State Government ends support for Wimmera counselling service

Wimmera Uniting Care chief executive Wendy Middleton said on June 17 the organisation was forced to use its own funds to continue a rural counselling service after the State Government indicated its support for the program would end on June 30.

A Department of Human Services spokesman told the Mail-Times last week the funding decision was due to a shift in drought funding focus from emergency response to long- term adjustment.

The department's new policy focus will come into effect on June 30.

A spokesman for Minister for Mental Health, Senior Victorians and Community Services Lisa Neville was unaware funding would be cut for the rural counsellors program until informed by the Mail Times.

But the spokesman said the state would now focus funds on long-term counselling services already in place in communities.

He said funds would go towards long-term rural adjustment and climate change, but had no further information on what programs the funding might involve.

"The funding will cease for the program because the focus has changed," the spokesman said.

"Funding will go to community health agencies and support agencies already in place.

"Also there will be a focus on long term adjustment. The strategy is about rural adjustment and ongoing change and impacts of this in the community."

Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty said the State Government's policy focus shift was unjustified.

"We are still classified as exceptional circumstances in this region. They think drought is just about rain but it's about grain in silos and money in the bank," Mr Delahunty said.

"It will take years to recover from the drought and that is why this counselling service still needs funding.

"The rain in the region has been wonderful but it isn't going to change anything for some time.

"I think the State Government needs to reinstate this funding immediately"