With the financial impacts of COVID-19 still rapidly evolving, SAFCA is aware that recovery from the pandemic will be uneven and that financially vulnerable people will need greater support. Amongst the complex issues our members are seeing is gambling, mental health and domestic and family violence. While the statistics are hard to find to quantify this, we are also concerned about the over-representation of Aboriginal people across all of these issues.
The rise in gambling is reported in a national study undertaken by the Australian Gambling Research Centre showing that one in three participants signed up for new betting accounts during COVID-19, and the number who gambled more than four times per week increased from 23% to 32%. Among all gamblers surveyed, 79% were classified as being at risk of, or already experiencing, gambling-related harm. Among young people aged 18-34 years, this number jumped to 90%.
SAFCA members are seeing a rise in mental health as a complex issue amongst their clients. This need for support is reflected in a report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare that shows in the four weeks to 19 September, 2021, Lifeline (nationally) saw several historical record high daily call volumes, and 96,273 calls were offered in total, up 14.1% and 33.1% from the same periods in 2020 and 2019 respectively. It is further reflected in the 10 July 2021 Taking the Pulse of the Nation survey, which stated that one in five Australians felt depressed or anxious most or all of the time and that 23% of Australians were experiencing financial stress (difficulty paying for essential goods and services).
SAFCA members are also seeing more people experiencing domestic and family violence. While the rate reported to SAPOL in South Australia increased by approximately 2% in the past 12 months, this does not include those that do not report and our members have provided feedback that this is an increasing issue and one they are concerned needs greater attention.
In a recent survey, SAFCA members identified housing stress as being their greatest immediate concern when addressing the complex needs of clients. They also identified the need to reach people in the early stages of financial vulnerability to be able to assist them in avoiding the devastating effects of financial hardship.
SAFCA asserts that a holistic approach is required to enable the complex needs of financially vulnerable people to be appropriately addressed and offset further downstream costs to government. It therefore calls on the State Government to implement the recommendations listed in this document.
SAFCA members are also seeing more people experiencing domestic and family violence. While the rate reported to SAPOL in South Australia increased by approximately 2% in the past 12 months, this does not include those that do not report and our members have provided feedback that this is an increasing issue and one they are concerned needs greater attention.
In a recent survey, SAFCA members identified housing stress as being their greatest immediate concern when addressing the complex needs of clients. They also identified the need to reach people in the early stages of financial vulnerability to be able to assist them in avoiding the devastating effects of financial hardship. SAFCA asserts that a holistic approach is required to enable the complex needs of financially vulnerable people to be appropriately addressed and offset further downstream costs to government. It therefore calls on the State Government to implement the recommendations listed in this document.