NSW child protection workers detail litany of terrifying alleged incidents

Child protection workers have detailed terrifying alleged incidents while on the job, including a teen who threatened to ‘slit’ a staff member’s throat for refusing to take them on a regular drug run.

Child protection workers across NSW say their serious complaints about ‘feeling unsafe’ on the job have been dismissed by their managers. File picture: Supplied

Child protection workers have lifted the lid on a series of terrifying alleged incidents they were forced to endure while on the job, including one teen threatening to “slit” a staff member’s throat when she refused to take them on a regular drug run.

More than six current and former employees of various social services organisations across NSW claim their serious complaints about “feeling unsafe” were dismissed by their managers, leading some of them to suffer ongoing trauma.

The shocking revelations have prompted calls from child protection advocates for increased safety measures for workers, saying the current system was “failing”.

One former worker has vowed to never work in the sector again following her “terrifying” ordeal.

Three other sources have corroborated the woman’s version of events.

“We were told that we would have to drive one teen in the work vehicle to their drug dealer’s house which was 10 minutes up the road,” the former worker said.

“It was very scary to be alone in a car with a teen who was extremely aggressive. But staff would just turn a blind eye to this and follow the directive because they said if the teen didn’t score the drugs then they would go ballistic.”

Adopt Change CEO Renee Carter says the current training and support systems for child protection workers are not adequate. Picture: Carly Earl

The woman claims that in mid-2023 she raised concerns with the house manager about staff undertaking the drug runs, but said her complaints were not taken seriously.

“One night I ended up pushing back on taking part in the drug runs and the teen began chasing me around the house threatening to slit my throat” she said.

“I was shaking and felt so terrified that I locked myself in a room and called the police.

“(The teen) smashed windows and trashed the whole house.

“It completely traumatised me and I quit on the spot … it was too unsafe.”

Another former staff member, who worked at a different residential care home from 2023 to 2024, also claims drug use was rife among children and young teens.

“I would find used bongs all over the house and other drug paraphernalia,” she said.

“There would also be times when we would drive the kids around to search for cigarette butts, so they could use the tobacco leaves and use them to roll their own.”

Another worker, who worked in the sector for more than five years, claims residential care houses were in “unliveable” conditions.

“Staff would vomit at one particular house as there was rubbish and faeces all over the floor,” she said.

“Workers were also not properly trained to deal with some of the behavioural issues of these children.

“My mental health deteriorated and I have ongoing trauma as a result of this job.”

Former child protection workers say drug use was ‘rife’ in residential care homes.

Adopt Change chief executive Renee Carter said the current training and support systems were not adequate.

“We need to acknowledge that a trauma-informed approach must be the foundation for everyone working in this space – from frontline caseworkers to support staff,” she said.

“That means real investment in high-quality, evidence-based training, appropriate pay and sustained professional support. Without it, we will continue to see burnout, turnover and poor outcomes for the children and young people the system is meant to protect.

“This is not a workforce issue alone, it’s a children’s safety issue.

“Until the government is willing to invest in the people tasked with supporting children, the system will keep failing to meet their needs.”

Opposition families and communities spokeswoman Natasha Maclaren-Jones said the state’s most vulnerable children continued to be let down by the state government, as caseworker vacancy rates rose.

“The minister’s lack of action and support for our caseworkers is alarming, and putting vulnerable children at risk. With vacancy rates as high as 14 per cent in some areas, children are falling through the cracks.”

Child protection advocate Mel James said: “What sort of behaviour are we modelling to children and young people by supporting the use of illicit substances and exposing them to dangerous behaviour? This is not prosocial nor is it protective.”

A Department of Communities and Justice spokeswoman said the government was committed to making the out-of-home care system more transparent and accountable.

“We encourage anyone with evidence of wrongdoing to provide it to DCJ so it can be investigated and addressed,” she said.

Families and Communities Minister Kate Washington was contacted for comment.