Darren Harris

THE ENDING of the Jobseeker and Jobkeeper payments at the end of March are likely to have harder impacts on families already doing it tough in the Meander Valley community.

Deloraine House Manager Deb Smith said Deloraine House has already seen an increase in people looking for support during Covid-19.

‘More people have been coming in looking for a no interest loan or emergency relief food. There has been a dramatic increase in numbers over the past 4 to 6 weeks.’

Deb said they are preparing for another increase when Jobseeker ends on 31 March.

‘Before Covid we would see mainly elderly people and people from low socioeconomic backgrounds, but now we are seeing a lot more, what you could call the working poor, people on low income who are just above the Centrelink threshold.

‘They may have had reduced work hours or had two part time jobs and lost one of them.

‘They may not have the internet, or it doesn’t work, and it costs them to travel from remote rural areas to Deloraine House just to get help.

‘We have been seeing an increase in mental health unwellness too.’

Deb said that the reduction in Jobkeeper on 28 March will likely see a reduction in the market place for a lot of businesses. ‘It will be a make or break time for them and they may not be able to keep all

their staff on. Tourism is definitely down too, and this region relies on a lot of tourism.’

Deloraine House was established in 1989 as a community owned centre, which enabled it to remain open during the pandemic.

Deb said other local and stategovernmentownedcommunity centres closed and this led to a big increase in numbers accessing Deloraine House.

‘A lot of people needing help also came from outside of the area when Covid hit, and a lot of seasonal workers were unable to head to the mainland and did not have cold weather clothes.

‘The Meander Valley is the biggest municipality in Tasmania, and the Northern Midlands don’t have a community house.’

This led to Deloraine House recently being presented with the 2021 Meander Valley Council’s Australia Day Award for ‘Exceptional Service to Community’ for its efforts during Covid-19 in 2020.

Deloraine House is funded through the state government’s Department of Communities.

‘We also rely on the generosity of the community, smaller grants and through reduced equipment costs from businesses.

‘Our 85 registered volunteers help out in the Harvest Helper program, Community Gardens and at the house itself.’

Deloraine House plans to cope with the end of Jobseeker and Jobkeeper through a range of programs, including distributing food and vegetables via the Pantry Cupboard, accessible to everyone at Deloraine House.

‘Deloraine House has an industrial fridge which can store cryovac vegetables up to 12 months. Over the recent holiday season, a refrigerator and microwave, along with our fresh produce share pantry, were added to the front verandah to assist in supporting community. We also provide free access to a community shower and laundry facility for those in need.’

Community members in a position to help can do so by donating excess produce, or by donations such as clothing, especially winter clothing for the coming colder months.