Subsite 2

WA Budget fails child protection

By Fiona O'Connor

The State Government has ignored critical areas in Department for Community Development funding in the State Budget, according to CPSU/CSA Branch Assistant Secretary Jo Gaines.

"Once again critical areas, such as the department's Care for Children and Protection of Children teams, will not receive any funding increases that would allow those areas to put on more staff and reduce extensive wait lists for children at risk," Ms Gaines said.

"We recognise that the Government has increased funding for children in State care by an additional $2.2 million, but this money is earmarked for direct expenses like education. It is not balanced by funds for essential staff support.

"Where are the additional funds for staff to oversee placements, arrange access visits, and organise case conferences? Propping up the state's credit rating, or so it seems.

"Meanwhile, Child Protection remains in crisis. The community has a legitimate expectation that DCD will assess children at risk and investigate complaints in an effective and timely manner - but that's not happening. Without extra funds staff simply cannot do the job properly."

Ms Gaines said CSPU/CSA members working in DCD were unhappy with the budget outcome because it had ignored their demands for more staff and appropriate funding.

"Our members at DCD have not ruled out industrial action. They are angry about the systematic under-resourcing of DCD and the unacceptable stress on the department's staff and their families," she said.

"I also question the Government's claim that since late 1999, the number of children in care has increased by an average of 12 per cent a year and that the Government had increased expenditure directly related to their care during that time.

"Our figures say that over the past four years, the number of children in State care has risen by more than 46 per cent.

"How can staff cope when during the same time numbers of staff in direct care positions have decreased by about 26 per cent? What's even more worrying is that there have been no staff increases since the 1980s."

Ms Gaines stressed that investigations of child abuse are being delayed for months because of the extensive wait lists with DCD.

© 2001 Community & Public Sector Union - State Public Services Federation (CPSU-SPSF) - National Office

http://www.cpsu-spsf.asn.au/latest_news/subsite2/20020521_budget.html
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005