Asbestos support organisation at a loss after Return to Work SA cuts funding

Asbestos support organisation at a loss after Return to Work SA cuts funding

The Asbestos Diseases Society of South Australia, which provides assistance to victims of asbestos-related diseases, is in shock after funding for the project was slashed without warning.

President of ADSSA, Peter Photakis, explained that Return to Work SA, one of the major contributors to the project, “dropped a bombshell” when it reduced the funding commitment to the project by more than half.

Previously, the organisation received $45,000 per year from Return to Work SA, but the amount will now be reduced to $20,000 for the year 20-21, and $10,000 in the year following.

Return to Work SA has argued that it is still a significant portion of its sponsorship budget.

Mr Photakis has explained that the cuts would mean that the organisation won’t be able to employ their social worker, leaving many users in the lurch.

” I’ve got enough money to support (the social worker) this year, but we’ve got to pay rent, phones, paper for printing pamphlets … and the only way we can do it is to get support from these grants,” he said.

“I’m a bit confused, the last time we met (with Return to Work SA), they said they are going to support us for the next 10 years, which I thought was a fantastic gesture.

“But when they met with us about a month back, they dropped a bombshell and said we may be lucky to get 50 per cent of funding.”

Return to Work SA, via a spokesman, explained that in the last ten years, it has contributed more than $390,000 in grants and sponsorship.

“We have worked closely with ADSSA to develop their offering to support the durability of the services they offer, recognising the need for this to evolve,” he said.

“For the past two financial years, we have provided ADSSA $90,000 in sponsorship; this was a generous and time-limited contract which specifically states may not continue.

“This is significant when compared to other sponsorship arrangements that Return to Work SA has entered into.”

The spokesman said the reduced funding would still be a “significant percentage” of the Return to Work SA’s sponsorship budget.

Opposition education spokesman Blair Boyer has said that the priorities of the South Australian Government “stink” in reference to the decision.

“This is a slap in the face to the years of work ADSSA has done to support victims of asbestos-related diseases and must be immediately reversed.”

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