Child safety workers fear job cuts despite minister’s assurances the positions are safe

Child Safety workers across Queensland are facing an uncertain future with 91 positions at risk; however, the Child Safety Minister has said these positions are in fact safe.

Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm Child has assured that 91 child safety jobs facing the chop under the previous Labour government are safe. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

Child safety workers claim the state government has broken its promise by not securing 91 full-time staff positions, including five in Cairns, leaving workers fearing for their future and adding pressure to an already strained system.

But the Child Safety Minister insists the jobs are safe.

Last year, the Crisafulli government promised to invest $3.65m to save child safety staff positions which had been marked for axing by the former Labor government.

The 91 positions include paralegals who support and prepare child safety officers for children’s court matters, case support workers who reduce administrative burdens on CSOs, and finding-kin team members who work to increase the number of children able to live with family rather than in residential care.

Fears have been raised over the continuation of 91 positions, including paralegals who support and prepare child safety officers for children’s court matters. Picture: Brendan Radke.

A staff member, who requested anonymity, said promise was now in limbo.

“I am one of those 91 staff affected, and now I potentially face unemployment after June 30,” she told the Cairns Post.

The staff member, who has worked in her position for several years, said the looming deadline had created significant stress and leading some colleagues to reconsider remaining in their roles.

“If these positions aren’t extended or made permanent across Queensland, it will be detrimental to the interests of these children,” she said.

Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm insisted these jobs were secure.

“When we discovered in December that the former Labor government had not funded these 91 positions, I committed to saving those jobs,” she said.

“That commitment has not changed.”

Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm insists the 91 jobs are secure. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Ms Camm said during the election campaign, the government committed to increasing the child safety frontline workforce by 20 per cent by 2030.

“Our reform plans under the ‘Safer Children, Safer Communities’ initiative will continue while the Commission of Inquiry is ongoing,” she said.

The Commission of Inquiry into Queensland’s Child Safety System was announced by Premier David Crisafulli in May, with the government promising to assist CSOs in their roles.

Ms Camm has visited staff across Queensland — including in Mount Isa, Townsville, Cairns, Mackay and several offices in the southeast — to discuss the importance of these roles in protecting children.

“These staff members are crucial for protecting vulnerable children across our state. It’s shameful that Queensland Labor refused to fund their jobs and take the protection of at-risk children seriously,” she said.

Beyond the staffing commitments, the government also announced several additional initiatives.

These include implementing a 24-hour dual-carer model at all residential care facilities and establishing Queensland’s first SecureCare facility for children who pose a risk to themselves or others.

The government is also funding a pilot professional foster care program for children with disabilities and complex needs who currently live in residential care.

Additionally, they’ve allocated an extra $1500 for every child in out-of-home care to support after-school activities and education.

Originally published as Child safety workers fear job cuts despite minister’s assurances the positions are safe