Page 3180 - Week 07 - Thursday, 1 July 2010
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being funded is, of course, supported, the ACT Greens still believe that investing comprehensively in the community sector and the work they do continues to be a missed opportunity for the ACT government.
Community service providers report that they have not received any substantial funding increases to maintain their work, let alone meet the increasing demands that are placed upon them. We continue to hear from community organisations through their evidence within evidence estimates that they are still grappling with turnover of staff, poorer conditions than their local and federal government counterparts and a tendency to be stuck at the front line doing the work with few resources.
We knew last year that the impact of the GFC would be massive on community services as families, children, men and women who had had no need to ask for help would be placed in circumstances that made it impossible for them to avoid it. However, what we have seen in this year’s budget process is very little in the way of extra funding going into the non-government organisations.
While we commend the injection of funds into care and protection services, it is increasingly obvious that, unless we work towards some sustainable and long-term vision for the future for the non-government community and youth sectors, we are not going to be able to meet the need and will find it increasingly difficult to attract people to what is a rewarding area of work but one that faces pressures and difficulties at times that also make it heartbreaking.
In order to retain females and attract more males to positions within the community sector, we need to provide more attractive salary and work conditions. Unless we achieve parity between the government and non-government sector workforces, the sector will continue to struggle to employ and retain many workers who would bring great skills and experience to community sector agencies.
The second part of the message we send is that as a community we do not value the work that is being predominantly delivered by women—work that we know cares for and assists the most vulnerable people in our community. Something that worries me is that anyone at any time can be placed in a position of vulnerability and in need of support from within their community.
Canberra has experienced this first hand with the outcome and effects of the 2003 bushfires. Having experienced a crisis like this that now forms a part of our history and identity, we need to ensure that Canberra agrees and works towards fully supporting, funding and raising the profile of the work conducted by the community sector and to ensure that anyone at any time can access the supports and help they need.
In regard to therapy services, the ACT Greens believe it is an important area of work for government to improve outcomes for people accessing therapy. Children with autism were highlighted in estimates, as was the work of the Shaddock review and how this will be progressed. Although no recommendations were made directly in this area, I note that I have placed several questions on notice to seek further clarification about issues that were not able to be raised within the estimates process and were brought to my attention by constituents. I keenly await the answers to those questions.
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