CRISIS services could be capped and vulnerable residents miss out on crucial help unless the state government boosts spending in today’s budget.
Dozens of representatives from frontline service providers met with more than 50 politicians at State Parliament late last month to press the urgent need for a boost to funding to simply maintain services at current levels.
Many community sector organisations are funded under three-year agreements due to expire on June 30.
Providers fear they will be overlooked and services will be lost as the government scrambles to deliver a surplus.
Women’s Health West chief executive Robyn Gregory said the situation in the sector was the most serious she had seen in 30 years.
“It has always been an undervalued, underfunded sector that relies on the compassion and goodwill of its workers,” she said.
“But I have never seen a situation where we have to cap crisis services.”
A 30 per cent spike in the reporting of family violence in the western suburbs has placed unprecedented stress on the service.
Dr Gregory warned crisis assistance could be capped for the first time in the Footscray-based service’s history if funding failed to keep pace with rising costs.
“I’m horrified by the idea that as an organisation we have to find ways to cap assistance to women and children in crisis,” she said.
“These are poor or isolated women in a terrible situation. How can we turn them away? How can you make that choice and say somebody’s situation is worse, somebody has bigger bruises?”
Victorian Council of Social Services (VCOSS) chief executive Cath Smith said the problems were far from isolated.
“The impact of increasing unemployment and job uncertainty, along with associated rises in financial stress, means a rise in clients seeking support for housing services, financial counselling and emergency relief services,” she said.
“The people most adversely affected by any lack of funding will be the most vulnerable in society.”
A new VCOSS report proposes a five-point plan to keep the sector afloat. The strategy seeks a boost to government spending, better program and policy co-ordination, cuts to red tape, streamlining of funding applications and a comprehensive study of the economic and social contribution of the community sector.
Dr Gregory said early indications from the government were “a worry”.
“Last cycle, funding was indexed at 3.14 per cent, but [Community Services Minister] Mary Wooldridge said we would be lucky to get half of that,” she said.
