Rochy flood relief funding ending

STATE funded financial counselling services in Rochester will soon see their funding end.

The service was funded by the Victorian Government to provide flood-affected families with advice after the 2022 floods.

Liberal upper house MP for Northern Victoria, Wendy Lovell, said the State Government should extend funding for the service.

“I was devastated to hear during a visit to Rochester in July that State Government funding for the financial counselling services delivered by Anglicare will expire in November,” she said.

“Despite their massive caseloads, the two counsellors currently on the ground in Rochester are making a positive difference for victims continuing to rebuild their lives.

“The Minister needs to announce a funding extension immediately to allow this vital service to continue.”

The financial counselling service is provided by Anglicare who have two counselors available to families in need of financial advice.

This program has helped 158 families to date, with 114 more cases ongoing and approximately 30 families waiting to be allocated a case worker.

Premier Daniel Andrews said the Government was there to support the Rochester community in any way it could.

“The resilience and passion of the Rochy community is well understood by our government and if there’s anything more we can do to support them we will,” he said.

“On that specific issue I’m more than happy to ask the question about whether we should be doing that,” he said, “or is there a way in which we can extend that and provide better support.”