Punitive price hike threatens services

An increase in utility costs of nearly $250,000 in the coming year will be devastating for Frontier Services, a large provider of residential aged and community care and other services in the Northern Territory.

Frontier Services Regional Manager for NT Sharon Davis said the Northern Territory Government’s announcement of a 30% increase in power and 40% increase in water would make it very difficult to meet already stretched budgets.

“We are reliant on Australian Government funding for most of our concessional residents and clients, and additional income is simply not available to meet increased costs,” Ms Davis said.

“Raising funds is already difficult and if other costs rise as a result of these increases in utility bills, we will face an absolute crisis in finding the funds we need to continue to provide services.”

Frontier Services has nine residential aged care services and runs a large number of community care services in the NT. The price hikes will raise utility costs by $250,000 across its services in the NT.

Frontier Services is also deeply concerned about the impact the hikes will have on staff members and its ability to find and retain staff working in aged and community care services across the Northern Territory.

“Aged and community care staff are not well paid and meeting sharply increased household costs will make it much harder for people to make the choice to work in the care of our older community members.”

“We are extremely worried by this recent announcement,” Ms Davis said. “We believe it will make our already difficult task almost impossible.”