Government proposal seeking to decimate Community Resource Centre funding

Hopetoun and Ravensthorpe will be stung


Article heading image for Government proposal seeking to decimate Community Resource Centre funding

Drastic changes for Community Resource Centres across the state, including centres at Hopetoun and Ravensthorpe are expected to be announced at this year’s budget (next Thursday 10 May).

And the changes aren’t for the better, with Regional Development minister Alannah MacTiernan releasing a proposal that would divide Hopetoun and Ravensthorpe into two funding tiers, effectively slashing funds they receive from the state government.

The Hopetoun CRC would receive 42 percent less under the proposal, and Ravenshorpe 33 percent less. Both centres would receive a total of $70 grand a year.

It’s a big blow to the regional centres, with CRC’s providing valuable resources for WA’s most isolated locations including, Banking, Youth holiday programs, Movie nights, Library facilities, bookkeeping, grant writing, ticketing TransWA, Womens' Health and Family Service, Country Arts WA, Centrelink & Medicare, Rural in Reach & Womens' Health & family services, funeral services and financial counselling, just to name a few!

Ms MacTiernan said the funding proposal focused on a more sustainable model.

Some centres will only be offered $50,000 a year under the proposed changes if they exist within a community with a population of over 3,000 people or are located less than 30 kilometres to the nearest centre.

Neither of these criteria apply to either Hopetoun or Ravensthorpe.

If you work for or have experience with a CRC, please tune in to Esperance 747am for Rural Focus. Jarred is dedicating the show to CRC’s and the impending cuts. He will be speaking to manager of Community Resource Centre’s around the state, and the government officials who are for and against the funding cuts.

Tune in!

2 May 2018




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