A women's domestic violence and homelessness service has been forced to cut back services, saying the capacity just isn't there to keep up with demand.
Nova For Women And Children will cut back on non-urgent referrals and a waiting list won't be kept for non-urgent crisis accommodation requests.
The service's Newcastle and Charlestown hubs will now be shut on Tuesdays.
There's reports staff are burnt-out and struggling to keep up.
More than 150 women are currently waiting for support across the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie areas alone.
Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon says the Federal Government has a responsibility to step up funding.
"The Prime Minister's promise of extra funding has really turned out to be nothing but a heartless con for our services in Newcastle," Ms Claydon said.
"Just another hollow announcement from a Government that seems to be hell bent on not actually following through on anything that they have allegedly committed to."
The news comes at the closing of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
Ms Claydon is also set to speak at a Hunter Workers rally at Civic Park on Friday, calling on the Government to provide ten days paid domestic violence leave.
The cut to services will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, but the current model is likely to remain in place until at least next year.
