The neighbourhood centre is being asked to provide access supervisors but it is not its job, its staff and volunteers are not trained for that and the centre has no funding for it. The State Department of Community Services says it is not its responsibility and will not even discuss the problem with the federal Attorney General's Department or the Family Court to find a solution. Recently a 7 month old baby had to see her father for 7 hours in a public park on a Sunday because there was nowhere else to go. The mother was expected to arrange a supervisor and feared she would be in trouble with the court if the access did not go ahead because she could not find anyone. The situation is especially difficult for mothers without local networks of family and friends who might assist.
All community organisations face difficulty because of short term government funding.
Short term funding undermines the viability and effectiveness of programs and can be a waste of money. There is need for longer term contracts and guarantees, say for 5 years, and plenty of lead time before funding commences and ends. Government decision making is very short term and highly political. There is a major drug problem in Bathurst and so drug-related crime. Most crime in the town is drug-related.