Child protection caseworkers stopped work on Wednesday, August 14, to protest outside the Community Services Centre in Gosford over the staffing crisis they say is putting thousands of vulnerable kids at risk on the Central Coast and across NSW.
At present nine per cent of the child protection workforce is missing due to workers compensation claims according to the Public Service Association (PSA).
A further 10 per cent of the workforce positions are vacant and being advertised, while a significant number are also absent due to long-term leave (sick/extended/parental leave) or secondment.
The PSA union says 45 per cent of child protection caseworkers leave employment within the first 24 months and the figure increases to 63 per cent in the case of Aboriginal caseworkers.
As a result of this acute staffing crisis, four out of five children identified as being “at risk of significant harm” are not being seen, says the PSA.
Child protection caseworkers walked off the job demanding: the urgent recruitment of another 500 caseworkers; an immediate and substantial pay rise for caseworkers to attract and retain talent and de-privatisation of foster care to “stop the rot”.
PSA Assistant NSW General Secretary Troy Wright, who joined Central Coast caseworkers in their protest, said the problem was now unsustainable by any measure.
“Burnt out and undervalued child protection workers on the Central Coast are rushing for every exit,” Wright said.
“And the caseworkers left behind are simply not able to see 80 per cent of identified at-risk kids.
“This is a social disaster in NSW.
“What caseworkers are demanding is a sense of urgency from the NSW Government.
“How many of these at-risk kids being ignored are getting hurt right now?
“How much childhood trauma is mounting in this state because we’ve ignored this problem and allowed it to fester?
“Child protection workers have had to earn Degrees and they use their skills and knowledge to do one of the most important jobs we have.
“But the current system is just unsustainable.
“It’s broken and we need the government to recognise it for the emergency it is.
“Child protection workers on the Central Coast don’t stop work lightly.
“They know how important every minute of their work is, but they know they just can’t go on like this and something has to give,” Wright said.