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  1. What we do
  2. Advocacy
  3. Submissions

Submissions

Here are recent submissions we have made to various inquiries and consultations.
 

Occasional Care Budget Submission:

Neighbourhood Houses Victoria (NHVic) is seeking a one-off $5 million rescue package to stabilise Neighbourhood House Occasional Childcare provision leading up to the implementation of new arrangements by the Federal Government.

Additionally, NHVic is asking the State Government to advocate to the Federal Government for a mechanism consistent with the intent of the Productivity Commission’s Draft Recommendation 7.5 to ensure a more targeted approach to funding and supporting occasional:

An ECEC Commission (draft recommendation 9.2) should be responsible for advising on the need for additional investments in occasional care and the communities in which these services are needed. Where additional investments are required, funding should be available through a more flexible Community Child Care Fund.
 

Neighbourhood House Coordination Program (NHCP) Submission:

This submission sets out three costed measures to ensure the sustainability and ongoing effectiveness of neighbourhood houses and community centres under the Neighbourhood House Coordination Program (NHCP), a $40M state government program:

1. Restore core NHCP funding to allow for program funding above and beyond award wages for a single part-time coordinator;
2. Provide funding for frontline distribution of food relief, a rapidly escalating burden on Neighbourhood Houses.
3. Ringfence additional budget within the NHCP to fund new neighbourhood houses in rapidly developing growth corridors, before the opportunity is lost.
 

Pre-accredited Training Submission (Joint Submission with ACEVic)

Extensive sector wide consultation by the two Victorian peak bodies; Neighbourhood Houses Victoria (NHVic) and Adult and Community Education Victoria (ACEVic) has identified systemic underfunding of pre-accredited training in Learn Local providers.

Inadequate funding is adversely affecting the provision of sustainable, quality pre-accredited education opportunities for vulnerable learners throughout the state.

In response to these findings NHVic and ACEVic are seeking a State Government commitment to a new and sustainable quality-based funding model as well as an increase in the student contact hour funding rate.

 

Associations Incorporation Reform Regulations

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In response to: Associations Incorporation Reform Regulations 2012 (Vic)-Targeted Consultation

Submitted: April 2023

Summary:As the Peak Membership Body for more than 400 Incorporated Associations in Victoria NHVic are very interested in participating in the consultation and, following the format of the ‘Issues Paper’ provided, have provided a response to each question posed.

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Published: 26th June, 2023

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Victorian Skills Plan

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In response to: Victorian Skills Authority's Victorian Skills Plan

Submitted: November 2021

Summary: NHVic partnered with ACEVic for this submission which provides recommendations on: 

  • how the education and training system can better support communities and how industries can meet current and future workforce needs
  • how to support individuals in understanding the skills they need and accessing the required education

Published: 14th April, 2022

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Access to TAFE for learners with disability

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In response to: Victorian Legislative Assembly Economy and Infrastructure Committee’s Inquiry into access to TAFE for learners with disability

Submitted: October 2020

Summary: NHVic contributed to this submission led by ACEVic. Adult and community education (ACE) plays a pivotal role in the pathway to success for many learners with disability. ACE prepares learners with disability to transition into TAFE – and further, to succeed in accredited training and gain employment. This submission seeks appropriate recognition of ACE and the necessary resources to strengthen partnerships and pathways between the public and community providers of adult education to support learners with a disability to thrive in education, work and life.

Published: 22nd December, 2020

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Portable Long Service Leave

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In response to: Long Service Benefit Portability Regulations 2020 (Vic) and the Long Service
Benefit Portability Act 2018 (Vic)

Submitted: April 2023

Summary: The Neighbourhood and Community, Houses and Centres (NCHCs) sector is strongly committed to portable long service leave and has had a provision within the sector for portability in the sector-wide collective agreement, the Neighbourhood Houses and Adult Community Education Centres Collective Agreement (NHACE),4 since 2010, well prior to the Portable Long-Service Benefit being introduced. The design, implementation, and administration of the Long Service Benefits Portability Regulations 2020 (Vic) (the Regulations) for the scheme have caused significant issues for NCHCs since inception.

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In response to: Draft Long Service Leave Benefits Portability Interim Regulations

Submitted: June 2020

Summary: Whilst NHVic supports the concept of portable long service, it is opposed to the forced introduction of the Portable Long Service Benefits Scheme. Our members have expressed great concern about the increased operational and administrative costs, lack of coverage clarity, incompatibility with existing EBA arrangements and the complexity and duration of record keeping that the scheme places on small community-based organisations like Neighbourhood Houses. All in all, the cumulative impact of the PLSBS actually has the potential to jeopardise the ongoing employment of the very people that the scheme is purporting to help.

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Published: 19th August, 2020

Updated: 26th June, 2023

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Skills for Victoria

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In response to: Department of Education and Training's 'Skills for Victoria' Issues Paper

Submitted: June 2020

Summary: Our submission puts forward several recommendations including:

  • Advocate federally for a shift to a new VET system adopting and adapting key features of successful European economies, including the expansion of apprenticeships or traineeships.
  • Develop an integrated VET structure that articulates the role of Learn Local providers as a complementary provider of accredited and pre-accredited training.
  • Reform the funding mechanism to ensure the actual cost of high-quality delivery is covered with consideration of learner need, market size and provider scale.
  • Incentivise and resource collaboration between Learn Local providers and TAFEs

    Published: 13th July, 2020

    Updated: 28th September, 2020

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    Adequacy of Newstart and other welfare payments

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    In response to: Senate Inquiry

    Submitted: September 2019

    Summary: In partnership with our state counterparts, we submitted our calls for:

    • an immediate $75 per week income to the single rate of allowances including Newstart
    • an immediate 30% increase in Commonwealth Rent Assistance
    • the establishment of an independent expert panel to set future rates for pensions and allowances
    • the inclusion of a wage-based component in determining future indexation
    • the regular review of rates by the independent expert panel 
    • replacing Family Tax Benefit part B for single parents with a supplement that increases as children grow

    Published: 27th May, 2020

    Updated: 28th September, 2020

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    Victoria's mental health system

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    In response to: Royal Commission into Victoria's mental health system

    Submitted: July 2019

    Summary: As places where people with mental health issues participate equally alongside other community members in a range of activities and capacities over time, Neighbourhood Houses undoubtedly contribute to improved attitudes to people with mental illness.

    Published: 22nd April, 2020

    Updated: 7th June, 2022

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    Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan (2019–2023)

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    In response to: Department of Health and Human Services' Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Draft Plan

    Submitted: June 2019

    Summary: While the plan’s priorities are targeted at a limited number of contributors to the Sate’s burden of disease; other factors, including social isolation, often contribute to adoption and maintenance of unhealthy lifestyle choices. Improving people’s self reported social connection, and sense of health and wellbeing are documented outcomes of the Neighbourhood House program. The mobilisation of local community resources in response to local needs and contexts is a key strength of the neighbourhood house sector. Where local activity supports the broader plan goals, the activity should be actively supported.

    Published: 15th April, 2020

    Updated: 7th June, 2022

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    The social and economic benefits of improving mental health

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    In response to: Productivity Commission Inquiry

    Submitted: April 2019

    Summary: The Neighbourhood House sector in Victoria has a track record of achieving strong social inclusion outcomes but operates with significant capacity constraints. With 90 per cent of Victoria’s Neighbourhood Houses funded at less than full time with the majority funded for just 25 hours per week of coordination, there is significant potential to increase activities that strengthen mental health and wellbeing with relatively modest investment.  

    Published: 9th April, 2020

    Updated: 7th June, 2022

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    Future opportunities for adult learners in Victoria

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    In response to: Department of Education and Training's 'Future Opportunities for Adult Learners in Victoria Pathways to Participation and Jobs' Discussion Paper 

    Submitted: August 2018

    Summary: Investing in outreach and engagement in the ACE sector is possibly the single most effective strategy that can lead to increased participation by learners with high needs and low language, literacy and numeracy. 

    Published: 8th April, 2020

    Updated: 28th September, 2020

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    We appreciate the ongoing support of the Victorian State Government.

     
    Neighbourhood Houses Victoria acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands across Victoria. We pay our respects to their spirits, ancestors, elders and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members past, present and emerging.


     

    Neighbourhood Houses combat social isolation and loneliness by being accessible, non-threatening and inclusive spaces that welcome people from all walks of life. Everyone is invited, no matter their gender, age, race, sexuality, abilities, culture or religion.


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