Latest heartless cuts target vulnerable kids
Posted: Saturday, 4 February 2012 | By: John Robertson
One hundred child protection workers in the Department of Family and Community Services will be sacked and a staffing freeze implemented across the Department under a reckless cost cutting move by the O'Farrell Government that will see more vulnerable children fall through the cracks.
"This shocking announcement will put the most vulnerable children in our community at risk of serious harm or worse," said Opposition Leader John Robertson.
"Barry O'Farrell is willing to allow children at risk of harm to fall through the cracks, so that he can deliver savings for the budget bottom line – it is nothing short of deplorable.
"The Keep Them Safe report recommended a ratio of one case worker to every 12 children but currently in NSW, the ratio is one to 29.
"The O'Farrell Government's decision to cut 100 case workers and stop recruiting staff in the area of child protection, will put even more children in harm's way.
"Case workers were in tears as they found out about the cuts – fearing the worst for the children they have dedicated their lives to caring for.
"The Auditor General reported that 20 per cent of case worker positions in the Department of Family and Community Services are already vacant due to high turnover and recruitment challenges.
"This situation will deteriorate rapidly and case worker numbers will plummet following the O'Farrell Government's decision to freeze recruitment across the system.
"Case workers are responsible for following up reports of children who are at risk of neglect, abuse and mistreatment and monitor the wellbeing of children in Out Of Home Care or foster care.
"Already this week, the O'Farrell Government abandoned children with disabilities on the side of the road, slashed allowances for foster carers and cut funding to VisionCare – a 20 year old program that provides free glasses for the vision impaired.
"Barry O'Farrell is now targeting defenceless children by cutting funding to case workers who spend every day on the frontline protecting children.
"Following these cuts, there will not be enough case workers to follow up even the most serious reports of abuse.
"The people of NSW didn't vote for Barry O'Farrell so that he would target the most vulnerable with heartless and irresponsible funding and service cuts."
The Auditor General reported in 2010 that:
"In my view... Community Services does not have sufficient caseworkers to perform its functions effectively. At 30 June 2010, 20.0 per cent (18.4 per cent at 30 June 2009) of caseworker positions were unfilled."
Tags: Barry O'Farrell, child protection, children, community, DOCS, John Robertson