LABOR’S candidate for South West Coast has promised to dip into his own funds to help Lifeline expand its reach into south-west communities.
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After speaking with the organisation’s regional management yesterday, Roy Reekie said there was a clear need for a more reliable funding stream to handle an ever-increasing workload of crisis support services.
“Lifeline needs a minimum of $400,000 a year to support two more staffing positions for the region,” he said.
“I have proposed that a group of businesses sponsor one position.
“I would be one of those and if elected my electorate office would support the cause.
“If not elected I would help out from my own funds.
“I’d be recruiting other businesses who see value in what Lifeline does.
“It’s a personal commitment of mine.”
Mr Reekie’s visit to the operation’s south-west headquarters in Warrnambool came after the Coalition, under Premier and South West Coast MP Denis Napthine, promised $3.7 million to Lifeline in Geelong and Ballarat regions.
Lifeline south-west board chairwoman Mary Graham said while promises for Geelong and Ballarat were welcomed, it was disappointing the needs closer to Warrnambool did not get a funding boost.
“We are a high-performing centre in the network,” she said.
So far this year Lifeline’s south-west workers have handled 12,500 crisis calls for assistance, many from interstate.
It costs about $250,000 a year to run the operation, with only nine per cent coming from government. The balance comes from op shop income, a clean-and-clear service and donations.
The organisation estimates its vision to run to a five-seat counselling centre operating 18 hours a day across the region would cost $1m a year.
In Warrnambool there are 12 workers, including three full-time equivalent staff, providing crisis telephone counselling 10 hours a day.
Mr Reekie said with recent Portland job losses, high youth unemployment, domestic violence and rising drug abuse the need for crisis help was increasing.
pcollins@fairfaxmedia.com.au