Funding for Western Australian financial counselling services has been reinstated, following a previous announcement that the services were to be defunded.
The Minister for Local Government and Communities announced on Tuesday that the metropolitan financial funding services would receive $2 million per year in State funding.
President of the WA Local Government Association (WALGA), Cr Lynne Craigie welcomed the announcement.
“Following the defunding announcement, we sought urgent discussions with the Minister for the affected Local Governments to discuss the impact on communities and what the loss of this service would mean for vulnerable people experiencing financial stress,” Cr Craigie said.
“Local Governments and the financial counselling sector have been able to demonstrate the increased benefit provided by face-to-face counselling services, particularly at a time when many more people are expected to be facing increasing financial hardship; this announcement is a win for the community.
“It is a credit to the Minister that he has heard the concerns and acted in a timely manner to address the issue through the reallocation of funds from other areas.”
Cr Craigie said the transfer of responsibility for funding to the Department of Local Government and Communities was better suited to the Department’s objectives and congratulated the Minister for his swift action to ensure services would continue.
“People in the community requiring these services are often at a breaking point in managing their financial situation and to be denied access to services for even a few months could be devastating,” Cr Craigie said.
“It is important that the State allocates the new funding to services across the metropolitan area to ensure services are easily accessible.”
The State is expected to conduct a rapid tender process for the selection of service providers during October and WALGA’s members look forward to a positive outcome for their communities.
