NESB Community Advisory Group Forum minutes - 8 December 2011

4. Centrelink joint initiatives with ATO - Sam Campisi

Sam discussed the partnership between DHS (Centrelink) and the ATO. He spoke of our shared values and ideals, which includes our focus on developing stakeholder relationships and assisting new migrants making the transition to life in Australia positive and efficient as possible.

Sam also discussed the ways in which Centrelink and the ATO collaborate and leverage off each other's capabilities. These tactics include:

• Bi-lateral quarterly meetings
• ATO's attendance at the DHS Consultative Forum, National Multicultural Forum in Canberra and quarterly Multicultural Advisory Committee (MAC) meetings
• DHS (Centrelink) attendance at ATO's NESB forums in Sydney and Melbourne
• inclusion of ATO articles in Centrelink newsletters, for example articles about Tax Time, illegal access to early super and Tax Help in The Journey
• collaboration in managing the Family Tax Benefit - the Family Tax Benefit is not payable without a Tax File Number (TFN) and that the two agencies close relationship enables Centrelink to efficiently proceed to a payment.

In closing, Sam mentioned that Centrelink and the ATO will continue to build on the relationship formed.

Sections within Agenda items

• 1. Welcome and introductions - Thang Ngo
• 2. Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) - Ross Alatsas
• 3. ATO working in partnership with the NESB community - Tracey Nicholson
• 4. Centrelink joint initiatives with ATO - Sam Campisi
• 5. AMES: sharing feedback on the Tax in Australia DVD - Ramesh Kumar
• 6. Update on work undertaken in 2011 - Jessica Billimoria
• 7. DVD for new small business launch - Tracey Nicholson
• 8. Open Forum - your feedback and suggestions
• 9. Official thank you and close - Loc Trinh