Changes in Demand for Social Services During COVID 19 · 2020. 5. 21. · Changes in Demand for...

New logo FactsheetMay 2020

Department of Communities and Justice FACSIAR

Changes in Demand for Social Services During COVID 19Analysis of HSNet searches - January 2019 to March 2020

IntroductionHSNet is a free website available to anyone looking for a service in NSW, allowing users to search over 65,000 support services across NSW covering health, disability, employment, food, education, legal, and housing. While this data can be used as a proxy for service demand, other factors such as promotion of the underlying databases may also account for increases in usage.

This analysis focuses on trends across NSW and districts over the 5 quarters, spanning January 2019 to March 2020. When analysing district information the relative size of each district should be considered, as those with small numbers, such as Far West, can be subject to volatility.

Of particular interest are any impacts from the NSW bushfires (between 19/20 Q1 and 19/20 Q2) and COVID-19 (between 19/20 Q2 and 19/20 Q3). Search data has been analysed and broken down by district and between different quarters for the following search areas:

• Food assistance

• Housing assistance

• Domestic Violence support

• Legal Services

• Mental Health support.

https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/providers/human-services-network

Changes in Demand for Social Services during Covid 19: Analysis of HSNet searches (Jan 2019 - Mar 2020) 2

Department of Communities and Justice Factsheet

FindingsFigure 1: Number of searches on HSNet, by search category, by quarter, January 2019 to March 2020

Food

0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 30000 35000

Housing

Domestic Violence

Legal Services

Mental Health

19/20 Q3 19/20 Q2 19/20 Q1 18/19 Q4 18/19 Q3

• Figure 1 shows the variation in the size of each search category. Searches for Food and Housing assistance were generally three or more times greater than for each of the other categories.

• All five categories have shown an increase in searches for Q3 19/20 compared to Q3 18/19.



Food Assistance• In January to March 2020 (Q3) Food assistance searches on HSNet across NSW were nearly

50% higher than the same months in 2019, as shown in Table 1.

• Notable increases have been seen across NSW since October 2019, with increases of 16% from Q1 to Q2 and from Q2 to Q3.

• Most districts saw increases over recent quarters, but to varying extents.

Table 1: Percentage change between quarters in searches for food assistance on HSNet by district, January 2019 to March 2020

District18/19 Q3

to 18/19 Q4

18/19 Q4 to

19/20 Q1

19/20 Q1 to

19/20 Q2

19/20 Q2 to

19/20 Q3

18/19 Q3 to

19/20 Q3

Central Coast -1% 40% -2% 39% 88%

Far West -32% -10% 56% -40% -43%

Hunter 22% -6% 4% 44% 72%

Illawarra Shoalhaven 13% -10% 35% 24% 71%

Mid North Coast -2% -9% 11% 34% 33%

Murrumbidgee -3% -5% 8% 30% 30%

Nepean Blue Mountains 2% -1% 20% 24% 50%

New England -22% -6% 31% 9% 5%

Northern NSW 1% -10% 15% 30% 35%

Northern Sydney -3% 3% 34% 6% 42%

South Eastern Sydney 3% -1% 38% 18% 68%

South Western Sydney -6% 5% 28% 7% 35%

Southern NSW 9% -7% 32% 43% 92%

Sydney 11% 28% 11% -9% 43%

Western NSW -12% 7% 14% 8% 16%

Western Sydney -5% -2% 18% 36% 50%

NSW 3% 6% 16% 16% 47%

Legend

High Median Low



Figure 2: Number of searches on HSNet for food assistance for selected districts by quarter, January 2019 to March 2020

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

19/20 Q3

Central Coast Hunter

Southern NSW Illawarra Shoalhaven

South Eastern Sydney

18/19 Q4 19/20 Q1 19/20 Q218/19 Q3

• Figure 2 looks at those districts which averaged the highest quarter on quarter percentage increases in food assistance searches on HSNet across the 15 month period.

• Between 19/20 Q2 and 19/20 Q3, Hunter (44%) and Southern NSW (43%) Districts reported the largest percentage increases.

• Illawarra Shoalhaven and South Eastern Sydney Districts have shown notable increases in both Q2 and Q3 19/20.

• Between 18/19 Q3 and 19/20 Q3, Central Coast (88%) and Southern NSW (92%) Districts reported the largest percentage increases.

• Central Coast, Hunter and Southern NSW were heavily impacted by the recent 19/20 Australian bushfires. In addition, Central Coast and Hunter Districts have recorded some of the highest number of positive cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 residents in NSW1.

1 Source: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/stats-lhd.aspx at 7 May 2020.

https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/stats-lhd.aspx



Housing Assistance • In January to March 2020 (Q3) housing assistance searches on HSNet across NSW were 36%

higher than the same months in 2019, as shown in Table 2.

• A notable increase was seen for NSW during 2020, with a 23% increase from Q2 to Q3.

• All districts saw increases between Q2 and Q3 to varying extents, with the exception of New England and Western NSW which recorded small decreases.

Table 2: Percentage change between quarters in searches for housing assistance on HSNet by district, January 2019 to March 2020

District18/19 Q3

to 18/19 Q4

18/19 Q4 to

19/20 Q1

19/20 Q1 to

19/20 Q2

19/20 Q2 to

19/20 Q3

18/19 Q3 to

19/20 Q3

Central Coast -3% -1% 32% 20% 53%

Far West -30% 8% -7% 25% -12%

Hunter 3% 2% 9% 25% 43%

Illawarra Shoalhaven 9% 13% -1% 52% 86%

Mid North Coast 11% -8% -10% 46% 35%

Murrumbidgee -15% 4% 11% 25% 21%

Nepean Blue Mountains -13% 32% 3% 31% 55%

New England -12% -10% 31% -4% 0%

Northern NSW -2% 2% 8% 21% 30%

Northern Sydney -16% 16% -5% 10% 1%

South Eastern Sydney 2% -12% 2% 64% 49%

South Western Sydney 3% 8% -3% 17% 25%

Southern NSW -7% 49% -2% 9% 48%

Sydney 9% 8% -2% 14% 33%

Western NSW -8% 25% 21% -5% 31%

Western Sydney 5% 3% 1% 30% 42%

NSW 1% 6% 3% 23% 36%

Legend

High Median Low



Figure 3: Number of searches on HSNet for Housing assistance for selected districts by quarter, January 2019 to March 2020

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

Central Coast Illawarra Shoalhaven

Mid North Coast Nepean Blue Mountains

South Eastern Sydney

19/20 Q318/19 Q4 19/20 Q1 19/20 Q218/19 Q3

• All five districts shown in Figure 3 recorded sharp increases in searches for housing assistance on HSNet between Q2 and Q3 19/20. At Q3 19/20 all five were considerably above search levels for Q3 18/19.

• For Central Coast steady increases have been noted during both Q2 and Q3 19/20.

• Illawarra Shoalhaven, Mid North Coast and Central Coast Districts were all heavily impacted by the 19/20 Australian bushfires. South Eastern Sydney District has recorded the highest number of positive cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 residents in NSW1.

1 Source: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/stats-lhd.aspx at 7 May 2020.



Domestic Violence Support• In January to March 2020 (Q3) domestic violence support searches on HSNet were 60% higher

than the same months in 2019. For Central Coast and Murrumbidgee Districts searches between these periods increased in excess of 100%.

• Across all the search categories, Domestic Violence support stands out as the one with the largest increase in searches. Across the past five quarters there has been a trend of increase across nearly every District. For NSW searches increased for all but one quarter. (Table 3)

Table 3: Percentage change between quarters in searches for domestic violence support services on HSNet by district, January 2019 to March 2020

District18/19 Q3

to 18/19 Q4

18/19 Q4 to

19/20 Q1

19/20 Q1 to

19/20 Q2

19/20 Q2 to

19/20 Q3

18/19 Q3 to

19/20 Q3

Central Coast 25% 21% 5% 34% 112%

Far West 56% -36% -25% 0% -25%

Hunter 36% 18% 4% 11% 85%

Illawarra Shoalhaven 43% -29% 8% 51% 66%

Mid North Coast -18% 70% -33% 107% 94%

Murrumbidgee -6% 111% -2% 9% 112%

Nepean Blue Mountains 32% 42% -29% 26% 66%

New England -17% 29% 23% 40% 84%

Northern NSW 28% 21% 19% 6% 94%

Northern Sydney -23% 11% 2% -2% -14%

South Eastern Sydney 26% -1% -5% 14% 35%

South Western Sydney 15% -11% 14% 6% 24%

Southern NSW 69% 84% -54% 15% 63%

Sydney 5% 16% 1% 52% 88%

Western NSW 27% 16% 46% -14% 86%

Western Sydney 15% -9% 2% 13% 20%

NSW 14% 12% 0% 26% 60%

Legend

High Median Low



Figure 4: Number of searches on HSNet for domestic violence support services for selected districts by quarter, January 2019 to March 2020

19/20 Q318/19 Q4 19/20 Q1 19/20 Q218/19 Q3

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Central Coast Mid North Coast Murrumbidgee

Northern NSW Western NSW

• While notable increases were observed in most districts, those shown in Figure 4 have the highest percentage increases seen in Q3 19/20 compared to the same time in 18/19.

• For Northern NSW and Central Coast Districts a trend of relatively even increase was seen across the 15 month period. For the other districts there was overall trend of increase characterised by some variation.



Legal Services• In January to March 2020 (Q3) legal services searches on HSNet across NSW were 54% higher

than the same months in 2019, as seen in Table 4.

• Increases were noted between the majority of quarters in the 15 month period.

• For all districts, but one, increases were seen in the latest quarter compared to the same time last year.

Table 4: Percentage change between quarters in searches for legal services on HSNet by district, January 2019 to March 2020

District18/19 Q3

to 18/19 Q4

18/19 Q4 to

19/20 Q1

19/20 Q1 to

19/20 Q2

19/20 Q2 to

19/20 Q3

18/19 Q3 to

19/20 Q3

Central Coast 20% 24% -11% 40% 85%

Far West 57% -48% 6% -17% -29%

Hunter 33% 22% -3% 12% 76%

Illawarra Shoalhaven 38% -17% -6% 38% 50%

Mid North Coast 18% 5% -29% 89% 69%

Murrumbidgee -2% 101% -10% 23% 118%


New England 3% 16% 16% 36% 88%

Northern NSW 7% 43% -2% 17% 76%

Northern Sydney -12% 22% -8% 10% 9%

South Eastern Sydney 10% 8% -15% 38% 40%

South Western Sydney 11% 6% 11% -6% 23%

Southern NSW 64% 69% -56% 14% 38%

Sydney 1% 26% 7% 26% 71%

Western NSW 23% 28% 32% -14% 78%

Western Sydney 15% -3% -2% 11% 21%

NSW 12% 18% -2% 20% 54%

Legend

High Median Low



Figure 5: Number of searches on HSNet for legal services for selected districts by quarter, January 2019 to March 2020

19/20 Q318/19 Q4 19/20 Q1 19/20 Q218/19 Q3

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

New England Murrumbidgee

Central Coast Nepean Blue Mountains

• Figure 5 shows the four districts with the biggest percentage increases in Q3 19/20 compared to the same months in 18/19. Each of these districts also recorded relatively large average quarter on quarter increases across the 15 month period.

• For New England District there was a steady increase in searches for Legal Services over the period. The other three districts were characterised by peaks in Q1 19/20, followed by a reduction in searches during Q2 (perhaps seasonal) and again growth in Q3.



Mental Health Support • In January to March 2020 (Q3) mental health support related searches on HSNet across NSW

were 35% higher than the same months in 2019. Increases between these two periods were noted in all districts with the exception of Southern and Northern Sydney NSW.

• At the NSW level increases were noted between most quarters. (Table 5)

Table 5: Percentage change between quarters in searches for mental health support on HSNet by district, January 2019 to March 2020

District18/19 Q3

to 18/19 Q4

18/19 Q4 to

19/20 Q1

19/20 Q1 to

19/20 Q2

19/20 Q2 to

19/20 Q3

18/19 Q3 to

19/20 Q3

Central Coast 3% -17% 40% -2% 18%

Far West* -67% 500% -42% 71% 100%

Hunter 11% 25% 7% 3% 54%

Illawarra Shoalhaven 23% 34% -21% 55% 103%

Mid North Coast 23% -5% -10% 50% 59%

Murrumbidgee 7% -4% 35% -15% 18%


New England -12% 38% 0% 14% 38%

Northern Nsw 32% -4% 2% -13% 12%

Northern Sydney -18% 12% -20% 35% 0%

South Eastern Sydney 9% 23% -5% 19% 52%

South Western Sydney 1% 7% 6% -8% 5%

Southern NSW -2% 11% 19% -27% -6%

Sydney -7% 30% -7% 23% 39%

Western NSW 29% 36% 25% -18% 81%

Western Sydney 17% 3% -8% 16% 29%

NSW 5% 16% -2% 12% 35%

Note: Far West has been excluded for the purposes of the colour scale, due to small numbers of legal searches creating extreme volatility in percentage increases.

Legend

High Median Low



Figure 6: Number of searches on HSNet for mental health support for selected districts by quarter, January 2019 to March 2020

19/20 Q318/19 Q4 19/20 Q1 19/20 Q218/19 Q3

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Nepean Blue Mountains Illawarra Shoalhaven Western NSW

• The three districts that have averaged the largest quarter on quarter increases in searches for mental health support across the 15 month period are shown in Figure 6.

• While it could be argued that Western NSW farming communities have been experiencing the impacts of drought, no one distinct cause in the other two districts can be identified as a catalyst for increase searches for mental health services.

Produced byFACS Insights, Analysis and Research (FACSIAR)NSW Department of Communities and Justice 320 Liverpool Rd, Ashfield NSW 2131www.facs.nsw.gov.au

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