❓ The Opposition raises concerns about unsupervised children in the Kimberley and calls for more child protection workers. The Minister responds by outlining existing services, staff increases since taking office, and early intervention programs, while acknowledging regional vacancies and skills shortages.
AnsweredQoN 136Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CHILD
PROTECTION — CASEWORKERS
136. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to reports on ABC Kimberley yesterday in which the
district superintendent revealed while speaking on Operation Regional Shield
that 578 children who police had come into contact with were out late at night
without supervision, while others had never
been in enrolled in school. Will the minister immediately commit to the much- needed
200 additional child protection workers as has been called for by the Community
and Public Sector Union–Civil Service Association of WA?
PROTECTION — CASEWORKERS
136. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to reports on ABC Kimberley yesterday in which the
district superintendent revealed while speaking on Operation Regional Shield
that 578 children who police had come into contact with were out late at night
without supervision, while others had never
been in enrolled in school. Will the minister immediately commit to the much- needed
200 additional child protection workers as has been called for by the Community
and Public Sector Union–Civil Service Association of WA?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question but I am
not sure that she is entirely clear about what child protection workers do in
this state; that is, when parents are not able to care for their children and
keep them safe or they are at risk of harm, then child protection agencies are
involved. Frequently, police do make notifications to child protection through the proper channels to notify that they are
concerned about the welfare of children. Really , what we are talking
about there is any young person under 18 years of age. When that occurs after
hours, there is a crisis care line that can
be called. Even though that call comes through to Perth, it is a statewide
line. Then relevant child protection
staff in the Department of Communities are notified, and if they need to, they
will present. So, there is 24-hour coverage by child protection workers
throughout the state.
In regard to the number of child protection staff in the
Department of Communities, I outlined yesterday that since coming to office, the
McGowan government has delivered over 200 case-carrying FTE child protection
staff. That is a significant number compared with the previous government,
which delivered, I think, 13. A ridiculously small number of child protection
staff were delivered during the period that the Leader of the Opposition was in
office. Not only have we seen a reduction in the number of children in care; we
have seen an increase in the number of child protection staff. I do
acknowledge, and I did acknowledge yesterday, that there are vacancies,
particularly in the regions, and that is causing pressure on staff. I want them
to know that I understand that and we are working to rectify that with the
Department of Communities. But this is not something that is particular to the
Department of Communities or its child protection area; those skills shortages
are being felt across government departments and private industry as well.
In regard to the
Kimberley, we know that a number of factors contribute to antisocial behaviour
by young people and, in fact, antisocial behaviour generally. One of the
programs that the Department of Communities has responsibility for is
Target 120. It is an early intervention youth justice program that is having
some very good outcomes. The member may not
have caught up on my contribution yesterday to the private members'
business debate, but I referred to the very positive contribution that
Target 120 is making to young people who have had a number of interactions with
the criminal justice system but have not spent time in Banksia Hill Detention
Centre. Just under 50 per cent of those young people have not offended since
they have been interacting with Target 120.
The tension when dealing with antisocial behaviour is always
whether we have an immediate response that might have a quick reaction or we deal with some of the causes that lead to
antisocial behaviour, or young people being on the streets at night in
this instance. Target 120 is very much an early intervention program that is
designed to work with not only those young people, but also their families. It
is a credit to the Department of Communities staff who are doing that work and
some of the community sector organisations that are working with us. I met with
Lawford Benning from MG Corporation last week. He was very positive about the
work that they are doing in Kununurra with Target 120.
Out of those numbers referred to in the police investigations
through Operation Regional Shield, I understand there have been about 11 notifications
to child protection. We will continue to work with those notifications. But
across government agencies, whether it is the Mental Health Commission, the
Department of Health, the Department of Education, Western Australia Police
Force or housing, we will work together to make sure that we are doing our best
to keep not only those young people safe, but also their families doing the
best job to look after their children and also keep the community safe as well.
not sure that she is entirely clear about what child protection workers do in
this state; that is, when parents are not able to care for their children and
keep them safe or they are at risk of harm, then child protection agencies are
involved. Frequently, police do make notifications to child protection through the proper channels to notify that they are
concerned about the welfare of children. Really , what we are talking
about there is any young person under 18 years of age. When that occurs after
hours, there is a crisis care line that can
be called. Even though that call comes through to Perth, it is a statewide
line. Then relevant child protection
staff in the Department of Communities are notified, and if they need to, they
will present. So, there is 24-hour coverage by child protection workers
throughout the state.
In regard to the number of child protection staff in the
Department of Communities, I outlined yesterday that since coming to office, the
McGowan government has delivered over 200 case-carrying FTE child protection
staff. That is a significant number compared with the previous government,
which delivered, I think, 13. A ridiculously small number of child protection
staff were delivered during the period that the Leader of the Opposition was in
office. Not only have we seen a reduction in the number of children in care; we
have seen an increase in the number of child protection staff. I do
acknowledge, and I did acknowledge yesterday, that there are vacancies,
particularly in the regions, and that is causing pressure on staff. I want them
to know that I understand that and we are working to rectify that with the
Department of Communities. But this is not something that is particular to the
Department of Communities or its child protection area; those skills shortages
are being felt across government departments and private industry as well.
In regard to the
Kimberley, we know that a number of factors contribute to antisocial behaviour
by young people and, in fact, antisocial behaviour generally. One of the
programs that the Department of Communities has responsibility for is
Target 120. It is an early intervention youth justice program that is having
some very good outcomes. The member may not
have caught up on my contribution yesterday to the private members'
business debate, but I referred to the very positive contribution that
Target 120 is making to young people who have had a number of interactions with
the criminal justice system but have not spent time in Banksia Hill Detention
Centre. Just under 50 per cent of those young people have not offended since
they have been interacting with Target 120.
The tension when dealing with antisocial behaviour is always
whether we have an immediate response that might have a quick reaction or we deal with some of the causes that lead to
antisocial behaviour, or young people being on the streets at night in
this instance. Target 120 is very much an early intervention program that is
designed to work with not only those young people, but also their families. It
is a credit to the Department of Communities staff who are doing that work and
some of the community sector organisations that are working with us. I met with
Lawford Benning from MG Corporation last week. He was very positive about the
work that they are doing in Kununurra with Target 120.
Out of those numbers referred to in the police investigations
through Operation Regional Shield, I understand there have been about 11 notifications
to child protection. We will continue to work with those notifications. But
across government agencies, whether it is the Mental Health Commission, the
Department of Health, the Department of Education, Western Australia Police
Force or housing, we will work together to make sure that we are doing our best
to keep not only those young people safe, but also their families doing the
best job to look after their children and also keep the community safe as well.
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