Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Counsellors are urging the government to take heed of a scathing report which found the restructuring of Oranga Tamariki service provider contracts was not underpinned by sufficient evidence.
In an assessment released on Thursday, the Auditor-General said funding and contract changes at the agency last year [lacked https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/561107/auditor-general-releases-scathing-report-on-oranga-tamariki clear understanding] of how changes would affect at-risk children and families.
New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) president Sarah Maindonald said the findings reinforced concerns that a shift away from trusted, community-based support services could have lasting consequences for the wellbeing of tamariki and whānau.
In the report, the Auditor-General noted that in November 2023 the Minister for Children directed Oranga Tamariki to refocus its spending on "core functions and activities" and find cost savings of 6.5 percent from its overall budget.
Maindonald said the resulting $60 million of cuts saw the end of vital services and programmes.
"That automatically has a huge impact on child and family wellbeing. If those cuts are made without attention to the impact on the clients, or a process of really looking at what their valuations outcomes are, that aren't just about a tickbox."
When decisions about funding and service delivery were made "without meaningful engagement or evidence", the result ended up harming the most vulnerable people, she said.
"These decisions affect the stability of counselling services, the continuity of care for children, and the capacity of communities to respond early and effectively to distress."
Maindonald said the report highlighted how "shonky" some of Oranga Tamariki's practices had been - and that was concerning. "[It shows a] lack of a strategic plan, lack of transparency around tendering processes, and ultimately impacting on the quality of services for children and families."
NZAC called on the government to take stock of the findings, and work collaboratively with the social services and counselling sector to "strengthen the system, rather than fragment it".
"We urge the government to revisit these changes and refocus investment on models that are evidence-based, whānau-centred, and built on trusted community partnerships. There is still time to restore confidence, protect continuity of care, and ensure that tamariki have the support they need."
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