National Coordination Group
Purpose
The National Coordination Group (NCG) was established on 11 April 2020. It provides advice to the Minister for Social Services on Emergency Relief, Food Relief and Financial Counselling funding in response to cost of living pressures and natural disasters.
Local Government Area Coordinators guide the NCG about what is happening on the ground. The NCG also conducts its own research and data analysis.
The NCG does not review or assess funding proposals or allocate or distribute funds. Funding decisions are a matter for the Minister for Social Services.
Membership
Member organisations of the NCG are appointed by invitation from the Minister for Social Services. Membership is not for a set term. Members of the NCG include senior representatives from:
- Emergency Relief
- Food Relief
- Financial Counselling
- Volunteering.
Additional membership includes Department of Social Services staff.
Chair
Ms Claerwen Little, National Director, UnitingCare Australia
Members
- Ms Liza Balmer, Chief Executive Officer, Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women's Council Aboriginal Corporation
- Dr Jo-Anne Fearman, Chief Executive Officer, Launceston City Mission
- Ms Brianna Casey, Chief Executive Officer, Foodbank Australia
- Ms Kasy Chambers, Executive Director, Anglicare Australia
- Reverend Stu Cameron, Chief Executive Officer, Wesley Mission
- Ms Lyndsey Fitzgerald, Chief Executive Officer, Jacaranda Community Centre
- Mr Stuart Foster, General Manager Community Services, The Salvation Army
- Mr Peter Gartlan, Joint Chief Executive Officer, Financial Counselling Australia
- Mr Jai O’Toole, Executive Director – State and Territory Operations, Australian Red Cross
- Mr Toby oConnor, Chief Executive Officer, St Vincent de Paul Society National Council
- Mr Mark Pearce, Chief Executive Officer, Volunteering Australia
- Ms Anna Lucia Draper, Senior Manager Corporate Services, Aboriginal Family Support Services
- Mr Patrick Burford, Group Manager Communities, Department of Social Services (Ex-Officio Member)
Contact us
The NCG welcomes contributions and ideas from Emergency Relief, Food Relief or Financial Counselling providers to assist the group with its recommendations. You can send these to ncg.secretariat@svdp.org.au.
For questions about specific funding proposals email fwc@dss.gov.au.
The Department of Social Services encourages all clients to provide feedback. This includes complaints, compliments or offering a suggestion to help improve services.
Visit the feedback and complaints page to lodge a complaint about an Emergency Relief, Food Relief or Financial Counselling grant recipient.