It’s not about the bread – UCV&T Emergency relief report launch

UnitingCare tells Senate Inquiry that social services get better value for money and produce better outcomes than involuntary income management. 25 February

Major Church Providers host successful Industry Issues Forum. 18 February

UnitingCare Australia announces new acting National Director. 16 February

UnitingCare Australia looks forward to the Third Intergenerational Report. 02 February

UnitingCare's submission to the Inquiry into the contribution of the NFP sector. 18 December

Review of the Australian Public Service: UnitingCare submission. 3 December

UnitingCare Australia Opposes Involuntary Income Management. 25 November

'Because Children and Families Matter' - Analysis of Government reforms released. 18 November

It’s not about the bread – UCV&T Emergency relief report launch

14 October 2009

The It’s not about the bread report from UnitingCare Victoria and Tasmania (UCV&T) was released at a successful launch at South Port Uniting Church in Melbourne last week. The report documents UCV&T agencies’ experience of emergency relief and shows that financial hardship had been rising prior to the Global Financial Crisis. It highlights a range of reasons and strategies behind a 76 per cent hike in emergency relief requests since 2005.

Report findings show:

• Demand for food and rent assistance is increasing the most and more people across a wider socio-economic scale are seeking emergency relief for the first time and repeatedly.
• Eleven of the 14 UCV&T agencies have not been able to meet all requests for assistance.
• Volunteers – who make up 94% of agency workforce – are requiring ongoing up-skilling to contend with the growing complexity and severity of hardships experienced.
• Financial stress is causing more social isolation, depression, loneliness, family breakdowns and school absences.

UCV&T director, Raoul Spackman- Williams said one of the report’s most notable points showed income affordability was not matching the rising cost of living for many. “A strong picture has emerged indicating that [UnitingCare’s] emergency relief program is increasingly serving the purpose of income support for more and more people who are living below the poverty line.” You can read Raoul’s full speech here.

UnitingCare Australia’s National Director Lin Hatfield Dodds spoke at the launch, noting that more federal government support was needed. “This report will help direct the work with government to decide a strong health and financial wellbeing system – because it’s about more than just the bread.”

You can read a report of the launch on the Synod of Vic.Tas’ Media Room here. The full report is on the UCV&T website here. The findings from this research reinforce advice from UnitingCare Australia and the Major Church Providers about the need for fundamental reform of the Emergency Relief program. You can read more about this advice here.

L to R: Anne Garrow, CEO South Port UnitingCare; Lin Hatfield Dodds, National Director UnitingCare Australia; Ces Martin, Director UnitingCare Sunshine Mission; Elaine Wilkinson, Community Worker, South Port UnitingCare; Rene Ploegmakers, Financial Counselling and Emergency Relief Manager, Broadmeadows UnitingCare; Raoul Spacknman-Williams, Director UnitingCare Victoria and Tasmania; Bessy Andriotis, Strategy and Policy Manager, UnitingCare Victoria and Tasmania.