Geraldton social services in crisis: Senator

People seeking emergency assistance in Geraldton are being turned away in droves, according to a senator chairing a national inquiry into social services.

Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said she was “shocked and appalled” when she visited social services in Geraldton.

She said Federal Government cutbacks were to blame.

“They have taken $270 million out of social services — and a lot of that is from emergency relief,” she said.

“More emphasis should be put on local departments providing services. “They have thrown all the programs up in the air and re-tendered them.

“Emergency relief funding has been cut and that is a key ar- ea.

"The cut in service is playing out here in Geraldton.

“Services have lost funding and emergency funding has stopped and the new organisations that have the contracts haven’t re-started them.

“It is obvious there is a gap in funding in Geraldton for emergency relief.”

Ms Siewert said local services should have more say in the provision of services.

“It needs to be re-assessed,” she said.

“The bigger Statewide services don’t have the local knowledge to deal with issues correctly.

“It’s not just the Department of Social Services where the funding has been cut — there has been a cut in State Government funding as well, there’s been cuts in health, Youth Connections has gone.

“Wraparound services are provided to keep the organisation functional.

“There has been cuts here, cuts there, which means it undermines their whole service.”

Ms Siewert said one organisation she was aware of had lost 11 staff, while others were turning away 20-30 each day who were looking for emergency relief.

She said Geraldton had “very high” statistics for domestic violence and there were growing drug problems.

“There has been a drop in employment with the downturn in resources, so more people will require relief,” she said.

“There is an increase in demand, but services are being cut by the Federal and State Governments.

“The Feds have cut money and they don’t check to see if the State has cut money.”