By Sonia Isaacs
A DOMESTIC and family violence advocacy group has warned of the “chilling message” Sunshine Coast Council’s recent redundancies has caused for some of the region’s most vulnerable residents.
Speak Up Now Maleny raised concerns that the council had gutted key community support services following the decision to axe 130 positions earlier this month. The group said the decision would impact victim-survivors of domestic and family violence, people experiencing homelessness, young people and those facing mental health challenges.
Speak Up Now’s Val France said she understood that in some council portfolio areas redundancies had halved staff capacity.
“When council cuts the very staff whose job it is to look out for vulnerable people, it sends a chilling message about priorities,” Ms France said. “We are deeply worried that victim-survivors, people experiencing homelessness and those in mental health crisis will be left to fall through the cracks.
“Domestic and family violence is killing women and children right now. This is the worst possible time to be thinning out the people and programs that help keep our community safe.”
Speak Up Now says the changes could reduce specialist expertise and coordination at a time when demand for community support services continues to grow.
The advocacy group has called on Council to publicly identify which departments and portfolio areas have been affected by the current round of redundancies and provide assurances that services supporting vulnerable residents will not be diminished.
A Council spokesperson said responsibility for domestic and family violence response, statutory intervention and specialist support services rested with State Government agencies and specialist providers.
The spokesperson said Council contributed through community wellbeing initiatives, partnerships and decision-making.
“Recent staffing changes were implemented to support Council’s long-term financial sustainability, while maintaining its ability to contribute to community wellbeing outcomes,” they said.
The spokesperson added Council continued to work collaboratively with partners and investing in initiatives that strengthen community resilience, improve social outcomes and support a safe, inclusive and connected community.
Speak Up Now said it was seeking guarantees that positions in critical community support areas will not be left vacant and that coordinated support would remain adequately resourced.
Ms France said she was worried specialist community support roles were being quietly reduced behind the scenes.
“We’re not asking council to do the impossible – we’re asking them to be honest about where the cuts are falling and to guarantee that essential support won’t be quietly wound back,” she said. “Behind every ‘efficiency’ is a real person who may not get help when they need it most.”
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