Extra youth justice staff deployed amid shocking care home claims

Allegations of kids in the state care system being put up for auction like cattle have emerged as the state’s Children Minister makes a second Cairns visit in three weeks.

ALLEGATIONS of kids in the state residential care system being put up for auction like cattle have emerged as the state’s Children Minister makes a second Cairns visit in three weeks.

Amid an escalating juvenile crime situation in the Cairns southern growth corridor Leanne Linard was back in the Far North to announce six fast-tracked early intervention officers to help at-risk young people.

In a new program designed to bring services to where they are needed, youth justice staff will connect young people to drug and alcohol rehabilitation services or to housing providers from a unit based at the Edmonton PCYC.

Youth justice deputy director general Phillip Brooks, Mulgrave MP Curtis Pitt, Children and Youth Justice Minister Leanne Linard, PCYC youth club management Steven Pattono and youth justice regional director Tracey Harding at the Edmonton PCYC. Picture: Peter Carruthers

“It’s about participating in those education, training and prosocial programs that reduce the risk of offending, and we know the community wants to feel safe,” she said.

But serious questions have been raised about management of children in the residential care system. There are 140 young people living in 73 homes across Cairns. Eleven different providers offer residential care services in Cairns which were collectively funded $56.7m during the 2021/22 financial year.

High staff turnover, worker assault and inhalant abuse has been reported as former workers come forward in droves.

One former residential care worker alleged staff were asked to work 24-hour shifts with no breaks and no penalty rates.

“Staff are physically and mentally exhausted,” he said.

“If any staff member tried to challenge the employment conditions they were threatened with legal action and fired.”

He attributed the care crisis to tough working conditions providing for children with serious mental health issues and pressure for providers to not lose contracts with Child Safety.

“(Providers) constantly tell you, they have one client, which is Child Safety, so they must do everything they need to do to maintain the contract,” he said.

“The kids get put up for auction like cattle, the organisations bid for them and get a short term contract and the process happens all over again every three to six months.

“Unfortunately the kids are just a commodity.”

Minister Linard said there was no easy fix for trauma affected children and it was “deeply concerning” to hear about chroming and illegal activity behind closed rest care doors.

Concerning claims of drug use have emerged from within the state residential care system. (AAP Image/Joe Castro)

“None of those things are acceptable, and they’re heartbreaking to think that any child is in a circumstance where they’re addicted to any substance,” she said.

“We want to hear about those things. And we want to address those issues.”

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Originally published as Extra youth justice staff deployed amid shocking care home claims