Sunbury Neighbourhood House is facing severe financial pressures with cuts to staff and services on the cards unless urgent funding is secured.
Despite serving a population that has ballooned by nearly 70% since the mid-90s, the not-for-profit’s core funding from the state and Hume City Council has remained largely stagnant, says centre manager Hope Jenkins.
The result is a community institution that’s now running on “financial fumes”.
“We’ve been funded and encouraged to meet growing community needs,” said Ms Jenkins. “But in doing so, we’ve exhausted our reserves and now face the impossible choice of reducing our services or risking collapse.”
Currently, Sunbury Neighbourhood House receives annual operational funding from the Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing that allows for one part-time manager – tasked with overseeing dozens of programs, volunteers, compliance requirements, and finances.
“It’s unsafe and unrealistic,” said Ms Jenkins. “No comparable community service is expected to operate like this.”
Sunbury Neighbourhood House is a popular venue offering numerous activities and events.
More than 1,000 families have attended its Messy Play early childhood program, the Sunbury Dads’ group is a popular Friday late afternoon get-together for fathers to connect, parent, and build social ties. Other programs cater to older residents, vulnerable families, and those struggling with mental health.
“These are not nice extras,” said Ms Jenkins. “They’re critical services in a town where pressures on families and individuals are rising fast.
“But in 2024, our operational costs outstripped our combined local and state government funding. With grant money restricted to program-specific use, we cannot cover essentials such as insurance, cleaning, IT, phones, or utilities.”
Accounts for the financial year ending 30 June 2024 (latest available) shows Sunbury Neighbourhood House had a total income of $229,993, of which $156,223 was from grants (less than in the 2023 year). But an increase in staff wages and operational costs led to a loss of almost $25,000.
Already, one staff position has been made redundant and the centre’s office hours cut from four to three days a week.
Fees for popular classes such as Tai Chi and Chair Yoga have risen to try and close the gap, and free drop-in sessions have been cut back by 10 weeks a year.
“The reality is simple, ‘free’ isn’t free,” said Ms Jenkins. “Every program costs money to run – even the ones that are free for participants.”
Ms Jenkins is now calling on both the Victorian Government and Hume City Council for increased and ongoing operational support.
“Without it, more staff and service cuts are likely,” she said. “Funding isn’t charity. It’s an investment in the mental health, resilience and inclusion of the Sunbury community.”
Ms Jenkins is urging residents to contact Josh Bull MP and Hume City councillors to voice their support for more funding. Sunbury has two councillors, mayor Jarrod Bell and Kate Hamley.
