Ms Cooper has worked from Gloucester Health Service since 2005, providing a range of community based social welfare services to the community, including the very popular Mental Health First Aid training.

Her contract position is funded through the Commonwealth Government's Regional Health Services Program, and current funding for this position is available until the end of this financial year.

The Regional Health Services Program has approached someone to fill this position until the end of the financial year, and pending final checks and administrative procedures, this person is likely to commence next week.

Hunter New England Health has had great success with the Regional Health Services Program, which employs over 20 primary health care nurses and allied health staff across smaller communities covered by the Hunter New England Health region.

Program Coordinator for the Regional Health Services Program Nell Angus, said Hunter New England Health is confident the program will again be funded in the 2008/09 Commonwealth Government budget, which we expect to be announced sometime in May 2008.

"We have not been able to make assurances to staff that these positions will remain unchanged in 2008/09, as we await confirmation of the funding allocated to us," Ms Angus said.

"We recognise that this can be unsettling for staff, but we are working to try to fill the position until the end of the financial year with a locum, and will let the community know as soon as we are made aware of any ongoing funding," she said.

Ms Angus said the Gloucester social welfare position would need to be re-advertised if funding is made available.

Acting Gloucester Health Service Manager Renee Worthing said the community has been very fortunate to have this position in the community, and hopes that it will continue.

She said recruitment has been a difficult in Gloucester. She said the hospital social worker resigned many years ago and despite efforts, was not able to be replaced. A short-term psychologist was later employed, who also resigned 18 months ago.

"The Regional Health Services Program social welfare officer has been a wonderful asset to the town. We are pleased to see that a temporary replacement is looking promising and in the long term - we're eagerly awaiting a positive outcome to allow the service to continue after June," she said.

Ms Worthing said it is important to stress that Community Health continues to employ a mental health worker who provides support to mental health clients.

"There is also the Mental Health Access Line (ph: 1300 369 968) where clients can access appointments for mental health issues," she said.