Scholarships to encourage more Child Safety workers
Published Thursday, 09 November, 2006 at 08:46 AM
Minister for Child Safety
The Honourable Desley Boyle
The Department of Child Safety is offering 15 scholarships up to $9000 each to Queenslanders aspiring to work in child protection.
Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle said there was a nationwide shortage of child protection workers and the scholarships would help skill-up more people to be Child Safety Officers.
“Protecting children is among the most important jobs there is,” Ms Boyle said.
“There is only one chance at childhood.
“It takes a special person to be able to ensure a child who has been neglected or abused is properly looked after.”
Child Safety Officers must have a degree in social work, human services or behavioural sciences.
“People with experience in other areas can also make great Child Safety Officers and these scholarships will help them to build on their existing qualifications to get the extra skills they need,” Ms Boyle said.
“As with most industries facing skills shortages, we most need people to work in rural and remote areas, so applicants already working in these areas or willing to move to priority locations will be given preference.”
Graduates who meet the necessary requirements will be offered permanent positions as Child Safety Officers within the Department of Child Safety.
Fifteen scholarships up to $9000 are available to graduates in related fields such as nursing, teaching, social sciences and Indigenous primary healthcare to study a Graduate Certificate in Human Services (Child Protection Practice) at the University of Queensland in Brisbane.
The money will cover tuition fees and textbooks and will include a small allowance to help towards other costs.
The course will take place from February to June 2007 and includes work experience in a child safety service centre.
It follows a successful pilot program undertaken in partnership with the University of Queensland and James Cook University.
Ms Boyle encouraged Queenslanders to consider a career in child safety.
“The new Department of Child Safety has increased staff by more than 75 per cent to over 2200 people since 2004,” she said.
“Ongoing recruitment is part of our plan to boost staff and better protect Queensland children.”
Applications close Monday, November 27, 2006.
Scholarship application kits are available online at www.childsafety.qld.gov.au
Further information about the program can be obtained by emailing scholarships@childsafety.qld.gov.au or calling 07 3224 8335.
Ends
Media contact: 3224 7477
Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle said there was a nationwide shortage of child protection workers and the scholarships would help skill-up more people to be Child Safety Officers.
“Protecting children is among the most important jobs there is,” Ms Boyle said.
“There is only one chance at childhood.
“It takes a special person to be able to ensure a child who has been neglected or abused is properly looked after.”
Child Safety Officers must have a degree in social work, human services or behavioural sciences.
“People with experience in other areas can also make great Child Safety Officers and these scholarships will help them to build on their existing qualifications to get the extra skills they need,” Ms Boyle said.
“As with most industries facing skills shortages, we most need people to work in rural and remote areas, so applicants already working in these areas or willing to move to priority locations will be given preference.”
Graduates who meet the necessary requirements will be offered permanent positions as Child Safety Officers within the Department of Child Safety.
Fifteen scholarships up to $9000 are available to graduates in related fields such as nursing, teaching, social sciences and Indigenous primary healthcare to study a Graduate Certificate in Human Services (Child Protection Practice) at the University of Queensland in Brisbane.
The money will cover tuition fees and textbooks and will include a small allowance to help towards other costs.
The course will take place from February to June 2007 and includes work experience in a child safety service centre.
It follows a successful pilot program undertaken in partnership with the University of Queensland and James Cook University.
Ms Boyle encouraged Queenslanders to consider a career in child safety.
“The new Department of Child Safety has increased staff by more than 75 per cent to over 2200 people since 2004,” she said.
“Ongoing recruitment is part of our plan to boost staff and better protect Queensland children.”
Applications close Monday, November 27, 2006.
Scholarship application kits are available online at www.childsafety.qld.gov.au
Further information about the program can be obtained by emailing scholarships@childsafety.qld.gov.au or calling 07 3224 8335.
Ends
Media contact: 3224 7477