The Shoalhaven Women's Health Centre has been providing vital mental health outreach in the Ulladulla area thanks to funding from the Federal Government, however that funding ended in June and the outreach is now set to close due to a funding black hole.

The centre has requested an additional $70,000 from the Federal Government to allow the local outreach to continue but so far, the government has refused to provide any further support for the service.

The Ulladulla region has experienced a harrowing year with drought, bushfires, floods and now coronavirus and Member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips MP said this is the worst time to be losing mental health support.

The Gilmore MP today met with the local counsellor Suzanne Buzza to hear about the impact the loss of funding has had on local people in need.

"We simply cannot afford to lose this service right now - it is already in place and helping women in need. The Morrison Government needs to step up and provide this funding as a mater of urgency," Fiona Phillips said.

"It is appalling that this vital service will be forced to close for the sake of $70,000," she said.

We need mental health services in our community now more than ever. It is absolutely vital that the local community is receiving the support they need to recover from this year from hell and the loss of this service would be devastating.

Mrs Phillips said the government had turned its back on bushfire impacted communities across the South Coast.

"If the government is serious about addressing the mental health impacts of the compounding disasters, then they will step up and stop this outreach program from closing before it is too late," Fiona Phillips said.

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