Three peak bodies for vital frontline community support services have reported an unprecedented surge in the number of Victorians feeling the strain of rising economic pressures and called for State Government action.
The CEOs of Financial Counselling Victoria (FCVic), Community Information and Support Victoria (CISVic) and Neighbourhood Houses Victoria (NHVic), have shared similar experiences across their members’ service activities, including:
- Increased demand for support services that cannot be met in a timely way.
- Clients missing appointments for support, including essential medical care, because of financial pressures, in particular the cost of petrol.
- More families and individuals experiencing financial vulnerability for the first time.
- Increased costs in providing services and financial pressures on staff and volunteers.
CEO of FCVic, Zyl Hovenga-Wauchope stated, “Financial counsellors are used to working with people who are under extreme financial stress, but not in the numbers we are seeing now.”
CEO of CISVic, Kate Wheller agrees. “We are seeing much broader demand for emergency relief, with more people across the community at risk of financial hardship.”
NHVic supports a network of local community spaces that help bring people together. “Communities are doing it tough right now, particularly in regional areas”, said NHVic CEO, Keir Paterson. “Communities are pulling together to support each other, which is great, but they’re also dealing with higher levels of fear and uncertainty.”
Each of the leaders acknowledged these are difficult times for funding bodies as well, including governments who are trying to do more with less. However, this is an emerging crisis, that is likely to persist for some months and get worse before it improves. Unless solutions are found, it is likely that providers will have to scale back what they do, adding further to the stress and privation the people and communities they serve are experiencing.
The sectors highlighted three actions that would assist immediately:
- A period of at least three months of heavily discounted public transport fares, from the end of April, when the current free travel period ends;
- Additional fuel vouchers to assist vulnerable people in communities without any or sufficient public transport, to ensure continued social and economic connection; and
- An uplift to the budgets of community service providers to cover additional travel costs for providing services and support volunteers to continue their essential activities.
The sector leaders expressed their pride in the work being done across their members’ service platforms, in the face of increasing costs of delivery and pressure on staff and volunteers.
“Our people do great work so that those in distress get the help they need,” said Kate Wheller.
Keir Paterson added, “Our Neighbourhood Houses provide safe spaces for people to share their concerns and stresses, with people who really do understand because they are part of the same community.”
Zyl Hovenga-Wauchope provided this timely reminder, “The staff and volunteers across our service networks rely on adequate resources to perform their roles. What was adequate a few months ago, no longer is.”
Media contact:
Amanda Chan, Advocacy Manager
Financial Counselling Victoria
E: [email protected]
Available spokespeople:
- Zyl Hovenga-Wauchope, CEO, Financial Counselling Victoria
- Kate Wheller, CEO, Community Information and Support Victoria
- Keir Paterson, CEO, Neighbourhood Houses Victoria