❓ Hon Giz Watson raises concerns about high child-to-worker ratios in women's refuges compared to childcare centres, requesting additional funding to reduce these ratios. The Minister acknowledges the issue and commits to further discussion during the budget process.
AnsweredQoN 22Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CHILD SUPPORT WORKERS - WOMEN’S REFUGE SERVICES
I refer to the funding of child support workers in women’s refuge services. (1) Is the minister aware that the ratio of children to child support workers in some women’s refuges is as high as 20 to one? (2) Is the minister aware that the ratio of children to childcare workers in childcare centres is required by regulation to be five to one? (3) Will the minister provide additional funding so that the child-staff ratios can be reduced to the same regulated level that applies in childcare centres? (4) If yes to (3), when will the minister provide the funding? (5) If yes to (3), how much has the government budgeted for the service over the next five years? (6) If no to (3), why not? Hon KATE DOUST
I refer to the funding of child support workers in women’s refuge services. (1) Is the minister aware that the ratio of children to child support workers in some women’s refuges is as high as 20 to one? (2) Is the minister aware that the ratio of children to childcare workers in childcare centres is required by regulation to be five to one? (3) Will the minister provide additional funding so that the child-staff ratios can be reduced to the same regulated level that applies in childcare centres? (4) If yes to (3), when will the minister provide the funding? (5) If yes to (3), how much has the government budgeted for the service over the next five years? (6) If no to (3), why not? Hon KATE DOUST
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1) Yes, I understand that ratios may vary from refuge to refuge, as the parent remains primarily responsible for the care of their children while in the refuge. Child support workers in women’s refuges provide support and activities for children, and assist parents or caregivers to link children to appropriate services. (2) The ratio varies according to the age of the child. (3) The Minister for Community Development has indicated that he will discuss this matter further with the Director General of the Department for Community Development, as part of the department’s budget process, and will write to the honourable member further on this point. (4)-(5) Not applicable. (6) The child support workers provide support and activities for children, and parents remain primarily responsible for the care of the children.
(1) Is the minister aware that the ratio of children to child support workers in some women’s refuges is as high as 20 to one? (2) Is the minister aware that the ratio of children to childcare workers in childcare centres is required by regulation to be five to one? (3) Will the minister provide additional funding so that the child-staff ratios can be reduced to the same regulated level that applies in childcare centres? (4) If yes to (3), when will the minister provide the funding? (5) If yes to (3), how much has the government budgeted for the service over the next five years? (6) If no to (3), why not? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1) Yes, I understand that ratios may vary from refuge to refuge, as the parent remains primarily responsible for the care of their children while in the refuge. Child support workers in women’s refuges provide support and activities for children, and assist parents or caregivers to link children to appropriate services. (2) The ratio varies according to the age of the child. (3) The Minister for Community Development has indicated that he will discuss this matter further with the Director General of the Department for Community Development, as part of the department’s budget process, and will write to the honourable member further on this point. (4)-(5) Not applicable. (6) The child support workers provide support and activities for children, and parents remain primarily responsible for the care of the children.
(2) Is the minister aware that the ratio of children to childcare workers in childcare centres is required by regulation to be five to one? (3) Will the minister provide additional funding so that the child-staff ratios can be reduced to the same regulated level that applies in childcare centres? (4) If yes to (3), when will the minister provide the funding? (5) If yes to (3), how much has the government budgeted for the service over the next five years? (6) If no to (3), why not? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1) Yes, I understand that ratios may vary from refuge to refuge, as the parent remains primarily responsible for the care of their children while in the refuge. Child support workers in women’s refuges provide support and activities for children, and assist parents or caregivers to link children to appropriate services. (2) The ratio varies according to the age of the child. (3) The Minister for Community Development has indicated that he will discuss this matter further with the Director General of the Department for Community Development, as part of the department’s budget process, and will write to the honourable member further on this point. (4)-(5) Not applicable. (6) The child support workers provide support and activities for children, and parents remain primarily responsible for the care of the children.
(3) Will the minister provide additional funding so that the child-staff ratios can be reduced to the same regulated level that applies in childcare centres? (4) If yes to (3), when will the minister provide the funding? (5) If yes to (3), how much has the government budgeted for the service over the next five years? (6) If no to (3), why not? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1) Yes, I understand that ratios may vary from refuge to refuge, as the parent remains primarily responsible for the care of their children while in the refuge. Child support workers in women’s refuges provide support and activities for children, and assist parents or caregivers to link children to appropriate services. (2) The ratio varies according to the age of the child. (3) The Minister for Community Development has indicated that he will discuss this matter further with the Director General of the Department for Community Development, as part of the department’s budget process, and will write to the honourable member further on this point. (4)-(5) Not applicable. (6) The child support workers provide support and activities for children, and parents remain primarily responsible for the care of the children.
(4) If yes to (3), when will the minister provide the funding? (5) If yes to (3), how much has the government budgeted for the service over the next five years? (6) If no to (3), why not? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1) Yes, I understand that ratios may vary from refuge to refuge, as the parent remains primarily responsible for the care of their children while in the refuge. Child support workers in women’s refuges provide support and activities for children, and assist parents or caregivers to link children to appropriate services. (2) The ratio varies according to the age of the child. (3) The Minister for Community Development has indicated that he will discuss this matter further with the Director General of the Department for Community Development, as part of the department’s budget process, and will write to the honourable member further on this point. (4)-(5) Not applicable. (6) The child support workers provide support and activities for children, and parents remain primarily responsible for the care of the children.
(5) If yes to (3), how much has the government budgeted for the service over the next five years? (6) If no to (3), why not? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1) Yes, I understand that ratios may vary from refuge to refuge, as the parent remains primarily responsible for the care of their children while in the refuge. Child support workers in women’s refuges provide support and activities for children, and assist parents or caregivers to link children to appropriate services. (2) The ratio varies according to the age of the child. (3) The Minister for Community Development has indicated that he will discuss this matter further with the Director General of the Department for Community Development, as part of the department’s budget process, and will write to the honourable member further on this point. (4)-(5) Not applicable. (6) The child support workers provide support and activities for children, and parents remain primarily responsible for the care of the children.
(6) If no to (3), why not? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1) Yes, I understand that ratios may vary from refuge to refuge, as the parent remains primarily responsible for the care of their children while in the refuge. Child support workers in women’s refuges provide support and activities for children, and assist parents or caregivers to link children to appropriate services. (2) The ratio varies according to the age of the child. (3) The Minister for Community Development has indicated that he will discuss this matter further with the Director General of the Department for Community Development, as part of the department’s budget process, and will write to the honourable member further on this point. (4)-(5) Not applicable. (6) The child support workers provide support and activities for children, and parents remain primarily responsible for the care of the children.
Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1) Yes, I understand that ratios may vary from refuge to refuge, as the parent remains primarily responsible for the care of their children while in the refuge. Child support workers in women’s refuges provide support and activities for children, and assist parents or caregivers to link children to appropriate services. (2) The ratio varies according to the age of the child. (3) The Minister for Community Development has indicated that he will discuss this matter further with the Director General of the Department for Community Development, as part of the department’s budget process, and will write to the honourable member further on this point. (4)-(5) Not applicable. (6) The child support workers provide support and activities for children, and parents remain primarily responsible for the care of the children.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1) Yes, I understand that ratios may vary from refuge to refuge, as the parent remains primarily responsible for the care of their children while in the refuge. Child support workers in women’s refuges provide support and activities for children, and assist parents or caregivers to link children to appropriate services. (2) The ratio varies according to the age of the child. (3) The Minister for Community Development has indicated that he will discuss this matter further with the Director General of the Department for Community Development, as part of the department’s budget process, and will write to the honourable member further on this point. (4)-(5) Not applicable. (6) The child support workers provide support and activities for children, and parents remain primarily responsible for the care of the children.
(1) Yes, I understand that ratios may vary from refuge to refuge, as the parent remains primarily responsible for the care of their children while in the refuge. Child support workers in women’s refuges provide support and activities for children, and assist parents or caregivers to link children to appropriate services. (2) The ratio varies according to the age of the child. (3) The Minister for Community Development has indicated that he will discuss this matter further with the Director General of the Department for Community Development, as part of the department’s budget process, and will write to the honourable member further on this point. (4)-(5) Not applicable. (6) The child support workers provide support and activities for children, and parents remain primarily responsible for the care of the children.
(2) The ratio varies according to the age of the child. (3) The Minister for Community Development has indicated that he will discuss this matter further with the Director General of the Department for Community Development, as part of the department’s budget process, and will write to the honourable member further on this point. (4)-(5) Not applicable. (6) The child support workers provide support and activities for children, and parents remain primarily responsible for the care of the children.
(3) The Minister for Community Development has indicated that he will discuss this matter further with the Director General of the Department for Community Development, as part of the department’s budget process, and will write to the honourable member further on this point. (4)-(5) Not applicable. (6) The child support workers provide support and activities for children, and parents remain primarily responsible for the care of the children.
(4)-(5) Not applicable. (6) The child support workers provide support and activities for children, and parents remain primarily responsible for the care of the children.
(6) The child support workers provide support and activities for children, and parents remain primarily responsible for the care of the children.
(1) Is the minister aware that the ratio of children to child support workers in some women’s refuges is as high as 20 to one? (2) Is the minister aware that the ratio of children to childcare workers in childcare centres is required by regulation to be five to one? (3) Will the minister provide additional funding so that the child-staff ratios can be reduced to the same regulated level that applies in childcare centres? (4) If yes to (3), when will the minister provide the funding? (5) If yes to (3), how much has the government budgeted for the service over the next five years? (6) If no to (3), why not? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1) Yes, I understand that ratios may vary from refuge to refuge, as the parent remains primarily responsible for the care of their children while in the refuge. Child support workers in women’s refuges provide support and activities for children, and assist parents or caregivers to link children to appropriate services. (2) The ratio varies according to the age of the child. (3) The Minister for Community Development has indicated that he will discuss this matter further with the Director General of the Department for Community Development, as part of the department’s budget process, and will write to the honourable member further on this point. (4)-(5) Not applicable. (6) The child support workers provide support and activities for children, and parents remain primarily responsible for the care of the children.
(2) Is the minister aware that the ratio of children to childcare workers in childcare centres is required by regulation to be five to one? (3) Will the minister provide additional funding so that the child-staff ratios can be reduced to the same regulated level that applies in childcare centres? (4) If yes to (3), when will the minister provide the funding? (5) If yes to (3), how much has the government budgeted for the service over the next five years? (6) If no to (3), why not? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1) Yes, I understand that ratios may vary from refuge to refuge, as the parent remains primarily responsible for the care of their children while in the refuge. Child support workers in women’s refuges provide support and activities for children, and assist parents or caregivers to link children to appropriate services. (2) The ratio varies according to the age of the child. (3) The Minister for Community Development has indicated that he will discuss this matter further with the Director General of the Department for Community Development, as part of the department’s budget process, and will write to the honourable member further on this point. (4)-(5) Not applicable. (6) The child support workers provide support and activities for children, and parents remain primarily responsible for the care of the children.
(3) Will the minister provide additional funding so that the child-staff ratios can be reduced to the same regulated level that applies in childcare centres? (4) If yes to (3), when will the minister provide the funding? (5) If yes to (3), how much has the government budgeted for the service over the next five years? (6) If no to (3), why not? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1) Yes, I understand that ratios may vary from refuge to refuge, as the parent remains primarily responsible for the care of their children while in the refuge. Child support workers in women’s refuges provide support and activities for children, and assist parents or caregivers to link children to appropriate services. (2) The ratio varies according to the age of the child. (3) The Minister for Community Development has indicated that he will discuss this matter further with the Director General of the Department for Community Development, as part of the department’s budget process, and will write to the honourable member further on this point. (4)-(5) Not applicable. (6) The child support workers provide support and activities for children, and parents remain primarily responsible for the care of the children.
(4) If yes to (3), when will the minister provide the funding? (5) If yes to (3), how much has the government budgeted for the service over the next five years? (6) If no to (3), why not? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1) Yes, I understand that ratios may vary from refuge to refuge, as the parent remains primarily responsible for the care of their children while in the refuge. Child support workers in women’s refuges provide support and activities for children, and assist parents or caregivers to link children to appropriate services. (2) The ratio varies according to the age of the child. (3) The Minister for Community Development has indicated that he will discuss this matter further with the Director General of the Department for Community Development, as part of the department’s budget process, and will write to the honourable member further on this point. (4)-(5) Not applicable. (6) The child support workers provide support and activities for children, and parents remain primarily responsible for the care of the children.
(5) If yes to (3), how much has the government budgeted for the service over the next five years? (6) If no to (3), why not? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1) Yes, I understand that ratios may vary from refuge to refuge, as the parent remains primarily responsible for the care of their children while in the refuge. Child support workers in women’s refuges provide support and activities for children, and assist parents or caregivers to link children to appropriate services. (2) The ratio varies according to the age of the child. (3) The Minister for Community Development has indicated that he will discuss this matter further with the Director General of the Department for Community Development, as part of the department’s budget process, and will write to the honourable member further on this point. (4)-(5) Not applicable. (6) The child support workers provide support and activities for children, and parents remain primarily responsible for the care of the children.
(6) If no to (3), why not? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1) Yes, I understand that ratios may vary from refuge to refuge, as the parent remains primarily responsible for the care of their children while in the refuge. Child support workers in women’s refuges provide support and activities for children, and assist parents or caregivers to link children to appropriate services. (2) The ratio varies according to the age of the child. (3) The Minister for Community Development has indicated that he will discuss this matter further with the Director General of the Department for Community Development, as part of the department’s budget process, and will write to the honourable member further on this point. (4)-(5) Not applicable. (6) The child support workers provide support and activities for children, and parents remain primarily responsible for the care of the children.
Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1) Yes, I understand that ratios may vary from refuge to refuge, as the parent remains primarily responsible for the care of their children while in the refuge. Child support workers in women’s refuges provide support and activities for children, and assist parents or caregivers to link children to appropriate services. (2) The ratio varies according to the age of the child. (3) The Minister for Community Development has indicated that he will discuss this matter further with the Director General of the Department for Community Development, as part of the department’s budget process, and will write to the honourable member further on this point. (4)-(5) Not applicable. (6) The child support workers provide support and activities for children, and parents remain primarily responsible for the care of the children.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Minister for Community Development has provided the following response - (1) Yes, I understand that ratios may vary from refuge to refuge, as the parent remains primarily responsible for the care of their children while in the refuge. Child support workers in women’s refuges provide support and activities for children, and assist parents or caregivers to link children to appropriate services. (2) The ratio varies according to the age of the child. (3) The Minister for Community Development has indicated that he will discuss this matter further with the Director General of the Department for Community Development, as part of the department’s budget process, and will write to the honourable member further on this point. (4)-(5) Not applicable. (6) The child support workers provide support and activities for children, and parents remain primarily responsible for the care of the children.
(1) Yes, I understand that ratios may vary from refuge to refuge, as the parent remains primarily responsible for the care of their children while in the refuge. Child support workers in women’s refuges provide support and activities for children, and assist parents or caregivers to link children to appropriate services. (2) The ratio varies according to the age of the child. (3) The Minister for Community Development has indicated that he will discuss this matter further with the Director General of the Department for Community Development, as part of the department’s budget process, and will write to the honourable member further on this point. (4)-(5) Not applicable. (6) The child support workers provide support and activities for children, and parents remain primarily responsible for the care of the children.
(2) The ratio varies according to the age of the child. (3) The Minister for Community Development has indicated that he will discuss this matter further with the Director General of the Department for Community Development, as part of the department’s budget process, and will write to the honourable member further on this point. (4)-(5) Not applicable. (6) The child support workers provide support and activities for children, and parents remain primarily responsible for the care of the children.
(3) The Minister for Community Development has indicated that he will discuss this matter further with the Director General of the Department for Community Development, as part of the department’s budget process, and will write to the honourable member further on this point. (4)-(5) Not applicable. (6) The child support workers provide support and activities for children, and parents remain primarily responsible for the care of the children.
(4)-(5) Not applicable. (6) The child support workers provide support and activities for children, and parents remain primarily responsible for the care of the children.
(6) The child support workers provide support and activities for children, and parents remain primarily responsible for the care of the children.
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