The Malinauskas Labor Government is developing an improved funding model for the State’s community centres.

The former Government’s timeline to recommission the Community and Neighbourhood Development Program (CND) has been paused, while the improved funding model is developed.

All current service agreements with CND partners will be extended from 30 October 2022 until June 2023 while that process is determined.

For the past nine years the CND program has served to help reduce social isolation for individuals experiencing vulnerability throughout South Australia.

DHS has provided approximately $3.4 million each year to fund the program through community centres, who in turn delivered more than 4,000 programs to over 455,000 people in 2020-21 alone.

In recent months the Department of Human Services (DHS) consulted with the community centre sector regarding the recommissioning of the CND Program.

Sector feedback revealed that the proposed service development improvements to better align place-based service delivery to community needs are well supported, but that there were concerns regarding the CND funding model.

Quotes

Attributed to Minister for Human Services Nat Cook

Community Centres are the beating heart of communities and the services provided are significant in terms of the needs of many community members with complexities and challenges in their lives.

If COVID has taught us anything it’s that many people in our community are one step away from crushing loneliness. Community Centres are vital as we navigate our way out of the pandemic.

Reform to the CND program’s funding model needs careful and deliberate consideration. We need a more equitable and purposeful model that distributes funds across all regions.

Our aim is to significantly help improve the health and wellbeing of socially isolated South Australians and increase community participation.

I have no doubt that an improved funding CND model will help deliver better outcomes for all South Australians.