❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding financial counselling services in Mandurah, the Peel Region, and Rockingham, focusing on funding cuts, increased demand due to unemployment, and staffing levels at Finucare and Anglicare. The Minister's response deflects specific details, highlighting overall state funding and provider autonomy.
AnsweredQoN 5981Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to financial counselling services in Mandurah and the Peel Region, and ask: (a) can the Minister detail the current fulltime equivalent (FTE) financial counsellors for Mandurah and the Peel Region, and the organisations that employ them; (b) can the Minister confirm that Finucare only has 1 FTE financial counsellor and Anglicare only 0.5 FTE financial counselor (delivering a service to the Byford Area); (c) with the current FTE service provision having been cut in half in September 2012 and the current economic downturn and the fact the Mandurah is now the second highest place of unemployment nationally, how does the Minister expect existing services in the Peel Region to cater for an increase in demand; (d) what is the Minister doing to restore funding to agencies in Mandurah and Peel; (e) when is the Minister going to provide additional financial resources to the Peel Region in order for the increase in demand for financial counselling services; (f) how many financial counsellors (FTE) are currently available in the City of Rockingham local government area and what agencies employ those FTE's; and (g) how many financial counsellors (FTE) were available in the City of Rockingham Local Government area and what agencies employed those FTE's in the financial year 2012/2013, 2013/2014 and 2014/2015?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 November 2016
Responded by
Minister for Community Services
Response time
29 days
(a) - (g) The Liberal National Government contributes $5.6 million for financial counselling services in Western Australia. This is amongst the highest funding in Australia, exceeded only by the much more populous states of New South Wales and Victoria.
Funding is provided to Finucare for financial counselling services in the Mandurah/Peel region and Anglicare is funded for services within the southeast metropolitan region, including Byford. Funding is also provided to the Financial Counsellors Association of Western Australia for a state-wide helpline.
The contracted service providers are responsible for determining how this funding is used to deliver their service. Therefore, the determination of staffing levels (FTEs) is at the discretion of each service.
My department will continue to work with contracted service providers and partners in local, State and Commonwealth Governments to target services to those most in need.
Funding is provided to Finucare for financial counselling services in the Mandurah/Peel region and Anglicare is funded for services within the southeast metropolitan region, including Byford. Funding is also provided to the Financial Counsellors Association of Western Australia for a state-wide helpline.
The contracted service providers are responsible for determining how this funding is used to deliver their service. Therefore, the determination of staffing levels (FTEs) is at the discretion of each service.
My department will continue to work with contracted service providers and partners in local, State and Commonwealth Governments to target services to those most in need.
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