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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-02-03 Daily Xml
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LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLD SUPPORT

45 Mr HANNA (Mitchell) (30 September 2008). Given the reduction in anti-poverty services and financial counselling services by the department and the inability of NGOs to meet this demand, what other measures will be taken by the government to support low income households in financial stress?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Northern Suburbs, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability): I provide the following information:

The Department for Families and Communities has the lead agency role in government for providing emergency financial assistance and financial counselling to people who are in need due to financial distress.

The Anti-Poverty Program focus is for continued development of anti-poverty services across government and non-government sectors to ensure resources are targeted and delivered in a collaborative and coordinated manner to the most vulnerable people.

In January 2008, changes in Anti-Poverty policy saw priority access given for families with children under 18 years where poverty is a factor. The aim is to enhance positive outcomes for children and to reduce the risk of children entering the care and protection system.

The Anti-Poverty Program did provide Emergency Financial Assistance to 27,000 people in 2007-08.

In addition to there being a targeting towards families with children, there has also been a change in direction to offering an enhanced assessment of their financial issues, rather than just a focusing on resolving the immediate crisis only.

This means that the Community Support Workers are taking into account wider issues in the client's current circumstances with a view to working with the client to effectively ameliorate the longer term effects of poverty. The activities undertaken within the interview can include; developing short-term money plans, negotiations with creditors, establishing realistic payments plans and payment of assistance.

In regard to financial counselling, anecdotal evidence indicates that there were some regular clients of services, who had become reliant on small amounts of money such as a bus ticket or small cash payment. These clients have been offered a substantial interview aimed at resolving their budget issues, so that they do not need to present as often to the Families SA District Centre nor to non-government organisations.

Secondly, during 2006-07 and 2007-08 it was noted that energy debt was a major factor, however, since the introduction of Hardship Programs by Energy Retailers, who work in collaboration with the Anti-Poverty Community Support Workers, there has been a marked decrease in the expenditure to clients due to energy debt.

Thirdly, there has been a strengthening of the government/non-government anti-poverty support network. The Department for Families and Communities provided just over $1 million ($1,034,500) to non-government agencies to support individuals and families in the community who experience extreme financial difficulties.

It is intended that the refocusing of the Anti-Poverty Customer Services teams to more intensive work in initial interviews will enhance the outcome for clients and their families.

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