❓ A parliamentary question regarding unallocated child maltreatment allegations, resource allocation, and the welfare of state wards within the Department for Community Development in Western Australia. The Minister acknowledges challenges but denies a crisis.
AnsweredQoN 821Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Department for Community Development child protection workers’ meeting held at the central office on 2 November. (1) What has the minister done about the 45 unallocated child maltreatment allegations in the Perth office? (2) Will the Perth office be given more resources to cope with the backlog of cases? (3) Does the minister find it acceptable that state wards are being placed in homes and are not checked on for a period of six months, as was aired publicly at that meeting? (4) Does the minister accept that the Department for Community Development is in crisis when child protection workers put forward a motion that says that members know that children are not being adequately cared for by the department, and calls on the government to stop providing bandaid solutions and to properly resource the DCD to protect the vulnerable children of Western Australia and to provide good and proper support for the children in the care of the department and in childcare? Hon KATE DOUST
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) All 45 child maltreatment allegations have been investigated. (2) Temporary support has been given and the filling of existing vacant positions has been prioritised. Office systems have been reviewed and human resource needs are being analysed. (3) No; it is not acceptable. (4) Social work agencies throughout the world face serious challenges, but I do not accept that the department is in crisis. Between 2001 and 2005 the government provided more than $140 million in new and recurrent funding for additional staff and resources to the department. The number of new staff committed to the department’s service delivery arm has increased by more than 150 since 2001-02.
(1) What has the minister done about the 45 unallocated child maltreatment allegations in the Perth office? (2) Will the Perth office be given more resources to cope with the backlog of cases? (3) Does the minister find it acceptable that state wards are being placed in homes and are not checked on for a period of six months, as was aired publicly at that meeting? (4) Does the minister accept that the Department for Community Development is in crisis when child protection workers put forward a motion that says that members know that children are not being adequately cared for by the department, and calls on the government to stop providing bandaid solutions and to properly resource the DCD to protect the vulnerable children of Western Australia and to provide good and proper support for the children in the care of the department and in childcare? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) All 45 child maltreatment allegations have been investigated. (2) Temporary support has been given and the filling of existing vacant positions has been prioritised. Office systems have been reviewed and human resource needs are being analysed. (3) No; it is not acceptable. (4) Social work agencies throughout the world face serious challenges, but I do not accept that the department is in crisis. Between 2001 and 2005 the government provided more than $140 million in new and recurrent funding for additional staff and resources to the department. The number of new staff committed to the department’s service delivery arm has increased by more than 150 since 2001-02.
(2) Will the Perth office be given more resources to cope with the backlog of cases? (3) Does the minister find it acceptable that state wards are being placed in homes and are not checked on for a period of six months, as was aired publicly at that meeting? (4) Does the minister accept that the Department for Community Development is in crisis when child protection workers put forward a motion that says that members know that children are not being adequately cared for by the department, and calls on the government to stop providing bandaid solutions and to properly resource the DCD to protect the vulnerable children of Western Australia and to provide good and proper support for the children in the care of the department and in childcare? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) All 45 child maltreatment allegations have been investigated. (2) Temporary support has been given and the filling of existing vacant positions has been prioritised. Office systems have been reviewed and human resource needs are being analysed. (3) No; it is not acceptable. (4) Social work agencies throughout the world face serious challenges, but I do not accept that the department is in crisis. Between 2001 and 2005 the government provided more than $140 million in new and recurrent funding for additional staff and resources to the department. The number of new staff committed to the department’s service delivery arm has increased by more than 150 since 2001-02.
(3) Does the minister find it acceptable that state wards are being placed in homes and are not checked on for a period of six months, as was aired publicly at that meeting? (4) Does the minister accept that the Department for Community Development is in crisis when child protection workers put forward a motion that says that members know that children are not being adequately cared for by the department, and calls on the government to stop providing bandaid solutions and to properly resource the DCD to protect the vulnerable children of Western Australia and to provide good and proper support for the children in the care of the department and in childcare? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) All 45 child maltreatment allegations have been investigated. (2) Temporary support has been given and the filling of existing vacant positions has been prioritised. Office systems have been reviewed and human resource needs are being analysed. (3) No; it is not acceptable. (4) Social work agencies throughout the world face serious challenges, but I do not accept that the department is in crisis. Between 2001 and 2005 the government provided more than $140 million in new and recurrent funding for additional staff and resources to the department. The number of new staff committed to the department’s service delivery arm has increased by more than 150 since 2001-02.
(4) Does the minister accept that the Department for Community Development is in crisis when child protection workers put forward a motion that says that members know that children are not being adequately cared for by the department, and calls on the government to stop providing bandaid solutions and to properly resource the DCD to protect the vulnerable children of Western Australia and to provide good and proper support for the children in the care of the department and in childcare? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) All 45 child maltreatment allegations have been investigated. (2) Temporary support has been given and the filling of existing vacant positions has been prioritised. Office systems have been reviewed and human resource needs are being analysed. (3) No; it is not acceptable. (4) Social work agencies throughout the world face serious challenges, but I do not accept that the department is in crisis. Between 2001 and 2005 the government provided more than $140 million in new and recurrent funding for additional staff and resources to the department. The number of new staff committed to the department’s service delivery arm has increased by more than 150 since 2001-02.
Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) All 45 child maltreatment allegations have been investigated. (2) Temporary support has been given and the filling of existing vacant positions has been prioritised. Office systems have been reviewed and human resource needs are being analysed. (3) No; it is not acceptable. (4) Social work agencies throughout the world face serious challenges, but I do not accept that the department is in crisis. Between 2001 and 2005 the government provided more than $140 million in new and recurrent funding for additional staff and resources to the department. The number of new staff committed to the department’s service delivery arm has increased by more than 150 since 2001-02.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) All 45 child maltreatment allegations have been investigated. (2) Temporary support has been given and the filling of existing vacant positions has been prioritised. Office systems have been reviewed and human resource needs are being analysed. (3) No; it is not acceptable. (4) Social work agencies throughout the world face serious challenges, but I do not accept that the department is in crisis. Between 2001 and 2005 the government provided more than $140 million in new and recurrent funding for additional staff and resources to the department. The number of new staff committed to the department’s service delivery arm has increased by more than 150 since 2001-02.
(1) All 45 child maltreatment allegations have been investigated. (2) Temporary support has been given and the filling of existing vacant positions has been prioritised. Office systems have been reviewed and human resource needs are being analysed. (3) No; it is not acceptable. (4) Social work agencies throughout the world face serious challenges, but I do not accept that the department is in crisis. Between 2001 and 2005 the government provided more than $140 million in new and recurrent funding for additional staff and resources to the department. The number of new staff committed to the department’s service delivery arm has increased by more than 150 since 2001-02.
(2) Temporary support has been given and the filling of existing vacant positions has been prioritised. Office systems have been reviewed and human resource needs are being analysed. (3) No; it is not acceptable. (4) Social work agencies throughout the world face serious challenges, but I do not accept that the department is in crisis. Between 2001 and 2005 the government provided more than $140 million in new and recurrent funding for additional staff and resources to the department. The number of new staff committed to the department’s service delivery arm has increased by more than 150 since 2001-02.
(3) No; it is not acceptable. (4) Social work agencies throughout the world face serious challenges, but I do not accept that the department is in crisis. Between 2001 and 2005 the government provided more than $140 million in new and recurrent funding for additional staff and resources to the department. The number of new staff committed to the department’s service delivery arm has increased by more than 150 since 2001-02.
(4) Social work agencies throughout the world face serious challenges, but I do not accept that the department is in crisis. Between 2001 and 2005 the government provided more than $140 million in new and recurrent funding for additional staff and resources to the department. The number of new staff committed to the department’s service delivery arm has increased by more than 150 since 2001-02.
(1) What has the minister done about the 45 unallocated child maltreatment allegations in the Perth office? (2) Will the Perth office be given more resources to cope with the backlog of cases? (3) Does the minister find it acceptable that state wards are being placed in homes and are not checked on for a period of six months, as was aired publicly at that meeting? (4) Does the minister accept that the Department for Community Development is in crisis when child protection workers put forward a motion that says that members know that children are not being adequately cared for by the department, and calls on the government to stop providing bandaid solutions and to properly resource the DCD to protect the vulnerable children of Western Australia and to provide good and proper support for the children in the care of the department and in childcare? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) All 45 child maltreatment allegations have been investigated. (2) Temporary support has been given and the filling of existing vacant positions has been prioritised. Office systems have been reviewed and human resource needs are being analysed. (3) No; it is not acceptable. (4) Social work agencies throughout the world face serious challenges, but I do not accept that the department is in crisis. Between 2001 and 2005 the government provided more than $140 million in new and recurrent funding for additional staff and resources to the department. The number of new staff committed to the department’s service delivery arm has increased by more than 150 since 2001-02.
(2) Will the Perth office be given more resources to cope with the backlog of cases? (3) Does the minister find it acceptable that state wards are being placed in homes and are not checked on for a period of six months, as was aired publicly at that meeting? (4) Does the minister accept that the Department for Community Development is in crisis when child protection workers put forward a motion that says that members know that children are not being adequately cared for by the department, and calls on the government to stop providing bandaid solutions and to properly resource the DCD to protect the vulnerable children of Western Australia and to provide good and proper support for the children in the care of the department and in childcare? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) All 45 child maltreatment allegations have been investigated. (2) Temporary support has been given and the filling of existing vacant positions has been prioritised. Office systems have been reviewed and human resource needs are being analysed. (3) No; it is not acceptable. (4) Social work agencies throughout the world face serious challenges, but I do not accept that the department is in crisis. Between 2001 and 2005 the government provided more than $140 million in new and recurrent funding for additional staff and resources to the department. The number of new staff committed to the department’s service delivery arm has increased by more than 150 since 2001-02.
(3) Does the minister find it acceptable that state wards are being placed in homes and are not checked on for a period of six months, as was aired publicly at that meeting? (4) Does the minister accept that the Department for Community Development is in crisis when child protection workers put forward a motion that says that members know that children are not being adequately cared for by the department, and calls on the government to stop providing bandaid solutions and to properly resource the DCD to protect the vulnerable children of Western Australia and to provide good and proper support for the children in the care of the department and in childcare? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) All 45 child maltreatment allegations have been investigated. (2) Temporary support has been given and the filling of existing vacant positions has been prioritised. Office systems have been reviewed and human resource needs are being analysed. (3) No; it is not acceptable. (4) Social work agencies throughout the world face serious challenges, but I do not accept that the department is in crisis. Between 2001 and 2005 the government provided more than $140 million in new and recurrent funding for additional staff and resources to the department. The number of new staff committed to the department’s service delivery arm has increased by more than 150 since 2001-02.
(4) Does the minister accept that the Department for Community Development is in crisis when child protection workers put forward a motion that says that members know that children are not being adequately cared for by the department, and calls on the government to stop providing bandaid solutions and to properly resource the DCD to protect the vulnerable children of Western Australia and to provide good and proper support for the children in the care of the department and in childcare? Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) All 45 child maltreatment allegations have been investigated. (2) Temporary support has been given and the filling of existing vacant positions has been prioritised. Office systems have been reviewed and human resource needs are being analysed. (3) No; it is not acceptable. (4) Social work agencies throughout the world face serious challenges, but I do not accept that the department is in crisis. Between 2001 and 2005 the government provided more than $140 million in new and recurrent funding for additional staff and resources to the department. The number of new staff committed to the department’s service delivery arm has increased by more than 150 since 2001-02.
Hon KATE DOUST replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) All 45 child maltreatment allegations have been investigated. (2) Temporary support has been given and the filling of existing vacant positions has been prioritised. Office systems have been reviewed and human resource needs are being analysed. (3) No; it is not acceptable. (4) Social work agencies throughout the world face serious challenges, but I do not accept that the department is in crisis. Between 2001 and 2005 the government provided more than $140 million in new and recurrent funding for additional staff and resources to the department. The number of new staff committed to the department’s service delivery arm has increased by more than 150 since 2001-02.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) All 45 child maltreatment allegations have been investigated. (2) Temporary support has been given and the filling of existing vacant positions has been prioritised. Office systems have been reviewed and human resource needs are being analysed. (3) No; it is not acceptable. (4) Social work agencies throughout the world face serious challenges, but I do not accept that the department is in crisis. Between 2001 and 2005 the government provided more than $140 million in new and recurrent funding for additional staff and resources to the department. The number of new staff committed to the department’s service delivery arm has increased by more than 150 since 2001-02.
(1) All 45 child maltreatment allegations have been investigated. (2) Temporary support has been given and the filling of existing vacant positions has been prioritised. Office systems have been reviewed and human resource needs are being analysed. (3) No; it is not acceptable. (4) Social work agencies throughout the world face serious challenges, but I do not accept that the department is in crisis. Between 2001 and 2005 the government provided more than $140 million in new and recurrent funding for additional staff and resources to the department. The number of new staff committed to the department’s service delivery arm has increased by more than 150 since 2001-02.
(2) Temporary support has been given and the filling of existing vacant positions has been prioritised. Office systems have been reviewed and human resource needs are being analysed. (3) No; it is not acceptable. (4) Social work agencies throughout the world face serious challenges, but I do not accept that the department is in crisis. Between 2001 and 2005 the government provided more than $140 million in new and recurrent funding for additional staff and resources to the department. The number of new staff committed to the department’s service delivery arm has increased by more than 150 since 2001-02.
(3) No; it is not acceptable. (4) Social work agencies throughout the world face serious challenges, but I do not accept that the department is in crisis. Between 2001 and 2005 the government provided more than $140 million in new and recurrent funding for additional staff and resources to the department. The number of new staff committed to the department’s service delivery arm has increased by more than 150 since 2001-02.
(4) Social work agencies throughout the world face serious challenges, but I do not accept that the department is in crisis. Between 2001 and 2005 the government provided more than $140 million in new and recurrent funding for additional staff and resources to the department. The number of new staff committed to the department’s service delivery arm has increased by more than 150 since 2001-02.
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