Catholic social services agencies are calling on all parties to commit to genuine investment in regional communities and the services that support South Australia’s most vulnerable people in the lead-up to Saturday’s state election. Source: CSSA.
Catholic Social Services Australia, Centacare Catholic Country SA, and Centacare Catholic Community Services have joined to highlight critical gaps in funding, housing, and support for families and children across South Australia.
The agencies, which collectively support thousands of South Australians every day, are backing calls from the South Australian Council of Social Service (SACOSS), Child and Family Focus SA (CAFFSA) and other peak bodies for urgent action on community service funding, housing availability, and extended support for young people leaving care.
“Our frontline carers see every day the impact of inadequate funding and the growing gap between what communities need and what they’re receiving” CSSA chief executive Jerry Nockles said
“We’re calling on all parties to commit to further action in the following key areas: genuine progress on Closing the Gap outcomes and targets, urgent action on housing and homelessness, strengthened family support including for women and children experiencing family and domestic violence, improving child reunification rates and extending support to 21 years for residential care leavers in South Australia.”
SACOSS’s Indexation for the SA Not-for-Profit Sector report revealed that South Australia’s 2.5 per cent indexation rate is the second-lowest in the country and has failed to keep pace with rising wage, superannuation, and service delivery costs.
Regional communities face additional costs and challenges in accessing services, yet funding hasn’t kept pace with rising costs. An immediate funding boost to cover cost increases over the past year, and adoption of a new indexation formula would adequately cover future cost increases.
Centacare Catholic Country SA chief executive Michele Wachla said regional South Australians were being left behind.
“In regional areas, we have proportionately fewer public houses than metropolitan Adelaide, rental prices are rising faster, and there’s a chronic lack of emergency housing,” Ms Wachla said.
Centacare Catholic Community Services executive director Leeanne Haddad emphasised the need for extended support for young people living in residential care beyond 18 years.
FULL STORY
Regional, young and vulnerable South Australians need more than promises this election (CSSA)
