b'Advocatingfor changeAs part of our mission to inspire people, enliven communities and confront injustice, we raise a collective voice to speak up for those who may not be heard.No fighting chanceTo build Unitings advocacy, we increased our capacity in research and public policy thisWe partnered with the Centre for Social Impact year, with two additional roles and the releaseat Swinburne University in 2021 to look at the of our first piece of independent research. impact of the end of COVID-19 income and We were also able to influence the publictenancy supports. This research, titled No policy through our submissions to ten publicfighting chance: Impact of the withdrawal of inquiries and consultations. COVID-19 income and tenancy benefits was released during Anti-Poverty Week. The research heard directly from consumers who access Social Services Unitings emergency relief and homelessness services about the impact of the withdrawal of Bill Regulation COVID-19 payments on them and their families.In August 2021, Uniting Vic.Tas CEO, BronwynThe report found the COVID-19 income and Pike met with the Victorian Minister for Childtenancy supports introduced as the pandemic Protection and the Minister for Disability, Ageingstarted had overwhelmingly positive impacts on and Carers, Luke Donnellan to discuss ourthe lives of people. For the first time, many didnt concerns about the Social Services Regulation have to worry about how they were going to pay Bill. At the meeting, Bronwyn acknowledgedrent, buy medicine or have enough to eat for there is room for improvement in the way thatthemselves and their children. The withdrawal of Victorias community services are regulatedthese supports impacted peoples resilience and and expressed support for a common regulatorweakened their ability to meet basic needs, secure under the Bill. She also raised concerns about thehousing, improve their health and care for children importance of minimising regulatory overlaps, theand other dependents. The findings of this report need for adequate assistance for organisationssupport numerous other studies in the area and to meet the regulatory requirements and thestrengthens the case for a permanent increase in need for adequate funding to support the costsincome and rental support.of compliance.Read the no fighting chance report36 Uniting Vic.Tas Annual Report 2021-2022'