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Delivering a good life
for every Victorian
VCOSS State
Election
Platform
2018
www.vcoss.org.au
#GoodLife
Contents
Introduction: Delivering a good life for every Victorian 2
Staying safe, healthy and resilient 38
Freeing Victorians from family violence 40
Our goals and priorities for a good life 4 Promoting healthy living and preventing disease 41
Caring for Victorians’ mental health 42
Overview: A long-term agenda 6 Keeping effective services running through NDIS and aged care reforms 43
Recognising and supporting carers 44
Finding a place to call home 10 Reducing the harm from alcohol and drugs 45
Delivering affordable housing 12 Promoting resilient communities 46
Creating a Victoria without homelessness 13
Making renting fair 14 Embracing diversity and inclusion 48
Embedding Aboriginal self-determination 50
Getting a good job 16 Pursuing gender and sexual equality 51
Creating jobs, skills and pathways 18 Empowering people with disability 52
Securing the community sector growth dividend 20 Planning an age-friendly Victoria 53
Celebrating and supporting cultural diversity 54
Affording the basics 24
Cutting power bills 26 Treating people fairly 56
Managing money 27 Instilling human rights 58
Getting around 28 Ensuring people can get legal help 59
Going digital 29 Making fines fair 60
Diverting young people from the justice system 61
Building a corrections system that successfully rehabilitates people 62
Giving children a great start 30
Starting learning early 32
Designing inclusive, engaging and affordable schools 33
Nurturing strong, resilient children and families 35
Keeping vulnerable children safe and supported 36
The Victorian Council of Our members reflect the In addition to supporting VCOSS acknowledges
Social Service is the peak diversity of the sector and the sector, VCOSS represents the traditional owners VCOSS State
body of Victoria’s social include large charities, the interests of vulnerable of country and pays its Election
and community sector. peak organisations, small and disadvantaged Victorians respects to Elders past,
Platform
community services, advocacy in policy debates and present and emerging.
groups and individuals advocates for the development 2018
w vcoss.org.au
interested in social policy. of a sustainable, fair and
t @VCOSS
equitable society.
f /VCOSS
Authorised Photography Design © VCOSS 2018
Emma King Sam O’Reilly, Ryan Sheales, ThinkLab Advertising
VCOSS CEO contributors.
VCOSS State Election Platform 2018 | 01
Introduction: Delivering a
good life for every Victorian
Victoria is a strong, VCOSS believes a good life Underpinning a good life in We call on all parties
should be central to the Victoria is the need to support and candidates to adopt
prosperous and vibrant policy platform of every self-determination and a these priorities in the lead
community. Few, if any, political party contesting the Treaty between the Victorian up to the election, and to work
of the challenges we 2018 Victorian election. Government and the state’s alongside us in delivering them.
Aboriginal people. This includes
confront are genuinely Everyone instinctively grasps the
mapping out a pathway to deep
concept of a good life. It means:
unable to be overcome. and meaningful reconciliation.
• having a safe and affordable
Working together, place to call home,
This document lays out
we have the expertise clear priorities for generating
• affording the basics, paying and sharing prosperity with
and affluence to for food, energy, transport every Victorian, with clear
deliver a good life and general costs of living, goals and actions. It is the
for every Victorian. • having a great education to
result of extensive consultation
between VCOSS and our
grow and develop our talents,
members, representing Emma King
Overcoming the state’s leading to a job with security
frontline social service VCOSS Chief Executive Officer
challenges requires two key and a decent wage,
organisations, charities and a
ingredients: the commitment, • prioritising health, with range of individuals and social
vision and determination of support to recover from illness advocacy bodies across Victoria.
our political leaders, and the and manage disabilities,
authentic involvement of the
wider Victorian community. • living free from violence,
abuse and neglect, and
This document presents a
vision for Victoria that has • being part of a community
the attainment of ‘a good life’ with friends and loved ones.
at its core.
VCOSS State
Election
Platform
2018
02 | Delivering a good life for every Victorian VCOSS State Election Platform 2018 | 03
Priorities for a good life
Goal: Everyone can find Goal: Everyone can Goal: Everyone can pay Goal: Everyone is free Goal: Everyone is Goal: Everyone
a secure, affordable and get a secure job with for their basic needs from violence, can stay recognised, valued is treated fairly
appropriate home a decent wage Regulate for fair healthy and recover and included under the law
Forge new beginnings with Target more jobs to energy prices from adversity Cultivate strong, Unclog courts by
3,000 new homes each year marginalised workers Victoria can adopt stronger Aboriginal Controlled decriminalising toll fines
Complete delivery of the
Over the next decade, Victoria Victoria can lift and regulations to make energy Community Organisations Victorian can change road
Royal Commission into Family
can forge new beginnings by broaden its targets for pricing more transparent, Victoria can adopt a toll fee enforcement to a
Violence recommendations
building 3,000 extra public a more diverse workforce. simple and comparable, policy of Aboriginal civil debt recovery system.
Victoria can complete the
and community homes each and ensure fair and affordable self-determination and build
See page 18 work of the Royal Commission See page 60
year as critical infrastructure. energy to those in need. strong, sustainable ACCOs.
to deliver real and lasting
Maintain free See page 26 Close youth prisons and
See page 12 change for Victoria’s women, See page 50
vocational education invest in better diversion
Help upgrade homes to children and families.
Include public and community Victoria can keep delivering Develop a gender alternatives
housing in new developments free training in targeted slash energy use See page 40 inclusive culture Victoria can plan to
Victoria can accelerate public qualifications for future Victoria can invest in Victoria can pursue cultural progressively discontinue
Be a proud leader in
and community housing growth industries, like upgrading homes to be more and attitudinal change to its youth prisons, and
mental health recovery
growth by compelling community services. energy efficient, providing perceptions of women. replace them with more
Victoria can convey a
developers to include social basic energy savings measure effective diversion and
See page 19 sweeping vision for recovery- See page 51
housing among their new like insulation, hot water and rehabilitation interventions.
based mental health,
apartments. Boost community sector heating systems. Boost advocacy and
combining prevention and See page 61
pay and conditions See page 26 information funding
See page 12 early intervention with
Victoria can fund community Victoria can empower Slash re-offending rates
Become a connected psychosocial rehabilitation and
Nip homelessness in the bud service employers for wage people with disability Victoria can tackle repeat
community with low-cost support.
Victoria can bring together and cost increases to avoid by funding advocacy offending by aiming to
properly funded homelessness creating more insecure, internet plans See page 42 and information services reduce recidivism by 15%.
prevention services to ‘wrap low-paid jobs. Victoria can become that give them a voice
Make funding transparent See page 62
around’ people before they Australia’s most digitally- and support their
See page 21 to keep services running
become homeless. connected state by expanding decision-making.
during and after the
Develop innovative internet access to low-income
See page 13 NDIS rollout See page 52
approaches to grow households with a special
Victoria can clearly break
Set a benchmark for the workforce low-cost basic internet plan.
down the funding sources
liveable rental homes Victoria can respond on See page 29 for ‘service continuity’
Victoria can set minimum multiple fronts to enhance
outside the NDIS, providing
health, safety and energy community sector career
assurance people will continue
efficiency standards in paths and provide superior
to receive the help they need.
rental homes to systematically services to meet the
improve the quality of needs of a changing industry. See page 43
rental housing. See page 22
See page 14
Goal: Every child can
reach their potential
Give every child 15 hours Match funds to learning needs Make public school free Help kids join their friends Provide free public transport Guarantee the home stretch
of kindergarten each week for children with disability Victoria can deliver financial in local sport for school kids from families for young care leavers
for two years Victoria can give children with relief for parents and a truly Victoria can help engage facing disadvantage Victoria can extend support
Victoria can lead the nation disability their best chance in free education for every child every child in sport by Victoria can support for young care-leavers until
in early childhood education life by matching their support by investigating the real costs funding a transferable sport school attendance with free at least 21 to equip them
by bringing us up to world funding with their actual of school participation and voucher for children from public transport for children with the skills, housing and
standards of access to early learning needs. topping up funds. low-income families. of families with a health resources to succeed in life.
learning for 3 and 4-year-olds. See page 33 See page 33 See page 33 care card. See page 36
See page 32 See page 33
04 | Delivering a good life for every Victorian VCOSS State Election Platform 2018 | 05
Overview:
A long-term
agenda
Keith Morgan believes Treaty and Aboriginal
self-determination are crucial for Victoria’s future.
“It means a lot in terms of moving forward and having
control over what is best for Aboriginal people,”
according to Morgan, a Bainsdale-born Gunaikurnai
man with ties to Gunditjmara and Yorta Yorta country.
This extends to having Aboriginal people represented
in our parliaments, government departments and big
companies, Morgan said.
Story and video at vcoss.org.au/GoodLife
06 | Delivering a good life for every Victorian VCOSS State Election Platform 2018 | 07
Overview: A long-term agenda
For all people to lead a good Steer social change with a social Plan to match networks can identify Co-design with service
opportunities and linkages not
life Victoria needs a long-term policy blueprint place-based needs visible to more distant and
users for person-
social policy agenda and Under a flagship strategy for Victorian social with local services centralised agencies. centred services
justice, different areas of government can
governments that strive to develop leadership, oversight and coordination
Victoria has an opportunity
Fragmented, overlapping and
People with lived experience,
to forecast and budget for local including of poverty, disability,
be engaged and embedded to work together in achieving social change. social and community services partial place-based initiatives family violence or homelessness,
in communities. Victoria needs a clear future vision setting
and infrastructure needs, as currently operate. This inhibits have knowledge and insight
local communities grow and co-ordination and increases the essential for governance
high aspirations through targets, timeframes workload on everyone involved.
change differently systems, place-based
and accountabilities. This will bring together Instead, these initiatives should
Enter a treaty with the different plans and ensure resources are
in different places.
move to ‘one place, one plan’
approaches, and service design
Aboriginal community working in the right places and reaching the Already we can see moves place-based partnerships, with
and delivery.
Transforming government means right people. Rather than delivering a list of in this direction. Victoria is governance structures reflecting Co-design “involves coming
confronting our shared past: to isolated announcements, different agencies getting better at future planning unique local community alongside people who
plan for the future of all Victorians can work together towards the same goals, through Infrastructure Victoria composition. experience vulnerabilities, to
we must find a pathway forward to and changes can be correctly aligned – not and the School Building work with them in creating
reconciliation with Victoria’s first duplicated or haphazard – and rolled out in Authority. We can now make Collaborate and interventions, services and
the right sequence.
peoples. Aboriginal Australians have this ‘business as usual’ across co-produce with the programs which will work
long called for a Treaty, or treaties, government, so every local in the context of their lives,
between community and government: Create inclusive growth community has the mix of local community sector and will reflect their own values
To reduce economic inequality, Victoria can services that fit with its current The community sector is a and goals”.3
“We seek constitutional reforms size and need. This includes resource with decades of
pursue inclusive growth, which ensures that the
to empower our people and take a the right suite of community experience in delivering services Local co-design can use
dividends of economic growth flow to those
rightful place in our own country. services, including childcare, to Victorians. The Victorian collaborative problem-solving
with the lowest incomes through stronger
When we have power over our neighbourhood houses, Government can be more to produce tailored service
income support, more jobs and higher wages.
destiny our children will flourish. community health services, effective and efficient and design and delivery suited to
This is fairer than the current economic growth
They will walk in two worlds and mental health services, disability generate better ideas if it draws local needs.
trajectory, where most of the extra income
their culture will be a gift to their services, children’s services community organisations into
generated by economic growth flows to people
country.”1 and family violence services, the heart of policy-making.
who already have high incomes and wealth.
among others. Co-production encourages
Aboriginal Victorians should decide
people using services to get
the scope of a Treaty, potentially Prevent and intervene early
including sovereignty, rights, The key to enhancing the lives of Victorians is Develop ‘one place, involved in service delivery and
planning, funding decisions,
government relationships, service to prevent health and social problems, rather one plan’ place-based evaluation and outcomes
delivery and decision-making. than waiting for them to become entrenched approaches measurement.2 The Victorian
It could also include education, and acute before acting. Across the Victorian Social and community services Government can create
Aboriginal guardianship, housing, Government, resources need to be directed are most potent when they work more successful services by
economic empowerment and ‘upstream’ to prevention and early intervention as part of broader, collaborative encouraging and endorsing
business development. services, disrupting the heavy reliance on action in local communities. co-production for program
‘downstream’ services that provide acute, Place-based approaches development, community
emergency and crisis responses. In every case, facilitate government, non- service organisations and
prevention and early intervention is cheaper government, private sector place-based initiatives.
and leads to people living happier and healthier, and community collaboration
more productive lives. to tackle local issues. Local
_
1
Referendum Council, Uluru Statement from the Heart, 2017, https://www.referendumcouncil.org.au/sites/default/files/2017-05/Uluru_
Statement_From_The_Heart_0.PDF
2
S Pollock, ‘Shifting the power-are we ready to embrace the full potential of co-production’, VCOSS Insight edition 15 (citing Social Care
Institute of Excellence, Co-production in social care: what it is and how to do it, SCIE Guide 51, London, 2013)
3
Victorian Council of Social Service, Walk alongside: Co-designing social initiatives with people experiencing vulnerabilities, VCOSS,
July 2015, http://vcoss.org.au/documents/2015/08/Codesign-paper-Jul15_Final.pdf
08 | Delivering a good life for every Victorian VCOSS State Election Platform 2018 | 09
Finding Goal: Everyone can
find a secure, affordable
a place to and appropriate home
call home The best way to help someone
achieve a good life is by finding
them a safe place to call home.
Every other life achievement is
built on this bedrock. Homes are
places to raise our families, express
ourselves and store our memories,
and stay safe, warm, clean and
healthy.
Yet, for many Victorians, this basic
human need is a luxury they can’t
afford. Nearly 25,000 Victorians
are homeless on any given night.4
Another million live in housing
stress.5 Rising rents and stagnant
social housing growth have made
the problem worse.
Creating affordable housing,
ending homelessness and making
renting fair gives every Victorian a
better chance at a great life.
Being made redundant was the initial trigger for
David Montgomery’s slide into homelessness.
The former public servant spent more than nine
years in rooming houses and crisis accommodation
before securing a social housing property in
Melbourne’s outer east.
“It’s fantastic, it feels like a home to me. I’m so
lucky,” he said.
“It’s so important for a person to feel that they
have security.”
Story and video at vcoss.org.au/GoodLife
10 | Delivering a good life for every Victorian VCOSS State Election Platform 2018 | 11
Finding a place to call home
Delivering affordable Make new homes age and Creating a support. People facing eviction,
foreclosure or sudden income
Don’t let people leave
disability-friendly with nowhere to go
housing Victorians deserve homes where they can age
Victoria without loss can get help with legal
and financial advice, while also Victoria has a special
Housing is the most important gracefully: homes that suit diverse community homelessness resolving tenancy problems and responsibility to those in its
needs, including for people with disability. being connected to intensive care. People leaving hospital,
thing for Victoria to get right; Our housing standards aren’t up to scratch for Victoria can be support services. prison or out-of-home care
the happiness of every single this task. Australia’s leading should not be pushed out into
Victorian depends on it. The good news is this can be easily fixed. Very state in combatting Combine talents and the cold with nowhere to go.
simple changes to the building code – such as homelessness. It is offer ‘housing first’ People leaving these institutions
requiring adequate door widths, a clear access are often particularly vulnerable,
Forge new beginnings with path to the front door and a stepless shower
shocking that nearly To tackle entrenched
and without stable, affordable
homelessness, Victoria needs
3,000 new homes each year recess – can make homes more easily adaptable 25,000 Victorians are to bring together the expertise housing. They have a high risk of
Over the next decade, Victoria can
to accommodate people’s changing abilities. homeless on any given of different professionals, homelessness or of returning to
Adapting a home can be 22 times cheaper with an institution soon after leaving.
forge new beginnings by building
these basic features in place.7
night, including over including homelessness workers
and healthcare professionals,
3,000 extra public and community
homes each year. Just like roads and
1,000 sleeping rough. to immediately deliver the
Fixing this problem needs better
planning from those institutions,
rail, Victoria needs to view our public Reform property taxes to promote This is a problem right package of voluntarily
and a pool of available long-
and community housing as critical housing affordability we know how to fix. accepted assistance.
term homes for people to go to.
infrastructure. But neglect has left it Our antiquated system of property taxes is This entails a ‘housing first’
to decay and become dangerously leading to millions of dollars being lost to our approach, meaning people
inadequate for Victorians’ needs. economy, and too many Victorians missing Nip homelessness in are offered permanent,
Victoria will need 3,000 public and
community homes each year just to
out on achieving their housing dreams. the bud affordable housing as quickly
Stamp duties encourage property speculation, as possible, combined with the
meet the needs of people eligible for The first step towards ending
dampen economic activity, fall heavily on young multidisciplinary support to stay
priority housing.6 homelessness is to prevent
home buyers, and discourage people moving housed and avoid becoming
people becoming homeless
to better homes or new jobs. They also create homeless again.
Victoria has a chance to transform: in the first place. This means
budget nightmares for governments, being
after decades of being Australia’s having services to help people
prone to drastic drops in revenue if the property A permanent supportive
housing laggard we can start leading as soon as their housing comes
market stalls. housing model can operate on
the nation by providing the capital under threat, rather than
‘step-up, step-down’ principles,
investment and recurrent backing To move to a fairer, more efficient and waiting until they are living
meaning housing support can
to create a public and community stable property tax system, the Victorian on the streets.
be intensified when people have
housing system to be proud of. Government should, over time, replace difficulties, and can be reduced
We can bring together and
stamp duties with a broad-based land tax. when it becomes unnecessary.
properly fund our fragmented,
Include public and community This should occur with appropriate concessions,
overstretched homelessness This includes assertive outreach
housing in new developments exemptions and deferrals, particularly for
prevention services. These can and engagement providing a
low-income households that may be path to permanent housing,
One of the most effective ways of ‘wrap around’ people at risk
asset-rich but income-poor. combined with assessment,
accelerating public and community of homelessness, and include
housing growth is by challenging the tailored assistance, legal care planning and integrated
private sector to contribute to the task. help, and financial advice and service provision.
Inclusionary zoning means compelling
developers to include social housing
among their new apartments. Victoria
builds 30,000 new units every year;
making just a few per cent of these
units social housing would go a long
way towards ensuring every Victorian
has a place to call home.
12 | Delivering a good life for every Victorian VCOSS State Election Platform 2018 | 13
Finding a place to call home
Making renting fair Prevent people being needlessly
forced to leave their rental homes
Victoria can secure better Victoria can strengthen our rental laws to
homes for Victorians by prevent people being unnecessarily forced
strengthening rentals laws. from their homes. With some people renting
all their lives, they need to be able to plan for
With more Victorians renting the future with certainty, settle down, and
for longer, including more make a home for their families and pets.
families and older people, Victoria should make sure eviction is only
renting is no longer just a used as a last resort, when all avenues of
short-term housing choice. saving someone’s home have been exhausted.
Law reform can give more power to tenants to
New, stronger rental laws can defend against needless evictions, stop evictions
provide better protections for for no reason, compel landlords to make proper
life-long renters, allowing repairs, and let renters make and enjoy their
homes without interference.
them to make a home, raise a
family, and keep comfortable, Streamline problem-solving
safe and healthy. in rental disagreements
A Housing Ombudsman could be a more
engaged, investigative and problem-solving
Set a benchmark for liveable regulator, overcoming the fear and complexity
rental homes many people experience dealing with the
Setting minimum health, safety and Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal
energy efficiency standards will (VCAT).
systematically improve the quality of
A Housing Ombudsman can be a ‘one-stop
rental housing. This will improve the
shop’ for resolving housing problems. Ideally,
health and safety of Victorians renters,
it would receive direct government funding,
and help reduce their energy bills.
be vigorously independent, report and speak
Standards can include basic features publicly and have strong powers to resolve
such as a working toilet and stove, complaints. This includes the power to
locks on external doors, proper airflow, investigate problems, make binding orders
draught-proofing, ceiling insulation and launch inquiries into systemic problems
and efficient heating. Gradually in housing.
introducing minimum rental standards
over time can ease any price impacts.
_
4
Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2049.0 - Census of Population and Housing: Estimating homelessness, 2016
5
The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that 962,500 Victorians live in households paying more than 30 per cent of their income
towards housing costs. See Australian Bureau of Statistics, 4130.0 - Housing Occupancy and Costs, 2015-16, Table 13.5 Household
Estimates, Selected household characteristics, States and Territories, 2015-16
6
Community Housing Federation of Victoria, Quantifying the shortfall of Social and Affordable Housing, p.3,
https://chiavic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/CHFV-Housing-Needs-Estimates.pdf
7
Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, Dwelling, Land and Neighbourhood Use by Older Home Owners, 2010, p.282
14 | Delivering a good life for every Victorian VCOSS State Election Platform 2018 | 15
Getting a
good job
Goal: Everyone can
get a secure job with
a decent wage
Getting a decent job can change The community sector will provide
someone’s life. A good job with a growing share of the jobs of
security and decent pay provides the future, especially as the NDIS, Nhu Nguyen is part of the
a stable income, meaningful MyAgedCare and family violence workforce of the future—though
engagement and buys people response rolls out. But this means she’ll probably never manage a
a stake in Victoria’s future. By the quality of those jobs will fleet of robots.
creating good jobs and giving impact heavily on Victorians’
wellbeing. Community services “I help people in the community,”
people the skills, advice and
jobs must be secure, well paid and is how the disability support
pathways to get into them, the
Victorian Government can give provide decent career paths. If coordinator and Future Social
hope to the nearly 200,000 we create more insecure work in Service Institute alumnus
unemployed Victorians, and the casualised and under-valued roles describes her job.
300,000 more who can’t find we will not fill job vacancies, and Nguyen is a member of one of
enough work.8 vital services will not be delivered. Australia’s fastest growing and
But this needs to mean more than
most important sectors, covering
just providing any job – Victorians social support and assistance.
need good jobs. In Victoria today, a “There is so much room for
job no longer guarantees a decent growth, to be innovative, to be
living, with over 200,000 Victorian entrepreneurs,” she said.
workers living in poverty despite
being employed.9 Story and video at
vcoss.org.au/GoodLife
16 | Delivering a good life for every Victorian VCOSS State Election Platform 2018 | 17Getting a good job
Creating jobs, skills Work with business to promote Invest in dedicated, Provide intensive Safeguard excellence in
inclusion and flexibility skilled and experienced training support for vocational education
and pathways The Victorian Government should encourage school careers advisors disadvantaged learners To maximise students’ job
Victoria is the jobs engine of employers to ‘take a chance’ on hiring It’s a challenge to decide on Victoria can engage the most prospects, Victoria should have
Australia, generating nearly disadvantaged jobseekers and to offer more
inclusive and diverse workplaces. Becoming
a career path and choose disadvantaged in acquiring an accessible, high quality VET
system, which particularly meets
the right option to pursue it, skills by funding extra
400,000 jobs over the past best-practice employers, with inclusive attitudes especially for young people assistance to stay in vocational the needs of students from
five years. But we need to and flexibility for workers, can mean tapping who don’t have good personal education courses. For the disadvantaged backgrounds.
into a larger recruitment pool and benefitting There is still widespread distrust
provide better pathways from the many talents of diverse workers,
connections or who face most disadvantaged learners,
of accredited qualifications,
others’ low expectations it can be a struggle to stay
for marginalised workers which are too often overlooked. about their future. connected and engaged in especially from some for-profit
to be hired to reduce training. Having extra funding private training providers. Both
unemployment. Jobless Use government buying power to Victoria can help young people set aside to help overcome Victorian and Commonwealth
make informed choices by governments should keep
numbers have barely budged, create jobs for marginalised workers funding dedicated full-time
life’s difficulties – including
strengthening quality control
daily costs like transport,
‘Social procurement’ uses government
and youth unemployment is at purchasing power to create jobs for
school careers advisors, rather short-term accommodation or and audits so students can trust
than part-time afterthought mental health support – can they are learning the right skills
record levels of 15 per cent.10 marginalised workers. The current Social roles. 15 With dedicated jobs, keep people learning and on a for successful careers.
Procurement Framework can be expanded careers advisors can provide pathway to success.
across all government purchasing, and
Target more jobs to can go beyond creating apprenticeships
high quality, contemporary Make wage theft a crime
guidance tailored to students’
marginalised workers and traineeships to employing long-term strengths and interests, and
Foster innovative ways of Wage theft is widespread,
The Victorian Government is a major
unemployed people, people with disability realistic information about engaging young people with one in five young workers
found to receive base pay rates
employer, and can lead by example by
and other marginalised workers. training requirements and in higher learning less than the minimum wage
lifting and broadening its targets for job prospects. They can Victoria can better support and less than half of young
embracing a more diverse workforce. Top up wages and provide more open students’ minds to new young people once they leave workers receiving penalty
This includes extending the 6 per cent jobseekers support possibilities, provide real-world school by investing in novel and rates.16 Underpayment of wages
disability target (12 per cent by 2025)11 opportunities, build strong alternative pathways to jobs
Victoria can expand its capabilities in supporting is endemic across the retail,
and the 2 per cent Aboriginal target,12 relationships and referral and vocational education for
the most disadvantaged jobseekers to get into hospitality and fast food sectors
from the relatively small and central pathways with employers as well early school-leavers and at-risk
the workforce. Victoria should build on the and enforcement activities
Public Service to the entire Victorian as other education providers young people. For example,
successes and lessons from the Jobs Victoria undertaken by the Fair Work
public sector, including schools and and community organisations, Local Learning and Employment
Employment Network and expand intensive Ombudsman are ineffective.17
hospitals.13 Victoria can also set targets and attend relevant professional Networks can help develop
assistance for jobseekers, including additional
for other groups, such as people from development. innovative models to re-engage The Crimes Act 1958 (Vic)
tools to support them into work, such as
culturally and linguistically diverse introductory wage subsidies as people develop young people and provide should be amended to insert
backgrounds, and single parents. experience in workplaces. Maintain free vocational pathways into the higher a new offence of ‘wage theft’
“The Victorian community is
education education system. to deter and punish employers
for engaging in the deliberate
best served by a public sector Supercharge regional economic Victoria can overcome the
and dishonest underpayment
that reflects and embraces development strategies biggest barrier to people
of wages.18
its rich diversity.”14 getting the skills needed
Victoria can create and boost local collaborative
for our future workforce by
economic development alliances to harness the
keeping free training in targeted
talents and assets in communities, generating
vocational qualifications, like
a viable commercial base and ensuring that
community services. Cost is
people working and living locally reap the
the biggest barrier for many
benefits. The first priority is areas of high
students, especially those living
unemployment or those affected by a changing
in poverty. Waiving fees means
employment landscape. These powerhouse
more people can undertake
alliances can link local training with local jobs,
courses and gain the skills for
encourage ‘buy local’ campaigns and pinpoint
future success.
the best infrastructure investments.
18 | Delivering a good life for every Victorian VCOSS State Election Platform 2018 | 19Getting a good job
Victorian Government indexation versus
Securing the estimated cost increases
community sector
growth dividend
118
116
The community services and We want to be an industry
112
health industry is creating the of choice for job seekers and
jobs of the future right now, provide rewarding career 110 Estimated
increase
nearly double the rate of any opportunities, secure 108 in costs
other industry. In five years, employment, and good pay 106
it will employ nearly half a and conditions. 104 Victorian
Government
million workers.19 102 indexation
100
2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19
80
70 Victorian Employment growth Boost community sector Grow community sector Build a Victorian social
by industry, 2017-2022 (000s)20 pay and conditions skills in the regions development bank
60 Community services industry Victoria especially needs to Victoria can promote faster
growth can only provide secure construct a pipeline of qualified, community services jobs
futures for Victorian workers if professional community growth by establishing a
50 these new jobs offer decent pay service workers in our regions, Victorian Social Development
and conditions. Victoria needs where skill shortages are Bank. Access to capital is a
to fund community service most acute. These shortages major barrier to growth in
40
employers to keep pace with are compromising regional the community sector and for
wage and cost increases, and service quality and stymieing social enterprise start-ups. It is
30 to avoid creating more insecure jobs growth. Investing in local, difficult to get long-term loans
and low-paid jobs. community-led approaches can from commercial banks.
be effective to secure regional
Information, Media and
Electricity, Gas, Water
To achieve fair wages and Providing a government-owned
Telecommunications
20 jobs and ensure our regions get
and Waste Services
conditions, community service equivalent services. ‘bank’ can help provide low-cost
Wholesale Trade
Manufacturing
organisations need a properly capital to the sector, support
10 costed pricing and indexation social enterprise start-ups
framework that maintains fair and allow more innovative
funding levels. The industry is use of capital to lower service
0 being squeezed by baseline delivery costs.
Accommodation and
Food Services
Retail Trade
Public Administration
and Safety
Administrative and
Support Services
Transport, Postal and
Warehousing
Financial and
Insurance Services
Rental, Hiring and Real
Estate Services
Arts and Recreation
Services
Other Services
Agriculture, Forestry
and Fishing
Mining
funding increases of only 2 per
Health Care and
Social Assistance
Professional, Scientific
and Technical services
Education and Training
Construction
cent each year, threatening job For example, community
-10 security and wage levels. organisations could save rental
costs by investing in premises
or investing in IT platforms
-20 to reduce transaction costs.
This model also replenishes its
funding, as capital is recycled
when it is paid back through
loan repayments.
20 | Delivering a good life for every Victorian VCOSS State Election Platform 2018 | 21Getting a good job
Promote fulfilling, exciting Build the Aboriginal Secure solid data
community sector careers community sector to guide workforce
Promoting community careers will help to workforce through planning
secure a growing workforce. While community coordinated planning Victoria can only plan for the
services industry jobs are rapidly growing, future of community services
Self-determination is the
they are often not known about or discussed job growth if it has a strong
overarching guiding principle
in the community, and not considered by grasp of the data. But quality
for Aboriginal affairs in Victoria.
school leavers or jobseekers. This means many data is hard to find. Victoria is
Achieving this in the community
people who would love the chance to move approaching a critical deadline
services industry will require
into caring, compassionate work in a growing to collect strong workforce data
a strong and sustainable
industry miss out. to synchronise with the coming
Aboriginal workforce, and
Aboriginal leadership in jobs surge. By developing a
Develop innovative approaches to governance and management. meticulous workforce data
grow the workforce Victoria can help build the compilation program, tracking
Aboriginal community services change over time and in
While community sector workers are committed
workforce by working with different industry segments,
and skilled employees, the industry is changing,
the Aboriginal community- we can maximise the dividend
with new roles and expectations around person-
controlled sector and the from workforce growth.
centred services and co-design. Victoria can
respond on multiple fronts to enhance career mainstream community
paths and provide superior services: supported sector to undertake coordinated
traineeships, supported student placements, planning and develop a
upskilling existing workers with extra training sector-wide Aboriginal
and professional development, and greater workforce strategy.
partnerships between community employers
and training providers.
Design contemporary qualifications
for first-rate graduates
Victoria should lead the country in advocating
for world-class community service qualifications
that prepare graduates for the compelling and
diverse career options ahead of them. The
_
current qualifications framework is not fit-for- 8
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Labour Force, Australia, Mar 2018, http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/6202.0Mar%20
purpose in an increasingly person-centred 2018?OpenDocument
and complex social care future. Refreshed 9
Victorian Council of Social Service and the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling, Victorian Poverty Data Report, forthcoming
qualifications with modern competencies 10
Australian Bureau of Statistics, 6202.0 - Labour Force, Australia, January 2018, http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/
can better prepare graduates for their future DetailsPage/6202.0Jan%202018?OpenDocument
employment demands. 11
Victorian Government, Every opportunity: Victorian economic participation plan for people with disability 2018–2020, Action 10, p.16
12
Around 1 per cent of the Victorian public service identify as Aboriginal: source Victorian Public Service Commission (2018), The state of the
public sector in Victoria 2016-2017, p.36, https://vpsc.vic.gov.au
13
The Victorian Public Service makes up less than 17 per cent of the broader public sector workforce, which includes schools, hospitals and
TAFEs.
14
Victorian Public Service Commission, https://vpsc.vic.gov.au/aboriginal-employment/
15
Career Industry Council of Australia, Lack of funding deprives young Australians of necessary career support, 25 March 2015
16
Young Workers Centre, Young Workers Snapshot: The Great Wage Rip-Off, May 2017, p.7-8 and p.11-12
17
Young Workers Centre Briefing, Criminalising Wage Theft, p.8-9
18
Ibid, p.12-13
22 | Delivering a good life for every Victorian VCOSS State Election Platform 2018 | 23Affording
the basics
Goal: Everyone can pay
for their basic needs
People can only live a good life
if they are free from constant
worry about the cost of living.
In a prosperous state with great
leadership, everyone should be
able to afford life’s essentials.
Affording the basics means
families can pay their energy
bills, and not worry about having
their power cut off. It means
Mark Brewer knows about managing a tight budget. being able to juggle living costs
“Life in general is so dear today because of the prices – including food, rent, water and
of housing, bills, food,” the father of two said. “I’m always education costs – knowing that
looking for bargains.” there is help to avoid or manage
a financial crisis.
Brewer lives in public housing, and says he often makes
heartbreaking decisions about what he can afford and An affordable cost of living means
what’s unattainable. people can pay their travel costs,
including for work, learning,
“If we all addressed the problem together we’d have an connecting and receiving care and
answer, yeah?” support. It means being able to
Story and video at vcoss.org.au/GoodLife participate in learning and sharing
online, with affordable access to
technology and the internet.
24 | Delivering a good life for every Victorian VCOSS State Election Platform 2018 | 25Affording the basics
Cutting power bills Commit to clean energy Managing money Help people deal with Displace predatory
Victoria needs a solid, sensible plan to gradually financial emergencies lenders
A good life means being able remove carbon-intensive energy generators over Living in poverty or Victoria can join the majority No Interest Loan Schemes
to heat and cool your home, time and replace them with clean, affordable facing financial crisis is of Australian states and (NILS) allow people to afford
and having energy for cooking alternatives. This will also help lower energy
prices. Recent price increases are mainly caused
not a pathway to a good territories in directly funding essentials, by financing
financial crisis assistance household appliances, education
and washing. In 10 years, by runaway electricity generation charges, life. A thoughtful and services to help people pay for and medical expenses at an
electricity prices have risen resulting from fluctuating energy supply.23 considered collaboration food, clothing and essentials, affordable rate, and diverting
But new, renewable energy investment won’t
52 per cent faster than occur without a clear, enduring commitment
to respond to financial and help establish financial people away from predatory
stability. These ‘emergency lenders like payday lenders and
inflation.21 More Victorians to a stable investment environment. distress can help relief’ services build on pawnbrokers. Delivering more
are experiencing the shock of Victorians avoid financial their immediate assistance sites like Morwell’s recently
receiving an energy bill they Help upgrade homes to slash pitfalls, without having by supporting people to opened ‘Good Money’ store
can’t pay. Increasing energy energy use to make desperate
develop longer-term financial will mean more Victorians
independence. 29 can benefit.
Victoria can invest in upgrading homes to be
costs have been driving more energy efficient and slash energy costs.24 trade-offs between bills
financial problems for many For Victorians on low incomes in poor-quality and food, or resorting Help Victorians be Ensure people are
families, and leading to more public or private rental homes, paying for to predatory loans.26 money-wise properly insured
improvements is an uphill battle. The provision Financial counsellors help Ensuring that Victorians have
Victorians having their power of basic energy saving measures like insulation, With costs outpacing people better deal with housing adequate home and contents
cut off. affordable hot water and heating systems incomes,27 and stress, energy hardship, debt insurance protects them
and window coverings is needed. Using a
mix of finance, and bolstered by minimum
household debt at problems, the financial effects against financial disaster in a
of poor health or job loss, and crisis. Community organisations
Regulate for fair rental standards and modification rights, historic highs,28 it is an help prevent financial stress can be supported to partner
energy prices
we can tackle this fundamental cause of opportune time to invest snowballing into much larger with insurers to develop
unaffordable energy supply with new home
Victoria can adopt stronger regulation energy-efficiency measures.
in Victorians’ financial and costlier problems.30 better products, and can use
financial literacy channels to
to control energy prices. Better capabilities, supporting Victoria can strengthen its raise awareness of the value
regulation can help achieve fairer, Defend the value of bill-shock relief them to be great financial counselling network of insurance.
lower pricing by making energy prices to save more people from
transparent, simple and comparable;
Victoria provides families with a payment if financial managers. mortgage default, bankruptcy
they struggle with energy costs, recently
making energy contracts fair; and or long-term hardship. It is
increased to $650.25 This protection can be
ensuring people experiencing estimated another 90 financial
disadvantage can get a fair, low-cost
defended from eroding in value by properly Plan for action on counsellors are needed to fully
indexing it to reflect changing energy costs.
offer. More transparency and better financial inclusion support Victoria’s financially
protections can prevent people from Victoria can mobilise its distressed families.31
being gouged.22 Break the barriers to asylum resources to build a simple,
seeker energy concessions decently funded and thorough
Boost enforcement of Energy and water can be made more system to respond to financial
energy rules affordable for asylum seekers by extending stress and hardship. The first
energy and water concessions to them, step is to develop a Victorian
Victoria can ensure energy companies
consistent with public transport concessions, Financial Inclusion Action
are following the rules to protect
and TAFE and health access. Bewilderingly, Plan to guide investment and
customers who are having trouble
this most impoverished and marginalised provide a collaboration platform
paying energy bills, or stop them
group is currently excluded. Most asylum for community, government
from being disconnected. Stronger
seekers become Victorian residents, and and business.
enforcement can be achieved by
depriving them of concessions compromises
funding community organisations to
their future contribution to Victoria.
inform people about the new payment
difficulty framework, and resourcing
the regulator properly.
26 | Delivering a good life for every Victorian VCOSS State Election Platform 2018 | 27Going digital Expand public access Become a connected
Affording the basics Digital access is a
Wi-Fi and internet community with low-cost
Victoria can reach more internet plans
prerequisite for 21st- people who depend on free Victoria can become Australia’s
century living. Today’s internet access by expanding
Getting around
most digitally-connected state
Unscramble public transport fares VicFreeWiFi to more locations,
and concessions world is digital, with especially in Melbourne’s outer
by expanding internet access
to the remaining low-income
Transport is freedom. For a Victoria can devise a simple, easily understood
everything from getting suburbs, and more regional households who can’t afford it.
good life, people need to be public transport fare structure, with affordable a job to finding a home, cities and rural towns. People Victoria can design a specialised
on low incomes are more likely
able to reach the places where concessions for low-income earners. This managing money, doing not to have internet plans, or
low-cost basic internet plan,
can overcome the cumbersome concessions and connect disadvantaged
they work, learn, get structure we’ve inherited, which involves 17 your homework or to use occasional pre-paid families and individuals with
healthcare and community types of concessions and six types of free looking for help services but rely largely on free a concessional discount. This
Wi-Fi or community access for
services, connect with family travel passes. An innovative overhaul can create performed online. connection.
would help overcome Victoria’s
simple, fair and proportionate fares to meet the large ‘capital-country’ digital
and friends, and participate in needs of people on low incomes, those with In the new era of personalised gap, and reach the significant
Coverage beyond the centres
community life. To maximise disability and older people. services, choice and control
of Melbourne, Ballarat and
number of people who are
is increasingly digital, with
people’s mobility, Victoria Bendigo could provide digital
currently excluded.35
needs great public transport Revamp public transport to work internet portals for your bank
access for people who really
for everybody account, tax, Centrelink, NDIS,
need it, like age and disability Deliver the skills for
at affordable prices, and for MyAgedCare or MySchool.
pensioners, and young people digital inclusion
Victoria can have a 21st-century public
those with greater needs there transport system. We can revamp our Digital participation improves from low-income families who Victoria can invest in digital
can be a well-resourced public transport network to truly work for school performance and would benefit from online literacy services to further
all Victorians, including older people and educational outcomes, access for schoolwork and bridge the digital divide. Digital
mobility program providing those with disability. We need a strong and employment opportunities, connecting to their peers. This inclusion is more than devices
individualised transport. enduring pipeline of public transport upgrade and social inclusion.34 could be supplemented by more and connectivity: it requires
investments, repairing our legacy infrastructure community access centres, digital literacy skills. People on
to meet modern access standards, aiming to be expanding from local library low incomes and people with
Boost rural and regional fully accessible by 2022.33 models into community facilities disability are likely to be less
transport options like neighbourhood houses and digitally literate.36 Investing in
community centres.
Boosting public transport is one of the Broaden transport subsidies community delivered digital
most important investments that can literacy programs helps include
Victoria can make sure that everyone, regardless
be made in regional Victoria, where these people in the online
of their ability, can get where they need to be
people travel further and at greater affordably by expanding its transport subsidy
expense. In many parts of regional _
program to more transport options. Currently,
Victoria the population is ageing, and
21
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Retail Electricity Pricing Inquiry: Preliminary Report, 22 September 2017, p.42
the mobility program is restricted to taxis, and
public transport is a lifeline that allows
22
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Retail Electricity Pricing Inquiry: Preliminary Report, 22 September 2017; Independent
can’t be used for cheaper options like Uber or Review of the Electricity & Gas Retail Markets in Victoria, August 2017
people to shop, attend appointments community transport. 23
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Retail Electricity Pricing Inquiry: Preliminary Report, 22 September 2017, 84-85;
and connect with the community. For Australian Energy Regulator, ‘AER electricity wholesale performance monitoring: Hazelwood advice’, March 2018
young people it also increases the
prospects of getting a job, getting a
Slash costs by championing 24
Sustainability Victoria, Victorian Households Energy Report, May 2014
Premier of Victoria, Helping Victorians bust their energy bills, media release, 22 April 2018
community transport
25
qualification, and being able to access 26
Victorian Council of Social Service, Power Struggles: Everyday Battles to Stay Connected, 2017
health and community services. Victoria can catch up with and surpass 27
Centre for Social Impact, Why is financial stress on the rise?, September 2017; Australian Competition and Consumer Commission,
other states by investing in the fully-fledged Retail Electricity Pricing Inquiry: Preliminary Report, 22 September 2017, p.13
Beef up buses in the development of a community transport industry. 28
Reserve Bank of Australia, The Australian Economy and Financial Markets, March 2018
outer suburbs N Brackertz, Time, Trust, Respect: Case Management in Emergency Relief—The Doorways Model, Salvation Army, 2014
29
In other states, community transport moves
tens of thousands of people each week, and is 30
N Brackertz, I Wish I’d Known Sooner! The Impact of Financial Counselling on Debt Resolution and Personal Wellbeing, Salvation Army,
Victoria can reach more people 2012
cheaper than other transport services. Victoria
with its public transport network by 31
In Victoria, the Financial and Consumer Rights Council estimates there are approximately 160 FTE financial counsellors (of which
can eliminate the barriers to community approximately 110 FTE positions are funded by State Government). With 500,000 financially distressed Victorian households, the current
boosting the bus system, especially
transport growth and deliver affordable, quality ratio is less than one third of the modest 1:1,000 Financial Counselling Australia target, with one financial counsellor to every 3,125
in Melbourne’s outer suburbs where financially distressed households: see Financial Counselling Australia, Pre-budget submission to the Federal Government (2018-19 Budget),
transport for people with mobility difficulties.
trains and trams don’t reach the December 2017.
communities that often experience 32
Infrastructure Victoria, Victoria’s 30-year Infrastructure Strategy, p.125
the most disadvantage. Victoria needs 33
31 December 2022 is the target date for all buses to be accessible under the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002, and
all train and tram infrastructure under the Disability (Access to Premises) Standards 2010.
to restructure its bus network32 to run 34
Salvation Army, The Hard Road: National Economic & Social Impact Survey 2017, p.54
more frequent and direct services, 35
J Thomas, J Barraket, C Wilson, S Ewing, T MacDonald, J Tucker and E Rennie, Measuring Australia’s Digital Divide: The Australian Digital
concentrating on places disconnected Inclusion Index 2017, p.27-29
from the rail network. 36
J Thomas, J Barraket, C Wilson, S Ewing, T MacDonald, M Mundell and J Tucker, Measuring Australia’s Digital Divide: The Australian Digital
Inclusion Index 2016
28 | Delivering a good life for every Victorian VCOSS State Election Platform 2018 | 29You can also read
