Child protection workers begin industrial action as ‘system crumbles’

Child protection workers across the state are preparing to go on strike over multiple weeks demanding the Minns government fix the embattled system plagued by chronic understaffing.

Former child case worker said the pressures of the job saw some workers forced to work up to 200 hours a month. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Child protection workers across the state will walk off the job over the next three weeks, as caseworkers demand the Minns government urgently fix the embattled system plagued by chronic understaffing.

The first of many rolling stop work meetings will begin next Wednesday, with the Public Service Association (PSA), the main union representing child protection workers, accusing the government of dragging its feet on improving conditions for both vulnerable children and the people who care for them.

Child protection workers, who have not taken industrial action in over a decade, are demanding an “immediate and substantial pay rise” to help beat spiralling retention rates.

They are also demanding the government actively work to recruit another 500 caseworkers and place foster care back in the public sector.

'Child protection workers are demanding the Minns government urgently fix the embattled system plagues by chronic understaffing. Picture: Evan Morgan

The move comes after new statistics from the Department of Communities and Justice showed three in four kids reported as at risk of harm from October 1, 2022 until September 30 last year received no visit from caseworkers.

Additionally the caseworker vacancy rate has increased 250 per cent year on year, with the state losing more workers than they are employing.

PSA general secretary Stewart Little said caseworkers had finally decided to take action due to concerns chronic understaffing was leaving the state’s most vulnerable children at risk of serious harm.

“The Minns Government didn’t create this mess but it’s now their responsibility to fix it -to not act now would be a massive moral failure,” he said.

“People in child protection don’t take action lightly, they know how important every single minute of their work is but they just can’t go on as the system crumbles around their ears.”

Tom Hooper, a former case worker said caseworkers in the bush were forced to drive hour between town to see children due mass staffing shortages. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Former caseworker Tom Hooper had worked eight years looking after vulnerable children around Walgett and Bourke in the state’s west. Now working for the PSA assessing caseworker conditions, Mr Hooper said it’s worse than he’s ever seen it, with child protection workers driving hours to see children and police forced to do welfare checks due to caseworker vacancies.

“In Walgett in November there was only one caseworker, working three days a week,” he said.

“I spoke with a case worker who was forced to drive three hours from Nyngan to see a child who had been classified as a level one.”

A level one is a child who is at such risk of harm, they must be seen within 24 hours. The caseworker told Mr Hooper the child in question had not been seen for two weeks.

“Some caseworkers work upwards of 200 hours a month with no overtime and still can’t see all the children,” he said.

“They don’t have time to even do proper casework, they’re visiting them just to see if they’re alive.”

A NSW government spokesman said the government respected union members exercising their rights.

“We are continuing to have productive conversations with the PSA and last year, awarded public sector workers their biggest pay increase for NSW public sector employees in over a decade.”

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Originally published as Child protection workers begin industrial action as ‘system crumbles’