UnitingCare Australia advocacy makes an impact

UnitingCare Australia, a key agency of the Uniting Church in Australia, has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement today of an additional $11.7 million investment in emergency relief and financial counselling services for Australians in need due to rising cost-of-living pressures.

Tamara Thomas, the National Director of UnitingCare Australia, today expressed gratitude for the great effort from member organisations in assembling and providing the most up to date and relevant data to facilitate a very persuasive case being put to government. Across the country, frontline services are seeing demand rise sharply. Every emergency relief service is experiencing increased demand, with many reporting significant growth and changes in who needs help, including more people in paid work and families with children.

Ms Thomas stated: “We commend the Government for listening and responding to our call to support people doing it toughest and the frontline services holding communities together during a deeply challenging time.”

The additional funding includes: 

• $8.5 million for Commonwealth-funded Emergency Relief providers.
• $1 million in targeted additional support related to Cyclone Narelle.
• $2.24 million for Financial Wellbeing Hubs and financial counselling in high-needs and disaster-prone areas.

This timely support will make a significant difference to thousands of families and individuals most in need. The Government announcement reflects a dynamic and fast-moving advocacy effort by UnitingCare Australia, working in conjunction with the other major church social services providers.

As fuel supply volatility and scarcity continues to unfold, UnitingCare Australia sees this funding as a vital step in the Government’s broader response as it works through its plan to keep Australia moving.

“Emergency relief and financial counselling are a critical safety net,” Ms Thomas said. As cost-of-living pressures continue, our government must keep acting – not only to stabilise services now, but to support people earlier and prevent hardship from escalating.”

Emergency relief plays a critical role in helping people through immediate crises, but Ms Thomas warned that demand will remain high without broader action on the cost of living, housing, and income support.

UnitingCare Australia is one of the largest networks of social services providers in Australia, delivering 5.8 million interactions each year across urban, rural and remote communities.

The UnitingCare network is powered by over 55,000 staff and 17,000 volunteers and have proudly been there for all Australians for more than 100 years.  

UnitingCare Australia is a national advocate for social justice, working across party lines to give a voice to the most vulnerable in our community.