Tasmania’s community services industry is calling on the Tasmanian Government to deliver a 2026/27 Tasmanian Budget that invests in prevention, delivers funding certainty and recognises the essential frontline role community services play in supporting Tasmanians and strengthening communities.
The Tasmanian Coalition of Community Service Peaks said tomorrow’s Budget would be a critical test of the Government’s commitment to a strong economy and a caring community.
Coalition spokesperson and TasCOSS CEO, Ms Adrienne Picone, said the Government had repeatedly stated frontline services would remain a priority in this Budget, and community services must be recognised as an essential part of Tasmania’s frontline response.
“The community services industry is at breaking point, with rising demand, workforce pressures and increasing costs placing significant strain on organisations across the state,” Ms Picone said.
“The Government has a choice to make: invest in community services now, or pay double or triple down the line to deal with the fallout of Tasmanians missing out on services.
“Investing in preventive, community-based services is not a cost; it is a proven economic strategy that reduces demand on crisis, health and justice systems and saves the state money over the long-term.
“Without sustained investment, the people delivering essential services and the Tasmanians who rely on them are left increasingly vulnerable.”
The community services industry employs more than 28,000 Tasmanians, supported by more than 46,000 formal volunteers, and our impact spans every corner of the state.
Ms Picone said every day, community service organisations are supporting Tasmanians with emergency relief, mental health services, disability supports, housing and homelessness programs, childcare, aged care, carer support, youth and family services, while helping prevent people from reaching crisis in the first place.
“The Coalition is urging the Government to deliver on its commitments to longer-term funding arrangements, fair indexation and a partnership agreement with the community services industry,” she said.
“Choices made in this Budget will determine whether Tasmanians receive the help they need or fall into preventable crisis.”
The Coalition of Community Service Peaks will provide further analysis following the release of the 2026/27 Tasmanian Budget.
The Tasmanian Coalition of Community Service Peaks represents the following 20 organisations:
- Ageing Australia Tasmania
- Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs Council (ATDC) Tasmania
- Carers Tasmania
- Community Legal Centres Tasmania
- Council on the Ageing (COTA) Tasmania
- CREATE Foundation
- Early Childhood Australia (ECA) Tasmania Branch
- Health Consumers Tasmania
- Local Government Association Tasmania (LGAT)
- Mental Health Council of Tasmania
- Multicultural Council of Tasmania
- National Disability Services (NDS) Tasmania
- Neighbourhood Houses Tasmania
- Palliative Care Tasmania
- Shelter Tasmania
- Tasmanian Association of State School Organisations (TASSO)
- Tasmanian Council of Social Service (TasCOSS)
- Tasmanian Family and Sexual Violence Alliance (TFSVA)
- Volunteering Tasmania
- Youth Network of Tasmania