IT is disappointing, yet not surprising, that Gannawarra Shire Council is deciding to discuss the future of its community care department.
The council has long been a reliable source of first-rate care for many residents, and is vital to an ageing demographic in ensuring high-quality outcomes for all citizens.
However, as many councils across Victoria have exited, and subsequently tendered out their community care services in the last few years, Gannawarra is looking to follow suit.
This has had disastrous consequences, resulting in private providers racing each other to the bottom and leaving vulnerable people without essential care.
The services provided by the council are indispensable in delivering a healthy and sustainable standard of living for some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in our community.
These roles require empathetic, patient and tolerant people to provide the range of services that council does.
Many workers have years or even decades of experience in these roles and within this organisation, working and living locally to provide for over 1000 people across our region.
We stand at great risk of losing all this should the council decide to exit.
One can have many criticisms of government-run agencies, but there is at least a democratic component for members of the public to have an influence on how they operate.
However, a private institution sheds all accountability and cedes no democratic power to either the workers who provide this care, or the clients who engage their services.
Nowhere have we seen the horrific effects of privatisation more starkly than in the for-profit residential aged-care sector, where many staff go underresourced and underpaid, and residents suffer egregious neglect and malnutrition.
We must resist this occurring in our community by standing united and making our voice heard.
To those who want to see these vital services remain in public hands, I urge you to sign the petition at www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/save-gannawarra-shire-council-community-services or scan the QR code on our posters within local businesses.
We want a safe, vibrant community where people can live lives of dignity and respect, where people are cared for in all aspects, and workers have the security and resources to facilitate this care.
Luke Holdstock
Kerang
