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Solid start for Community Response Task Force |
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| 03 Mar 2009 |
 The first meeting of the Federal Government’s Community Response Task Force has provided the country’s leading welfare organisations with a positive opportunity to present the issues facing vulnerable Australians struggling with the economic downturn according to one its members, Mission Australia’s CEO, Toby Hall.The Task Force – established by the Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, to help the not-for-profit sector work more closely with the government on the impact the global financial crisis is having on disadvantaged Australians – met in Melbourne this morning... Mr Hall said Mission Australia was particularly keen to raise the need for financial counselling and information to be provided to people before they hit crisis point. “One of the areas we’re experiencing a real surge in people needing our help is in our financial counselling services. “We’re seeing a diverse range of clients – from self-funded retirees who are suddenly in serious trouble after having their finely balanced finances knocked sideways, to people on low-income who’ve had their hours cut at work and are now struggling to stay afloat on a reduced salary. “Exacerbating the problem is the fact that in the current climate, some creditors are being less flexible and are seeking to recover their debts more quickly and in larger amounts. “This is adding fuel to rising rates of personal bankruptcy, particularly in states like NSW. “As the downturn bites we need to find a proactive way to provide financial counselling to people before they get into trouble – not just pick up the pieces once the problem has hit. “The challenge is often people won’t seek the help they need until it’s too late because they’re embarrassed or because of the stigma they feel in approaching a welfare organisation for help. “We need to provide people with an ‘easy entry’ point where they can get the help they need from skilled counsellors while we still have the capacity to turn things around. One such point could be when people are seeking help finding work through their Job Network provider. “While the Federal Government has also recently boosted funds to provide more financial counsellors on the ground, we think there’s still a case for more numbers – particularly in regional areas. “Our financial counsellors – who are mostly based in NSW – are being run off their feet by rising numbers of people coming through their doors. And the work they’re doing is increasingly complex so cases take longer to process. “Today’s meeting was a solid start and I know that all the Task Force’s members look forward to tackling these problems in the months ahead,” said Mr Hall. Media contact: Paul Andrews (02) 9219 2080 or 0409 665 495. Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites           |
News Updates
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