Counselling service to close

Four Dunedin staff will be out of a job when Relationships Aotearoa closes its doors, probably this week.

The announcement came yesterday after a breakdown in negotiation with government agencies on Monday.

Nationally, up to 900 people would be referred back to courts, and 183 jobs would be lost, Relationships Aotearoa (RA) said in a statement.

The organisation accused government departments, including the Ministry of Social Development, of acting in bad faith in talks over its financial problems, saying it felt betrayed.

''The outcome will result in an immediate closure of RA nationwide. The exact timing is still to be worked out, but it is likely that our doors will be closed to our 7000 current clients by the end of the week.''

One option explored before talks failed was a transition period of 9-12 weeks for clients and staff before the closure.

An RA spokesman said the South lacked alternative providers for services such as court-ordered violence counselling.

''There's very little providers available to pick up the work we do in Dunedin.''

However, the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) said in a statement yesterday it had secured alternative providers to cover all areas.

Relationships Aotearoa southern operations director Pablo Godoy said Dunedin staff held ''grave concern'' for clients, and were taken aback by the Government's lack of engagement.

The Dunedin branch in London St dealt with about 900 clients each year.

RA also had seven contractors in other centres in Otago and Southland.

The organisation is now in a stand-off with the MSD about handing over client details.

The spokesman said the Government had not considered Privacy Act implications.

''We're not in a position to release to them 7000 current clients' details.''

Counsellors had to stop seeing clients yesterday and spent the day cancelling appointments, he said.

MSD deputy chief executive Murray Edridge said the department was working with RA to secure client details.

''As soon as we have this information, the agencies will contact clients directly to make new arrangements.''

Barnardos, Family Works, Stand Children's Services and Lifeline and an unnamed provider had been contracted.

''With these agencies on board, we will have national coverage with the ability to contract individual professionals in more remote areas,'' Mr Edridge said.

''RA is obviously upset that MSD has not been prepared to provide additional funding beyond our annual contract with them for $4.7 million.

''We were prepared to provide additional funding for RA to work with MSD on a transition plan. Unfortunately, we could not agree on funding or a time frame with RA.''

• Clients needing immediate help should call Lifeline on 0800 543-354.

eileen.goodwin@odt.co.nz

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