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Community service organisations from across South West Sydney will come together today to discuss how to tackle the growing housing and cost-of-living crises impacting local residents.
The NCOSS Local Connect Forum, hosted by the NSW Council of Social Service (NCOSS) in Campbelltown, will also highlight a growing funding crisis that could force vital local services to turn people away.
A 2023 report by NCOSS, Beyond roads and bridges: Critical social infrastructure for South West Sydney, highlighted the demand for services in the region- which is one of the fastest growing in the state.
Modelling in the report showed governments would need to invest an additional $3 billion dollars a year to address unmet need and population growth by 2041 in areas including housing, mental health services, child protection services, domestic and family violence services, and migrant and refugee services.
Local representatives from across the social services sector will come together to tackle critical challenges, and at the forefront will be a discussion about their urgent funding needs so they can continue to provide essential support for the community.
NCOSS CEO, Cara Varian said, “With the cost-of-living crisis putting more people under pressure than ever, community services are playing a critical role in supporting an increasing number of families and people in Campbelltown and across South West Sydney.
“The Local Connect Forum is about bringing everyone together across the sector, from housing, mental health, First Nations organisations, youth support, food relief and trauma-informed care, to collaborate and find ways to deliver better outcomes more efficiently for the community. In doing so, we can break down silos, build stronger networks and make sure services are coordinated in the best way possible to meet the growing needs of people who rely on them.
“Right now, we’re increasingly hearing from more and more organisations that resource limitations are becoming severe. With cost-of-living pressures affecting more families and people than ever, the demand for social services is growing rapidly. People are having to choose between medical treatment, paying the bills and putting food on the table.
“The Local Connect Forum gives us the space to connect, listen, share learnings and challenges, and work together to inform our advocacy and develop policies and solutions that can deliver vital services for the communities facing poverty and disadvantage.
“But we also need to be clear: without adequate funding from government, more and more essential services will be forced to breaking point, leaving communities without the services they need and deserve”.
Organisations registered to attend include:
AbSec | ACOSS | Agape International Church Ministries | ASURIA | Aussie Disability Services Australia | Australian Services Union | Bankstown Community Resource Group Inc. | BaptistCare | Benevolent Society | Canterbury City Community Centre | Catholic Care | CDAT Program – Odyssey House | Chester Hill Neighbourhood centre | CORE Community Services Ltd | Fair Foundations | Fitted for Work | Foodbank NSW & ACT | Greater Western Sydney Advocacy Network | HTC Rehab | Inclusive and Diverse Communities Inc | Justice Support Centre | Karitane | Liverpool Women’s Health Centre | MacKillop Family Services | Marist180 | Metro Assist | Milestone Transition and Support Services | MTC Future Ready | NAKANGO VISION | One Door Mental Health | Sector Connect Incorporated | Shelter NSW | Sydney Alliance | Sydney Women’s Fund | Tenants’ Union of NSW | The Benevolent Society | The Link Foundation AOD | The Parks Community Network | Uniting | Vietnamese Australian Welfare Associations NSW Inc | Welcoming Australia | Western Sydney Community Forum | Western Sydney Community Legal Centre | Western Sydney Migrant Resource Centre | WESTIR Ltd |