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 Kristy, Manoora Neighbourhood Centre with QCOSS   Sector Development Manager, Sarah Walker 

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Building the density, diversity and connectedness of our organisational membership.

We connect and consult with our diverse membership base, drawing on their collective wisdom to shape our advocacy and strengthen our political voice. At the same time, we create opportunities for members to engage directly with Queensland’s decision-makers.

 Gladstone Town Hall, 2025 

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 Cairns Town Hall, 2025 

 Toowoomba Town Hall, 2025 

 Cairns Town Hall, 2025 

QCOSS worked alongside our members to amplify community voices and influence the decisions shaping Queensland. The year was shaped by pivotal moments, including the lead-up to the state election in October 2024, where our Town Halls, campaigns and Leaders’ In Conversation events brought the realities of housing stress, rising costs, and community service pressures to the forefront of political debate. Throughout the year, our policy networks, research, consultations, submissions, workforce development, and events ensured members’ insights consistently informed reform and delivered impact. 


QCOSS also welcomed new members, building a more diverse community of voices that strengthened our advocacy and demonstrated how collective action can shape major conversations and drive meaningful change.

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During 2024-2025 we:


Delivered on our membership strategy:
QCOSS welcomed 49 new members in 2024–25. During this period QCOSS introduced a new category of supporter membership, which allowed individuals to access a range of benefits but not have voting rights. Organisational membership among larger membership grew by approximately 10%.


Hosted Town Halls across Queensland to determine our strategic impact areas:
Ahead of the State Budget, QCOSS visited 11 locations (metro and regional) and spoke to more than 260 sector workers to discuss emerging issues, share the latest regional data and talk about workforce development.


Strengthened member connectedness and growth through QCOSS’ networks:
QCOSS hosted a range of networks to ensure our research, advocacy and workforce activities were guided by member input. 

Our networks included:
 

  • Community Services CEO Network: Shaped solutions to sector issues with a focus on structural reform, meeting four times during 2024–25 and has more than 120 members. 
     

  • Quality Collaboration Network: Shared experiences, information, peer support and resources on audit and quality matters, meeting ten times during 2024–25 and has more than 760 members. 
     

  • Human Rights Network: Deepened understanding of human rights and how to apply them in practice, meeting four times during 2024–25 and has more than 3,500 members
     

  • DFSV Data Insights Network: Strengthened data capacity across Queensland’s DFSV sector by fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing to promote evidence-based practice, hosting four webinars in 2024–25 and has more than 750 members.  

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QCOSS Senior Data Analyst presenting at the Gladstone Town Hall, 2025

  • Policy Networks:​

  • Research and Evaluation Network: Collaborated and shared knowledge on data collection and service evaluation systems, hosting eight webinars in 2024–25 and has more than 1830 members. 
     

  • Women’s Equality Network: Responded to and provided advice on matters relating to women’s equality, meeting three times during 2024–25 and has more than 45 members.
     

  • Essential Services Consultative Group: Influenced energy policy processes and contributed to government policy on key consumer reforms, meeting four times during 2024–25 and has 33 members. 

Other highlights:

  • Convened the Queensland Peaks Network: Identified sector issues and shared perspectives, meeting quarterly in 2024–25 and has 29 member organisations.
     

  • Delivered an events program: Delivered 92 events, proudly bringing together 7,525 participants through impactful and inclusive events that inspired connection, action and change.
     

  • Hosted In Conversations events: Hosted events with
    Queensland’s political leaders ahead of the 2024 state election.

 QCOSS CEO Aimee McVeigh with former Minister for   Education and Youth Justice, Hon Di Farmer, 2024 

Establishing Queensland’s interim DFV Peak 

​QCOSS began engaging with the sector to establish a member-based organisation that reflects the breadth of services delivered across the state. Throughout 2024–25, QCOSS focused on building the foundation for a strong and representative peak through the first phase of establishment.

 

During 2024–25 we: 

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  • Established an advisory group: In September 2024, we established an interim DFV Peak Advisory Group of 15 experienced sector representatives from across Queensland. The group met regularly to guide the independent establishment of the peak. 
     

  • Engaged with the DFV sector: More than 160 representatives from the DFV sector had their voices heard in structured engagement sessions across metro and regional Queensland during the period, and provided feedback on DFV sector issues and the impact on their workforce and community. They also shared insights on the constitution, membership and board establishment, and sector priorities to build a strong foundation with advocacy and policy aligned to the needs of all communities and Queensland’s diverse DFV sector. 
     

  • Commissioned First Nations guidance: Ninti Kata Consultancy, a specialist First Nations consultancy, was contracted to help establish a framework for a Lived Experience Advisory Group. A framework for this Lived Experience Advisory Group was delivered to QCOSS as the interim DFV Peak body in June 2025. 
     

  • Made seven submissions, advocating for the DFV sector.

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