QLD social services raise alarm as hundreds of vulnerable Queenslanders denied relief amid cost of living crisis

Community organisations have been forced to deny hundreds of vulnerable Queenslanders relief amid the crippling cost of living crisis.

Community organisations have been forced to deny hundreds of vulnerable Queenslanders relief amid the crippling cost of living crisis.

Service providers have raised the alarm, revealing one of the state’s largest support organisations turned away over 660 calls for help from January to April with Queenslanders and services pushed to the brink.

Anglicare Southern Queensland has been unable to meet demand for emergency relief as the cost of living and housing crises escalated with Brisbane homes now the second most expensive in the country.

QCOSS CEO Aimee McVeigh. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

CEO of Anglicare Southern Queensland Sue Cooke said the disappointing number of denied assistance did not capture the breadth of the problem.

“One call often represents a whole family, so we know the numbers of vulnerable people who are missing out are actually much larger than we are seeing,” she said.

Queensland Council of Social Service Aimee McVeigh said the compounding impact of both crises was why they have been calling for more support for the community services sector.

Across southeast Queensland, community services, which are part of the Make Queensland Fair Campaign, warned the impact on children needed to be addressed by the government.

The campaign warned school disengagement was rising as parents worked longer hours, forced to leave younger children at home with siblings while some were going to school hungry, or missing specialist appointments.

Ms McVeigh said reports of some children being left alone at home were alarming, with urgent investment needed in the state budget to help low-income families.  

“Next week’s state budget will be one of the most important a Queensland treasurer has ever delivered,” she said.

“The fate of thousands of families struggling from one day to the next and the service system that supports them rests in his hands.”

Queensland Director of 54 reasons, Mena Waller, which delivers Save the Children services in Australia, said rising rent and bills had forced families to make impossible decisions when it comes to their children’s care.

“We know that children’s health is also suffering, as many parents cannot afford to pay for expensive specialist healthcare,” she said.

“Parents should not have to choose between securing necessary medical appointments for their child or putting food on the table.

Queensland Director of 54 reasons, Mena Waller.

Relationships Australia CEO Natasha Rae. Picture David Clark

CEO of Act for Kids, who provide therapy for child victims of abuse, Dr Katrina Lines said the budget was the greatest test of how committed Queensland politicians are to helping struggling families through the worst cost of living crisis in decades.

“Our services are hearing distressing stories of how families and children are facing a daily battle to have their basic human needs met,” she said.

“There are families and individuals couch surfing in unsafe, overcrowded, and even dangerous places because they have no affordable alternative.”

“Some women feel they are not able to entertain the notion of leaving an abusive relationship because they would just be forcing themselves and their children into homelessness.

Relationships Australia CEO Natasha Rae said frontline staff are struggling to cope with more clients presenting with higher levels of distress and complexity.

“This is putting enormous pressure on our frontline staff who say they feel spread too thin,” she said.

“The whole system is under pressure and there are limited options for clients on our waiting list or for whom our services aren’t suitable or immediately available.”

200,000 Queensland children have a parent or parents on income support going into weekly debt.

Ms McVeigh said the State Government’s recent announcement of a $1000 power bill rebate showed that the state can share its prosperity at budget time.

“No matter how much their parents earn, every single Queensland child should get fair and equal access to the resources and support they need for a full and rich life,” she said.

Originally published as QLD social services raise alarm as hundreds of vulnerable Queenslanders denied relief amid cost of living crisis