordability, energy pricing and supply and the availability of services and products to support consumers at risk of vulnerability. QCOSS is doing work on housing affordability and with the Property Council of Australia and has called on the Government to establish a housing supply council. This work will continue.

QCOSS supports the Queensland Government in committing to, and releasing, the Financial Inclusion Action Plan. We are very pleased to be leading work with the Queensland Government on implementing key actions under the plan that will support Queenslanders to respond to cost-of-living pressures. This will form part of a program of work under QCOSS’ Cost-of-living Centre to be launched in 2017.

QCOSS work on concessions has seen results in 2016 and the Queensland Government is to be congratulated on announcements regarding concessions for job seekers and asylum seekers on public transport and extending the electricity rebate to all health care card holders.

Why is it important? Queensland has the nation’s highest proportion of low-income households in housing stress (paying

more than 30 per cent of their weekly household income).6

When housing costs are high as a proportion of income, households are often forced to reduce their spending on other goods and services to meet these costs.7

Electricity is an essential service for all Queenslanders. Access to electricity that is affordable and reliable is vital to our health, wellbeing and quality of life. A recent report by consumer organisation Choice, noted that electricity bills are still the Australian consumer's number one worry, with 81 per cent of those surveyed saying that this is the household cost that concerns them the most. 8

These issues are exacerbated for tenants experiencing vulnerability. Decreasing housing, energy and water costs for low-income households can increase the long-term capacity of these households to achieve home ownership or rental stability, playing an integral part in preventing intergenerational poverty.

ACTION3. That the Queensland Government continue to work with QCOSS to ensure government

concessions deliver well-targeted assistance to those in most need and that payments remain adequate to keep pace with rising prices and cost-of-living trends.

4. That the Queensland Government commit $1 million for the installation of solar photovoltaic panels for 250 public housing properties as a pilot program for energy customers experiencing hardship.

Priority Area 4 - Sector capacity and capability building

5 Robinson, E. & Adams, R. (2008), Housing stress and the mental health and wellbeing of families, AFRC Briefing No. 12 — June 20086 Prepared by Urbis; Source ABS7 Yates J and Gabriel M (2006), Housing Affordability in Australia, National Research Venture 3: Housing Affordability for Lower Income Australians Research Paper 3, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute.8 Choice Consumer Pulse (July 2016), https://www.choice.com.au/money/budget/consumer-pulse/articles/electricity-costs-biggest-concern-july-2016 Page 7 / March 2017 QCOSS Budget Priority Statement 2017-18

“Linking concessions to the increase in the cost of living is critical,” QCOSS Member.

“The cost of energy is the biggest problem for our clients,” QCOSS Member.

A key role for QCOSS as the peak body for the community services sector is to build on the significant strength and capacity of the community sector to support Queenslanders experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage. QCOSS has been pleased to be working with the Queensland Government on key initiatives during 2016 that support the capacity and sustainability of the sector.

Along with other peak bodies, QCOSS has been working on strategies to support services that need to implement wage increases. We have also been pleased to support the Minister for Housing and Public Works in advocating for security of funding for the homeless sector. Despite good work there is still great uncertainty for the sector in both these areas.

Why is it important? A strong safety net is important for individuals and families who find themselves in

need of support and assistance.

A level of certainty of funding is important to organisations in planning for the future and ensuring ongoing service delivery for communities.

A greater complexity of issues facing individuals and families and demographic factors such as an aging population are placing greater demands on services.

The health and community services industry is currently Queensland’s largest employing industry and has experienced extraordinary growth of 24 per cent during the five years to November 2015.9 This growth is expected to continue with the implementation of the NDIS expected to result in creating an additional 19,400 full-time equivalent jobs.10

Wages make up a significant portion of most organisations’ operating expenses – any changes to wages must be supported through increased funding if service delivery levels are to be retained.

The government and community sector working together in partnership to genuinely and honestly co-design policies, programs and procurement will provide benefits to both the sector and Queenslanders experiencing poverty and disadvantage.

ACTION5. That the Queensland Government continues to advocate for, and commit to, long-term funding

and indexation across community services in partnership with the Australian Government on health, education and homelessness and housing.

6. The Queensland Government compensate community service organisations needing to implement the Equal Remuneration Order for wages to ensure no reduction in service and outcomes for Queenslanders experiencing vulnerability.

ConclusionQCOSS has a vision for a Queensland free of poverty and disadvantage. A Queensland in which all Queenslanders have equal opportunity to participate and equal opportunity to achieve. A Queensland where the wellbeing of individuals and of communities is front and center of all that we do.

This is not a job for one organisation, or one sector, or one community. Only by working together can we achieve the individual and community outcomes we are all looking for. This document sets out actions that QCOSS believes the Queensland Government can undertake to support this work. QCOSS

9 Department of Employment, Australian Jobs 2016, file:///C:/Users/Laura/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/IE/TB996OWR/australianjobs2016_0.pdf 10 NDIS, https://www.ndis.gov.au/html/sites/default/files/documents/Market%20Position%20Statement/FINAL%20QLD%20MPS.pdf Page 8 / March 2017 QCOSS Budget Priority Statement 2017-18

“Both the Queensland and Federal Government must fund the 'real cost' of providing the services provided by the sector,” QCOSS Member.

“More robust funding opportunities are needed for services to support the development of long-term strategies for service delivery,” QCOSS Member.

is committed to working with the Government and all stakeholders to support all Queenslanders, particularly those at risk of poverty and disadvantage.

We are committed to working with communities to understand local need, identify local outcomes and drive local solutions. We are committed to hearing and advocating for the voices of individuals in all that we do. We are committed to continuing to advocate for action that supports families and individuals to meet cost-of-living pressures. We are committed to supporting a strong and vibrant community services sector.

In too many instances, the complex needs of Queenslanders are not being met in the best possible way because of a fragmented service system reducing the effectiveness of the funding that is provided. QCOSS is able to bring communities and stakeholders together: integrating ideas, information, services and solutions; providing an invaluable conduit between individuals, communities and government.

By listening to our members and communities we are able to draw out and work to understand the issues being faced by individuals and communities across Queensland.

Through our facilitation and engagement, we are able to bring people together in conversations to identify local solutions and systemic changes needed to address issues, implement local change and create new solutions.

Through our advocacy we translate these systemic issues into policy interventions that can be implemented by governments at all levels to create better outcome for every Queenslander.

We look forward to continuing to work with the Queensland Government to achieve positive outcomes for individuals, families and communities.

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Summary of Actions1. Provide funding of $2.5million/annum for coordination roles in communities throughout Queensland

to drive and implement coordinated responses to local issues. Based locally in 10 communities around the state, these positions will provide an additional resource for these communities and support innovation and integration.

An additional annual $1million “innovation fund” would support prototype projects from place-based work that address a community-identified need with a community-identified solution. Being able to fund these projects would assist communities to solve local issues or respond to local opportunities.

2. Funding of $2 million over two years to develop a comprehensive and coordinated program of citizen engagement to inform Queensland Government policy development, ensuring system users are supported to provide advice, views and information of their lived experience and the communities in which they live.

3. That the Queensland Government continue to work with QCOSS to ensure government concessions deliver well-targeted assistance to those in most need and that payments remain adequate to keep pace with rising prices and cost-of-living trends.

4. That the Queensland Government commit $1 million for the installation of solar photovoltaic panels for 250 public housing properties as a pilot program for energy customers experiencing hardship.

5. That the Queensland Government continues to advocate for, and commit to, long-term funding and indexation across community services in partnership with the Australian Government on health, education and homelessness and housing.

6. The Queensland Government compensate community service organisations needing to implement the Equal Remuneration Order for wages to ensure no reduction in service and outcomes for Queenslanders experiencing vulnerability.

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Published March 2017 by: Queensland Council of Social Service

River Tower, Ground Floor, 20 Pidgeon Close, WEST END QLD 4101

(P O Box 3786 SOUTH BRISBANE QLD 4101)

Ph: 07 3004 6900

Email: qcoss@qcoss.org.au

Website: www.qcoss.org.au

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