Victorian Council of Social Service

06/11/2026

Don't forget to book for next week's 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀’ 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗥𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻: 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Wednesday, 11th November at 11:00am – 12:00pm

More than 70,000 Victorian households live in social housing. Although social housing renters are covered under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997, renting in social housing works differently from the private rental market.

In this FREE online session, speakers from Victorian Public Tenants Association and Justice Connect will explore the unique rental settings in public and community housing, how social housing renters can enforce their rights, and current gaps in the rental system

The session will be particularly relevant for frontline workers, advocates, legal services, housing practitioners and anyone supporting renters in Victoria.

Register here:

Register on Humanitix - Renters' Rights Rundown: Social Housing and Renting hosted by Victorian Council of Social Service. Online. Tuesday 10th November 2026. Find event information.

04/11/2026

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 🤝🎓✨

In an 11th-hour outcome before caretaker mode, the Victorian Government has confirmed there will be no change in eligibility for students currently receiving individualised disability funding for the 2027 school year.

This victory is the direct result of urgent joint advocacy effort across Victoria.

VCOSS was proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder alongside ACD - Advocating for children with disability ), peak body partners, the Australian Education Union , Principal Associations, and every organisation and individual who signed the joint Open Letter.

What this collective push achieved:

✅ Protects individualised support for 6,000+ students with disability in 2027
✅ Preserves tens of millions of dollars in classroom support across Victorian schools

✅ Delivers immediate certainty and relief for families, teachers, and school communities.


While this pause brings vital 2027 relief, ongoing concerns remain about long-term Disability Inclusion funding beyond 2027.

We will continue to work together across the sector to advocate, ensuring every Victorian child gets the support they need to thrive and have a bright future.

Thank you to ACD, all allied peak bodies, educators, and community members who raised their voices.

When we speak with one united voice for students with disability, change happens!

27/10/2026

𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲, 𝘀𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴.

This includes the right to choose where they live, how they live, and who provides their daily supports.

Drawing on community sector expertise and lived experience, '𝗔 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗢𝘄𝗻' finds that many Victorian renters with disability can’t realise these rights.

The paper sets out seven practical recommendations, including stronger oversight, accessible guidance for renters, growing the stock of accessible social housing, properly funding disability advocacy, and providing more flexible processes at VCAT and RDRV.

Read now:https://vcoss.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/VCOSS-Insights_Renting-and-Disabilities_final.pdf

26/10/2026

It’s Children’s Week! 🎉 A time to celebrate our kids, but also to look forward and ask: what kind of future are we building for them?

Right now, too many Victorian children are growing up facing the pressures of housing stress, food insecurity, and systems under strain. Projections suggest this generation will have it harder than the last. We can change that Projections shouldn't suggest a generation will have it harder than the last. We can change that.

As part of our Essentials for Everyone election platform, we are calling on all political parties to commit to a simple truth: Every Victorian child has a bright future.

That means ensuring every child has the opportunity to grow up safe, healthy, supported, and able to thrive—no matter their background or postcode.

Let’s invest in the foundations our kids need today, so they can lead tomorrow. 🌟

👉 Read our full platform and add your voice: https://www.essentialsforeveryone.org.au/bright-future-for-every-child

22/10/2026

𝗩𝗖𝗢𝗦𝗦 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭'𝐬 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬.

The $13.6bn agreement to reach 100 per cent of the School Resourcing Standard is desperately needed. At the school level, there is currently a stark and consequential funding gap. Nearly one-third of students enrolled in Victorian government schools come from low-income households, yet these schools remain the lowest funded.

We urge the next government to fast track the roll out to ensure Victorian public schools, and kids in need, don't bear the brunt of funding delays. We also call on all parties and candidates to commit to resourcing our public schools and early childhood system so every child has the support they need to thrive, no matter their background, postcode or ability.

This election, the community sector is standing strong to ensure political parties and candidates prioritise policy that puts an end to poverty in Victoria.

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐧: https://www.essentialsforeveryone.org.au

21/10/2026

Food or rent. Healthcare or school supplies.

No Victorian should have to choose.

This November, we’re calling on every party and candidate to commit to prioritising policy that ends poverty in Victoria, and properly funding the community services that support people when it matters.

𝗘𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 is a policy choice. Let’s make sure our leaders choose it.

Sign the Essentials for Everyone petition and call on every party to commit to ending poverty in Victoria and funding the community sector properly: https://www.essentialsforeveryone.org.au/sign-the-petition

19/10/2026

We are concerned and deeply saddened by the attack yesterday on Independent MP, Helen Haines.

Our thoughts are with Helen, her family and her staff at this time.

19/10/2026

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗻 (𝗪𝗪𝗖) 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲

If you engage workers or volunteers for child-related work in Victoria, here are the key obligations to keep in mind under the new requirements:

✅ You must notify the Social Services Regulator (SSR) via WWC Connect when workers start or stop child-related work
✅ Always verify worker eligibility using the WWC status checker before engagement
✅ Child Safety Training is Now a mandatory part of the WWC Check application and renewal process

For full details visit - www.vic.gov.au/changes-working-children-check

19/10/2026

𝗩𝗖𝗢𝗦𝗦 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹-𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

This is a critical step towards ensuring that all Victorians have equal access to reproductive healthcare, when and where they need to.

13/10/2026

This time last week, almost 300 people from across Victoria’s community sector came together for our Community Sector Summit. Thank you again to everyone who joined us and helped make the day so special.

With less than seven weeks until the election, we’ll keep making the case for essentials for everyone. Don’t forget to sign the petition and get involved in the sector campaign here: essentialsforeveryone.org.au