Across our sector, cost of living pressures are being felt everywhere – in the communities we support and increasingly within our own workforce.
Many people working in human services are managing rising costs, supporting others through similar challenges, and carrying significant workload. At the same time, reports suggest people are now less happy than during COVID – highlighting how widespread and cumulative these pressures have become.
In response, Imagined Futures has developed a set of cost of living resources for the human services sector, designed to:
- support early help-seeking
- make visible the free and low-cost supports already available
- challenge assumptions about who is eligible for support
- strengthen the sustainability of the workforce
At the core is a simple idea: the supports we encourage others to use are also there for us.
Included resources:
- Support for people who work in Human Services – practical access to local financial, mental health and basic needs supports
- Cost of Living Support Toolkit – guidance for organisations to normalise help-seeking and support staff
- Updated versions of our popular cost of living flyers summarising government measures as well as local supports.
The frontline resource also includes a powerful video from James McHale (Anglicare WA), who has generously shared his personal experience of accessing financial counselling and its impact – a reminder of how reaching out early can make a tangible difference.
These resources build on Where is the Door? and are designed to be used, shared and integrated across teams.
We encourage you to share them with your staff and networks, and to continue creating environments where accessing support early is normal and supported.
Please reach out if you would like to arrange for a Where is the door? Session with staff.
