General News
24 March, 2026
Emergency funding reinstated
Horsham's Christian Relief Centre was relieved to hear its funding had been reinstated in February after losing out on vital funding from the Federal government last year.
Member for Mallee Anne Webster MP delivered the good news to the Centre's Client Assessment Manager Bev Miatke after advocating for its return.
The centre will receive $60,850 each year from the federal government until 2030.
While the announcement stated that the funding had been reinstated, it is still less than they were receiving in the last round of $82,000 per year.
The centre was also allocated a further $15,000 in Bush Fire Emergency Relief due to the January 9 Grass Flat fires.
The Stawell Interchurch Council Cottage were also told last year they were no longer going to receive the usual $48,500, were also advised their funding would be reinstated.
Both organisations are instrumental in providing basic food needs to individuals and families who are finding times hard.
Client assessment manager Bev Miatke said the centre was seeing more people with basic needs.
"We want people to come to us for what we can provide and pay their bills, like power and rent or house payments so they do not get behind with those," she said.
"Some think they cannot come to us for assistance if they are working, but they can, and I urge them to seek help from us rather than go without."
"The funding is less than we were getting, but I am so grateful that it has been restored even at this lesser amount," she said.
"We are very grateful to Anne (Webster) for her advocacy. If it wasn't for her, I doubt we'd have had this result."
Dr Webster said the loss of funding for two such vital organisations was unbelievable, and she was happy to advocate and was determined not to stop until there had been a resolution.
"I continually called Tanya Plibersek, Minister for Social Services, as soon as I was aware the DSS funding had been cut, to get it reinstated," she said.
Ms Miatke said the community and local supermarkets are very generous and she and her team of volunteers are continually grateful for the generosity that makes their job possible.
"A lot of the food we receive is fruit and vegetables, and most people can eat these but for those with specialist medical conditions, we can assist them with a voucher for some of the food items they may need," she said.
Emergency food parcels are available for individuals and families in need. These can be accessed either directly from the Centre or by request from a social worker.
Food parcels can be sent by truck to most towns in the Wimmera and Southern Mallee.
"The Federal Government provides a small amount of funding that helps us (at times) to provide financial help to purchase medical prescriptions, fuel for an emergency situation or to help with outstanding bills.
"By necessity, funds are capped," she said.
The emergency assistance service is available to help people living in a large part of Western Victoria, supporting clients in the municipalities of Hindmarsh, Horsham Rural City, West Wimmera and Yarriambiack as well as some parts of the Buloke and Northern Grampians shires.
Referrals can be made to any outside agency, depending on need. eg. to the Salvation Army for physical needs or Uniting Wimmera for accommodation or financial counselling.
"Each client has the opportunity to share their situation if they want to, and that also plays a big part in wellbeing as people can share in a trusted environment and not be embarrassed," she said.
The Christian Emergency Food Centre (CEFC) is a not-for-profit organisation that is overseen by the Horsham Christian Ministers' Association to assist individuals and families in need and is open Monday to Friday, 1:00pm to 4:00pm at 28 Firebrace Street, Horsham. Phone: 03 5381 2311.