Peak bodies

Aboriginal Child, Family and Community Care State Secretariat

The Aboriginal Child, Family and Community Care State Secretariat (AbSec) is the peak body providing child protection and out-of-home-care policy advice to government and the non-government sectors on issues affecting Aboriginal children, young people and their families.

AbSec also auspices the Aboriginal statewide foster care support service (ASFCSS), providing free telephone and advocacy services for the carers of Aboriginal children and young people, and local communities wishing to establish Aboriginal foster care support groups.

Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies

The Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies (ACWA) is the NSW non-government peak body representing community organisations who work with vulnerable children, young people and their families. ACWA works with their members, partners and government agencies, initiating and contributing to policy development to bring about systemic reform.

ACWA also provides training opportunities for people working across the community welfare sector through the Centre for Community Welfare Training (CCWT).

The Centre for Community Welfare Training (CCWT) is the learning and development arm of ACWA. CCWT is a registered training organisation providing training opportunities for people working across the community welfare sector in NSW and promoting a learning culture within the human services sector.

Carers NSW

Carers NSW is the peak non-government organisation for carers in NSW and a member of the National Network of Carers Associations with a focus is on improving the lives of carers.

Carers NSW works with all carers regardless of their age, location, life-stage or circumstances. This includes those caring for individuals with support needs relating to ageing, disability, health and mental illness.

Carers NSW provides referral, training, resource development, information and employment network and a young carers program. Carers NSW also operates the National Carer Counselling Program, that provides short-term counselling sessions focusing on issues related to the caring role.

Centre for Volunteering

The Centre for Volunteering is the peak body in NSW that promotes and supports volunteering and community participation. The Centre for Volunteering includes Volunteering NSW, their service delivery arm, and the School of Volunteer Management, a registered training organisation.

The centre provides referral, training, resource development, information and education services to help people get involved in their communities, and enhance the capacity and skills of not-for-profit organisations, corporations and government to become involved in the community.

Churches Housing

Churches Housing aims to assist with the elimination of poverty and homelessness by working with the Christian Churches in the development and provision of affordable housing.

Churches Housing provides information, inspiration and education in the area of affordable housing to churches of all denominations. They have brokering partnerships with churches, government and businesses to facilitate the development of affordable housing. Churches Housing build networks with Community Housing Providers, the sector to advocate for affordable housing.

Combined Pensioners & Superannuants Association

CPSA is a non-profit, non-party-political, membership association serving pensioners of all ages, superannuants and low-income retirees. CPSA aim to improve the standard of living and well-being of their members and constituents.

CPSA operates a telephone advice and referral service to Members and the general public for queries about pensions, superannuation, taxation, transport and aged care problems. CPSA auspices a Community Visitors Scheme in south and inner west Sydney and provides free health education sessions (in English and a number of community languages) to groups of older people at community venues.

Community Housing Industry Association NSW (CHIA)

The Community Housing Industry Association NSW (CHIA) is the peak industry body for housing associations in NSW.

CHIA is a provider of a wide range of good practice advice and resources, a facilitator of the ongoing development of the sector, and the leading provider of social housing training in Australia.  CHIA is a Registered Training Organisation and provides training opportunities through the Centre for Training in Social Housing business arm.

Council of Social Services, New South Wales (NCOSS)

NCOSS provides independent and informed policy development, advice and review and plays a key coordination and leadership role for the non-government, social and community services sector in New South Wales.

NCOSS works with its members, the community welfare sector, the NSW Government and other relevant agencies on current, emerging and ongoing social, systemic and operational issues.

CREATE Foundation

CREATE is the peak body representing the voices of all children and young people in out-of-home care. CREATE connects children and young people to each other and their community. The foundation empowers children and young people in care, and advocates to change the out-of-home-care system through improving policies, practices and services and improving community awareness.

Domestic Violence NSW (DVNSW)

DVNSW is a domestic and family violence peak body whose membership comprises specialist domestic and family violence services within NSW.

DVNSW’s key roles include policy research, development and advice, advocacy, information dissemination to the sector; and sector consultation, coordination and capacity building.

DVNSW operates in partnership with other homelessness peak bodies in the context of the Going Home Staying Home reforms.

FamS – NSW Family Services Inc

NSW Family Services is the peak body supporting non-government organisations in NSW providing services to families experiencing stress.

It is involved in a range of strategies that inform and influence government, funding bodies, and the sector.

Homelessness NSW

Homelessness NSW is a broad-based peak body whose members include services that provide accommodation, support and other services to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

It is also the central contact point for information and resources concerning adult homelessness in NSW. Homelessness NSW advocates on behalf of agencies and homeless people across NSW, with a particular focus on single men, single women, families and children.

Local Community Services Association

The Local Community Services Association (LCSA) is the peak body of Neighbourhood and Community Centres in NSW.

LCSA resources and supports its members to develop as community development organisations and advocates and represents their interests among policy and decision makers.

Meals on Wheels Association

Meals on Wheels (the association) is the peak body for Meals on Wheels services across New South Wales.

The association provides information, advice, advocacy, practical tools and other support services and resources to their members. Meals on Wheels also organise conferences and training on issues relevant to the sector, undertake research and development projects.

National Disability Services (NDS)

National Disability Services (NDS) is Australia's peak industry body for non-government disability service organisations. Collectively, NDS members operate several thousand services for Australians with all types of disability. Members range in size from small support groups to large multi-service organisations.

NDS creates opportunities for people with disability by strengthening relationships with governments, working with the allied health sector, connecting with the business community and providing information to the broader Australian community through Carecareers and projectABLE.

NSW Council for Intellectual Disability

The Council for Intellectual Disability (CID) is a change-movement driven by people with intellectual disability. They advocate for the rights of people with disability, provide information and learning opportunities, empower individuals and increase belonging. CID offer ways for all people with disability, their families, carers and the wider community to learn and build skills; through access to an information service, useful resources and an online course in leadership or learning.

CID believes people with disability should have the same rights as everyone else and they create opportunities for people with disability to be involved and actively participate in the community

Community Housing Industry Association NSW (CHIA)

The Community Housing Industry Association NSW (CHIA) is the peak industry body for housing associations in NSW.

CHIA is a provider of a wide range of good practice advice and resources, a facilitator of the ongoing development of the sector, and the leading provider of social housing training in Australia.  CHIA is a Registered Training Organisation and provides training opportunities through the Centre for Training in Social Housing business arm.

People with Disability Australia

People with Disability Australia (PWDA) is a national Australian disability rights and advocacy organisation. Membership is made up of people with disability and organisations primarily constituted by people with disability. PWDA also have a large associate membership of other individuals and organisations committed to the disability rights movement

PWDA have a cross-disability focus representing the interests of people with all kinds of disability through the provision of  rights-related information, advice and referral services, advocacy, research and development, training and education.

Physical Disability Council of NSW

The Physical Disability Council of NSW (PDCN) is the peak organisation representing people with physical disability across New South Wales. PDCN provide information and referrals to assist people with physical disabilities. PDCN also lobby governments and decision makers to change the law to best serve people with disabilities.

Shelter NSW

Shelter NSW, is the state’s peak advocate for housing justice. Shelter NSW unites the voices of low-income tenants and non-profit organisations. Shelter NSW conducts research and provides education on housing issues, as well as advocating to government to make the housing system work better for those on low incomes. They are a not-for-profit, non-government organisation and are not aligned to any political party or commercial organisation.

Synapse and the Brain Injury Association of New South Wales (BIA NSW)

Synapse and the Brain Injury Association of New South Wales (BIA NSW) have unified and brought their services together under the Synapses brand.

Synapse is the peak body representing people affected by brain injury within New South Wales. Synapses contribute to policy development to ensure the needs of people with a brain injury in NSW are met. Synapses works to build the capacity of the sector to act as a strong and unified voice for people affected by brain injury. Synapses empowers people with a brain injury, and advocates to improve policies, practices and services and increase community awareness.

The Council on the Ageing NSW

The Council on the Ageing NSW (COTA NSW) is the peak organisation for people over 50 in New South Wales. COTA NSW are an independent, consumer-based non-government organisation who work with governments, policy makers, and service providers as well as media representatives to make sure the views of those over 50 are heard and their needs are met. COTA NSW also provide information and fact sheets to assist people over 50 with important issues.

The Older Women’s Network

The Older Women’s Network (OWN) is a peak organisation for Older Women’s Network groups in New South Wales. Membership is available to all women’s groups who consider themselves ‘older’ and are willing to accept the name and constitution of the organisation.

OWN promotes the rights, dignity and wellbeing of older women through a range of state-wide activities, to advocate on issues of concern to older women and to support OWN groups in NSW.

The Seniors Rights Service

Seniors Rights Service provides free, confidential advocacy, advice, education and legal services to older people in New South Wales.

Advocates assist recipients of all Commonwealth funded aged-care services, their carers’ or family members to understand their rights under the Aged Care Act 1997.

The Seniors Rights legal service provides advice, assistance and education to older people in NSW. Including: consumer issues (debt management, unfair contracts), human rights (elder abuse including financial, discrimination), planning ahead (wills, power of attorney, guardianship), accommodation issues (granny flats) and other issues.

YFoundation (previously Youth Accommodation Association - YAA)

YFoundation is a peak body that seeks to end homelessness in NSW and Australia-wide. YFoundation seeks to represent the needs of young people at risk of, or experiencing homelessness and those services who support them.

The Foundation is a network of member services working with young people, government organisations, concerned individuals, and other organisations to develop a range of policies to improve service provision to homeless young people.

Youth Action & Policy Association NSW Inc - Youth Action (previously YAPA)

Youth Action is the peak organisation representing young people and youth services in NSW. Youth Action strives to achieve social justice for young people, including the appropriate provision of services for young people.

Youth Action:

• monitors and responds to government policies and proposals affecting young people
• promotes and advocates on issues affecting young people and youth services
• brings young people and youth workers together to act on issues affecting them
• works to raise a positive profile of young people in the media and in the community
• provides training, forums and conferences to young people and youth workers
• provides information and referral
• produces a range of resources, publications and newsletters.