At the Precipice: Australia’s Community Sector through the Cost-of-Living Crisis: Findings from the Australian Community Sector Survey
Our summary
This report was commissioned by the Australian Council of Social Service and the State and Territory Councils of Social Service. Information contained in it comes from 1,476 community sector staff – people who are working closely with clients and communities in organisations directly delivering services and supports - as well as peak bodies and other member-based or representative organisations.
This significant report captured their experiences through a period of converging pressures affecting clients and communities - including inadequate income support payments, rapidly escalating housing costs, a cost-of-living crisis, the continued impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, fires, and floods. As a result, few community service agencies have been able to consistently meet growing levels of need among clients and communities. This especially relates to areas of acute shortages, such as for homelessness support, in the context of Australia’s ongoing crisis of housing affordability and accessibility.
Downloads and links
This Australian Community Sector Survey report provides a comprehensive look at the operational challenges confronting the sector, including funding, contracting and workforce issues. Service providers are facing unprecedented pressure to help growing numbers of people in need, yet resource levels remain inadequate. As a result, community organisations struggle not only to help as many people as possible, but also to plan, optimise and manage all aspects of delivering complex and essential services in a context of rising costs.