500 signatures reached
To: Minister for Child Protection, Rachel Sanderson MP
Have a heart for children in state care
To fix the growing crisis in Child Protection, Minister Rachel Sanderson must:
1. Immediately increase the number of youth workers in residential care houses.
2. Reverse her government’s cuts to vital early intervention programs.
3. Stop cuts to important programs that support Aboriginal children and families.
Why is this important?
THERE'S A CRISIS IN RESIDENTIAL CARE
Every month hundreds of shifts are being covered by fatigued Youth Workers working excessive overtime. Many more are not covered at all.
The staffing shortage has become so chronic that social workers are now being forced to care for children in offices because there aren't enough Residential Care staff to care for them. This puts vulnerable children and the staff that care for them at serious risk.
Minister Sanderson has known about this for years, yet the problem is getting worse.
The Public Service Association has calculated that we need at least 60 more full-time youth workers to ensure appropriate staffing in Residential Care.
EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAMS MUST BE RESTORED
In the last two State Budgets Minister Sanderson’s government has made
significant cuts to successful early intervention programs. As a result we’re seeing more children coming into state care. We need these programs restored to ensure vulnerable children and families are supported to function independently.
CUTS TO ABORIGINAL PROGRAMS MUST BE ABANDONED
Many children in care are Aboriginal. Yet, Minister Sanderson’s government is planning to axe critical programs specifically designed to support Aboriginal children and their families.
How it will be delivered
We will print the petition signatures and present them to the Minister.