The South Australian Council of Social Service, together with Volunteering SA & NT, Conservation SA, the Arts Industry Council SA and Sport SA have welcomed the changes to funding for SA community organisations announced today.
At the SACOSS Post-Budget Breakfast this morning, the Treasurer announced that State Government will now provide full indexation on not-for-profit funding contracts. From July 1, 2017, all contracts will have full indexation included. The indexation rate will be 2% for 2017-18 and 2018-19, and 2.5% for 2019-20 and 2020-21.
The new policy will be a great benefit to the not-for-profit sector. This will give consistency across the whole of government and certainty over the amount of funding in multi-year contracts. Most importantly it will ensure that the value of funding of our services are not diminished over time.
According to Ross Womersley, SACOSS CEO, "This is a great win for SA community organisations and comes on the back of years of some government departments not passing on the full rate of indexation of funding they received. In the worst cases we had contracts which included indexation but the rate was 0%!"
Evelyn O'Loughlin, CEO Volunteering SA & NT, says, “After years of campaigning, the government’s commitment to the sustainability of the sector is a welcome decision".
Craig Wilkins, CEO Conservation SA, says, "Community and for-purpose organisations provide incredible value delivering essential services across the state. It's only fair that funding keeps pace with inflation".
Jan Sutherland, Chief Executive Officer Sport SA, says, “This is an excellent move by the government and will provide relief for our sporting organisations who are facing the challenges of increasing costs when delivering opportunities for the 850,000 participants in sport and recreation in SA.”
Gail Kovatseff, Chair Arts Industry Council of SA, says, "The arts not for profit sector delivers a lot on very little and benefits considerably from indexation. The Arts Industry Council of SA welcomes this guaranteed indexation at regularized amounts".