Cash for education campaign

The Federal Government recently announced that $350,000 would be awarded to the National LGBT Health Alliance for same-sex education about changes to social security requirements for same-sex couples.

-œCentrelink will work with the LGBT Health Alliance and the National Welfare Rights Network and other members of the Community Reference Group to ensure the implementation of the same-sex reforms is done in a respectful and compassionate way, Minister for Human Services Senator Joe Ludwig told Southern Star.

-œWe are working hard to ensure all same-sex couples understand their obligations, and an important part of this is listening to community concerns.

A national advisory group, to be established by the Health Alliance and based at the AIDS Council of NSW, will review the way Centrelink policies impact on the community.

As of July 1, all same-sex couples will need to inform Centrelink of their status.

A Centrelink spokeswoman confirmed the agency was looking at internal guidelines in -œsensitively delivering the new policy.

Welfare Rights Centre director Maree O’Halloran urged couples to have their status assessed by Centrelink or the Welfare Rights Centre.

Since the funding was announced, state-based groups have expressed concern they won’t have enough say in how the money will be distributed by NSW-based organisations.

Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby co-convenor Hayley Conway said Victorian community groups will keep a watchful eye on the process.

-œIt is essential that the Alliance and ACON are consulting with groups and not in a way that’s created to placate community organisations but in a way designed to create the best possible campaign and to recognise the needs of the community differ from state to state, she said.

National LGBT Health Alliance executive director Gabi Rosenstreich rejected claims the education campaign may become Sydney-centric.

-œThere will be mechanisms to ensure that it is a truly national campaign. The Alliance is a national organisation with members in every state and territory. Their expertise, their knowledge, their connections have already been flowing in. We’re also well linked with a coalition of other organisations in various states who’ve been doing this lobby work, she said.

-œThe delivery in all cases will be local, so there’ll be that central structure to make sure that happens in a very short space of time, with limited resources.