Cranbourne Information Support Service (CISS) Director Leanne Petrides and Holt MP Anthony Byrne discuss the recent funding announcement for five Casey organisations, which provide emergency relief services. 65971
By Bridget Cook
COMMUNITY organisations which provide emergency relief for Casey’s most vulnerable residents have received a funding boost to help them continue their vital services.
Holt MP Anthony Byrne announced last week that the Federal Government would provide an additional $1.396 million over three years to assist five Casey organisations.
Cranbourne Information Support Service (CISS) Director Leanne Petrides said while they were extremely pleased about the significant funding, the organisations would never be able to keep up with the demand for their services.
The funding is for emergency relief services, which provides vulnerable families and individuals with life essentials including food, clothing, pharmacy, transport vouchers and help with accommodation and utility bills.
Mr Byrne said ongoing provision for front line organisations would ensure services in our region could continue to help people in need.
“This funding recognises the financial pressures faced by many families in the region who need to access emergency relief services,” he said.
Ms Petrides said with demand increasing, the funding for CISS, who received $437,805, would go a long way to meeting the needs of the most vulnerable in our community.
“When I first started here 12 years ago, we were receiving about only $11,000 funding from the Federal Government,” she said.
“Over the years the funding has increased to try and keep up with the increased demand. That’s a massive difference in the funding required.
“But the reality is we still will not be able to meet the demand.
“Most days we run out of the practical support we provide.
“It’s particularly hard as we are providing a service in an area that’s demographically growing … and also an area that does struggle, with many people earning a low income or reliant on Centrelink benefits.
“So many people in the local community tell our volunteers they don’t know where they’d be without us.”
Ms Petrides said they were grateful for the extended funding.
“Without funding like this, the emergency relief section of our services would not be able to run,” she said.
“It’s great to be able to pass the significant support we receive like this on to the most vulnerable in community.”
Other local organisations to receive the funding support were Casey North Community Information and Support Service, $419,385, Doveton Baptist Benevolent Society, $59,679, Endeavour Ministries, $105,852 and Salvation Army Doveton Family Support Service and Foodbank, $373,272.
