b"Advocatingfor change The bushfire crisis and COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the lives of many Victorians and Tasmanians this past year. Both events highlighted areas for improvement in government policy. While our people worked alongside those worst affected, our advocacy team pressed for increased funding and rule changes so that we could deliver fairer outcomes for affected groups.Fights for a fairer counselling, and the disproportionate levels of unemployment and disadvantage in rural and welfare systemregional areas.In September 2019, we made a submission to theWe reiterated that raising the rate of Newstart, Senate Inquiry into Adequacy of Newstart andYouth Allowance and related payments is the related payments and alternative mechanisms tosingle most effective step to reducing poverty in determine the level of income support paymentsAustralia. We also called for the rate of Newstart in Australia'.(now called JobSeeker) to be raised by $75 a week, We made this submission because every area ofas the first necessary action. Since the hearing, our organisation is affected by inadequate incomethe temporary Coronavirus Supplement has been support payments. This ranges from our servicesintroduced which has increased peoples payments in financial counselling, emergency relief, energyby $550 a fortnight. This increase has had an concessions, mental health, disability, employmentimmediate impact on the lives of people that rely and homelessness through to support for peopleupon it. We continue to argue against any return leaving out-of-home care. to the previous level. Our submission was informed by the lived experienceUniting Vic.Tas was referred to frequently of our consumers, who generously shared theirthroughout the committees report. In line with time and stories with us during focus groups. Theyour submission, they recommended that once highlighted how low payment rates impacted theirthe Coronavirus Supplement is phased out, daily lives, wellbeing and sense of dignity.the Australian Government [needs to] increase the JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance and In November, we were invited to give evidenceParenting Payment rates to ensure that all eligible at the Inquiry based on our submission. CEOrecipients do not live in poverty.Bronwyn Pike and Team Leader of FinancialThe Raise the Rate campaignwhich is run Counselling in Goulburn North East, Kailythrough the social services sectorhas applied Goodsell, both presented to Senators at the publicconsistent pressure to the government to make hearing. Bronwyn told Senators about the wide- a change. Their ongoing work has created a reaching impacts of the current welfare policieshuge shift in public opinion around income on peoples mental health and wellbeing, socialsupport rates. This change means that there is inclusion and economic participation. Kaily drewnow far-reaching support to maintain higher on her experience to highlight the resiliencerates permanently.and resourcefulness that rural and regional communities show in the face of such challenges. IC This work reflects our commitment to injustice Other items discussed included homelessness, theconfronted and public policy influenced.rising demand for emergency relief and financial 34 Uniting Vic.Tas Annual Report 2019-2020"