Many Canberra families are struggling to pay for staples and won’t be able to afford to put gifts under the tree this year. Photo: Renae Droop/RDW Photography.
As Christmas, with all its additional costs, hurtles towards her, one thing keeps Tania*, a single mum of three, going.
“I just look at my kids,” she says. “I would move heaven and Earth for them. I’d go to battle for them. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for them. They’re the reason I am here today.”
She was doing her best to care for her children, meticulously budgeting Centrelink payments to stretch her already limited finances through a continuing cost-of-living crisis that has had devastating and unrelenting impacts on Canberran families like hers.
“At the end of a fortnight, I have $53, and I don’t get paid until Friday. I’ll work out how much money I’ve got per day for the fortnight. I have to pay for medication which is $20, but that’s $20 I also need for fuel or food,” Tania says.
Battered by multiple other challenges including a relationship breakdown and mental health diagnosis, she reached out to Vinnies Canberra/Goulburn for help.
Vinnies Family Services and volunteer members assisted Tania in securing safe and long-term accommodation and covering pharmacy bills, food and clothes. At Christmas, they provided hampers and presents.
“Since having kids, my favourite thing – I always do it and will never stop – is Christmas morning breakfast. Laughing as we make bacon and eggs with toast and ham,” Tania says. “I hope if there’s one thing my kids can take away from these Christmases with me versus any other Christmas they will experience in their lives, it’ll be those breakfasts – the laughter and joy that surrounds them before the busy day begins.”
The assistance from Vinnies means the world to Tania, whose own Christmas gift is watching her children’s faces “light up” when they see their gifts.
“Back in 2022 when I was homeless, Jurrasic World Dominion was coming out and I was feeling very low. My son, who adores dinosaurs, was so excited about the release of that film,” Tania says.
“That year Vinnies gave me a dinosaur to give him for Christmas and toys for my girls as well. They gave us a Christmas tree with baubles and tinsel. I hadn’t had one in several years, so that was awesome. Two years later they gave us placemats to put on the table. I keep it all; it comes out every Christmas.
“For me, these are reminders of how far I’ve come in this journey – from homelessness to community housing and finally, the house we live in now. I wouldn’t have this life without Vinnies.”
Vinnies provides hampers and gifts for Christmas but also staples for the shutdown period. Photo: Renae Droop/RDW Photography.
Paula Bounds, a local Vinnies conference president and Vinnies Canberra/Goulburn Helpline volunteer call taker, was part of the team that helped Tania.
She says Tania’s story is far from unique – especially during the festive season.
“Since late 2022 the numbers of calls have increased dramatically, especially before Christmas,” she says.
“We’re hearing more and more from people who have never contacted Vinnies before – people with jobs, sometimes multiple jobs, the working poor. They’re struggling, and by the time they’ve paid the mortgage, they have no money left for other essentials.
“Our conference connects with two to three new companions (people Vinnies assists) a fortnight – people we haven’t seen before or heard from in many years.
“I admire people like Tania who budget as well as they can using their payments. But if something happens – an illness or car repairs – it can throw that budgeting right out. That’s when they reach out to Vinnies … It could be anyone, people in your circle. They have a lot of dignity, but they see their neighbours’ kids with new bikes for Christmas, and they don’t want their children to miss out.”
Canberra has experienced above-inflation increases in the prices of many essentials over the past five years, including food by 20 per cent, medical and hospital services by 22.4 per cent and housing by 22 per cent.
The significant increase in the cost of these essentials has hit low-income households the hardest, with Vinnies companions often sacrificing nutritional meals to pay for prescription medication or to keep a roof over their heads.
Vinnies Canberra/Goulburn is aiming to raise $360,000 for its 2024 Vinnies Christmas Appeal. The funds raised this Christmas will be used to provide urgent and practical support to individuals and families like Tania’s who are struggling. To donate call 13 18 12 or visit the Vinnies Christmas Appeal ACT.
*Pseudonyms are used to protect the privacy of Vinnies companions.
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