Vulnerable territorians miss out - Media Release 10th June 2009

Media Release – 10 June 2009

Vulnerable Territorians miss out

Community service organisations in the Northern Territory are being forced to turn people away because they don’t have the resources to meet the growing demands for assistance, says the Northern Territory Council of Social Service (NTCOSS).

The recently published Australian Community Sector Survey indicated that the 31 NT agencies who responded to the survey were unable to help almost 3,000 Territorians who sought assistance during 2007-08. This total would be substantially inflated by figures from other agencies that did not complete the survey.

“It is deeply concerning that these organisations are not in a position to provide help to our most disadvantaged Territorians” said NTCOSS Central Australian Policy Officer, Jonathan Pilbrow, today.

The figures from the community sector survey were collected prior to the emergence of the global financial crisis, which threatens to plunge a great many more Territorians into poverty.

“We would appeal to the NT Government to make a substantial investment in the community sector” commented Mr. Pilbrow. “Vulnerable Territorians who are victims of global circumstances far beyond their control will need some assistance to ride out the worst of the economic downturn and get back on their feet.”

Mr. Pilbrow said that wages in the community sector were 20% below those on offer in government or in the private sector. As a consequence these organisations suffer from high staff turnover, which restricts their capacity to provide an optimum level of service.

“Territorians need a strong and stable community sector to ensure that everyone gets a fair go” concluded Mr. Pilbrow