Wednesday, 29 May 2024

Ministers statements: child protection

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Children, Minister for Disability) (12:29): I rise to update the house on the importance of child protection practitioners in ensuring the safety of children and families right across our state. Last week I had the privilege to attend the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing’s Dandenong office to meet the dedicated staff who work tirelessly to keep children safe and families strong. I had the opportunity to meet the dedicated workforce across the division, including workers in case management, in investigation, in professional practice and in sexual exploitation practice work, just to name a few.

What struck me was the dedication of these hardworking individuals. They are first responders to families in crisis. Day in, day out they turn up for children and families in what are often difficult and complex and sometimes extremely volatile circumstances. We are continuing to support these incredibly vital staff in the critical work that they do. In the 2024–25 state budget we are providing $8 million to continue to deliver the career advancement program, the child protection employment program and the Go Where You’re Needed campaign. These programs provide critical workforce supports for recruiting and retaining frontline child protection practitioners by promoting their profession, supporting career advancement or providing a continuum of new entrants into the program.

It was also heartening to hear about how the investment we made in the last budget to target and disrupt child sexual exploitation was making a real difference on the ground. I was able to hear directly from workers about how having a sexual exploitation practice lead in each area across the state is providing coordinated work to disrupt these criminal actions. In relation to child protection practitioner allocations – a common question in this place – it was reassuring to hear on the ground directly from the workforce on the factors that they weigh up in allocating cases. It was clear from my discussions that there is active oversight of all children and young people in the care system. On any given day that can be around 17,000 children.

Throughout my visit one common discussion with the staff was how we elevate their profession in the eyes of the public. That is a duty on all of us, including in this place, to ensure that child protection workers are recognised and valued for their hardworking commitment in very difficult circumstances. We do have a choice in how we discuss child protection and family services, and on this side of the house we will always back the workforce.