Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence faces turning to McDonald’s, Starbucks, Coca-Cola for financial help
A funding row with a Gold Coast service is brewing after federal government claimed $17m in funds were being withheld. READ THE FULL REPORT
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A FUNDING row with the Gold Coast’s largest sexual violence counselling service is brewing after federal government claimed $17m in funds were being withheld.
It’s been revealed the Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence would lose almost half its counsellors by the end of the year when $250,000 in COVID relief funding ran out. The cut would be despite the vital service seeing it’s longest waiting lists in 30 years.
In a desperate bid for funds, it is considering begging for cash from corporate donors.
The federal government gave $25m in COVID relief to the state government last year flagged specifically for services targeting domestic, family and sexual violence.
By the end of December only $8m on those funds had been spent, leaving a whopping $17m to go around services.
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A spokeswoman for federal Social Services Minister Anne Ruston said: “We would encourage all states and territories to ensure the funding pool we have provided is being spent and spent where it is most needed.”
State Minister for Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Shannon Fentiman said the money had already been allocated to services and a full report would be sent to the federal government by July 31.
“We know 2020 was a challenging year for Queensland women, and we saw an increase in domestic, family and sexual violence because of the pandemic,” she said, adding she had asked for a 12-month extension to the agreement.
Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence director Di MacLeod said applications for government grants were being completed. She said she was working to try to hold on to the four counsellors – two of whom are only funded until the end of June.
The centre has received a $10,000 donation from Varsity Against Violence.
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THE city’s largest rape and sexual assault service says it will have no option but to turn to corporate giants such as McDonald’s, Starbucks and Coca-Cola for financial help when it loses almost half of its workers because of government cuts.
The number of counsellors at the Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence will drop from nine to seven by June 30. By December 31, it will be reduced further to just five.
Overall, it will lose $250,000 from its $1 million budget.
The shortfall will come when the federal government’s domestic and family violence COVID fund begins to expire – and it could not come at a worst time with the number of vulnerable women seeking help at a “30-year high”.
Centre director Di MacLeod said: “The organisation realises that if the government isn’t able to adequately fund we will have to look to other sources such as the community and corporations.”
“This is the worst position we have been in for 30 years.
“To have a little bit of money and then have it taken away is devastating. We haven’t cleared the waitlist yet.”
The demand has been caused by the coronavirus pandemic and high-profile incidents like the March 4 Justice on Monday, allegations against federal Attorney-General Christian Porter and survivors such as Brittany Higgins speaking out.
“They hear people like Brittany and (Australian of the Year) Grace (Tame’s) stories and think, ‘that happened to me and I can put a name to it’,” Ms MacLeod said.
“Once they have put a name to it they know where they can get help.”
Many new clients are sitting on a waitlist trying to get appointments.
“I don’t see any evidence of it slowing down either,” she said.
“I am most concerned that we are not keeping pace with the current demand and what does that mean for people trying to seek help?”
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Ms MacLeod said survivors of recent rapes and sexual assaults were being prioritised and seen within 48 hours.
That means those coming forward with disclosures about events from months, years or decades ago sit waiting and are often in a crisis situation by the time they can get help.
The centre currently employs nine counsellors and advocates, two educators, an administrator and a director.
Ms MacLeod said the service’s core funding was also up for review at the end of June.
It is understood the core funding would be finalised at the end of the month.
She said certainty was needed now with counsellors already looking for jobs knowing there would not be anywhere for them to go when the funding runs out.
Mudgeeraba MP and Shadow Minister Women Ros Bates said the service needed much more funding.
“The Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence also picks up the slack for victims of domestic violence,” she said.
Ms Bates said in the past week the centre was able to find emergency accommodation for a woman fleeing her partner, when other dedicated domestic violence services could not.
Queensland Attorney-General and Minister for the Prevention Against Domestic and Family Violence Shannon Fentiman said she spoke with the centre this month about the need for funding.
“Supporting victims, listening and believing them is more important than ever and we know that 2020 was a challenging year for so many Queensland women and families,” she said.
“During COVID the Palaszczuk Government was swift to respond to the increasing demand on domestic, family and sexual violence services with an immediate funding boost of $7.5 million.
“Working with the federal government, we were also able to secure $25.6 million through COVID-19 DFV Responses National Partnership Agreement.”
The money was given to the state government to distribute as it saw fit.
Ms Fentiman said Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk had also written to Prime Minister Scott Morrison requesting for a 12-month extension on the agreement.
Ms Fentiman said she had also raised the issue with federal Minister Families and Social Services Anne Ruston.
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