Australian Council of Social Service
The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) is an Australian advocacy group that represents the interests of organisations and individuals engaged in social welfare in Australia. It was formed in 1956.
ACOSS is active in areas of social policy that are of interest or benefit to these organisations and individuals, mainly social security and social service matters. Indirectly, ACOSS also advocates on behalf of those primarily serviced by social welfare organisations and individuals, such as the working poor and unemployed, the homeless, the disabled, and those otherwise impacted by social disadvantage or poverty.
The current ACOSS CEO is Dr Cassandra Goldie who was previously the Director of the Sex Discrimination Unit at the Australian Human Rights Commission (HREOC).
The ACOSS CEO is often interviewed by Australian media for social comment on social matters and policies of the Government of Australia.
Governance
ACOSS has a 20-person volunteer Board of Governors. An Executive of 7 carries out business between Board meetings.
Presidents
- January 2015 - current: Micaela Cronin
- December 2013 - January 2015: Francis Lynch
- November 2009 – November 2013: Simon Schrapel
- May–November 2009: David Thompson (interim)
- 2005-May 2009: Lin Hatfield Dodds
- 2001-2005: Andrew McCallum
- 1995-2000: Michael Raper
- 1990-1995: Judith Green
- 1985-1989: Merle Mitchell
Members
National members
- A.C.E. National Network
- Anglicare Australia
- Australian Association of Social Workers
- Australian Bahá'í Community
- Australian Council of State School Organisations
- Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations
- Australian Foster Care Association
- Australian Institute of Welfare and Community Workers
- Australian Psychological Society
- Brain Injury Australia
- Brotherhood of St Laurence
- Carers Australia
- Collective of National Link of Neighbourhood Houses & Community Learning Centres
- Community Housing Federation of Australia
- Consumers' Health Forum
- Council of Australian Humanists' Societies
- COTA/National Seniors
- Cystic Fibrosis Australia
- Deafness Forum of Australia
- Doctors Reform Society of Australia
- Family Services Australia
- Homelessness Australia
- Jewish Care Australia
- Job Futures Ltd
- Jobs Australia
- Lifeline Australia
- Mission Australia
- National Association of Community Based Children's Services
- National Association of Community Legal Centres
- National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS
- National Association of Services Against Sexual Violence
- National Council of Single Mothers and their Children
- National Rural Health Alliance
- National Shelter
- National Welfare Rights Network
- People with Disability Australia
- Public Health Association of Australia
- Relationships Australia
- Catholic Social Justice Council
- SANE Australia
- Secretariat National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care
- Superannuated Commonwealth Officers Association
- The Salvation Army Australia Eastern Territory
- The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory
- The Smith Family
- UnitingCare Australia
- Women with Disabilities Australia
- Women's Electoral Lobby Australia
- WESNET – The Women’s Services Network
- Young Women's Christian Association of Australia
Affiliate members
- Australian Education Union
- National Council of the YMCAs of Australia