Published Thursday, 16 November, 2006 at 10:35 AM
Minister for Child Safety
The Honourable Desley Boyle
New child safety centre will better protect Cairns south kids
A new $2.88million child safety service centre at Edmonton will help staff to better protect children in Cairns’ southern suburbs from Woree to Fishery Falls and out to Yarrabah, Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle says.
Ms Boyle, also the Member for Cairns, inspected construction at the new centre on the corner of Rivizza Dve and Mill Rd at Edmonton today.
“Child Safety Service Centres are the bases for our frontline staff, our Child Safety Officers and their team leaders - who deal directly with children who have been or are at risk of being abused or neglected - along with court co-ordinators and support staff,” Ms Boyle said.
“When parents can’t - or won’t - keep their children safe, Child Safety Officers work in partnership with the community to protect them.
“Their work is so important. Children only have one chance at childhood,” she said.
In the 2005-2006 financial year, there were 1245 confirmed cases of harm or risk of harm in the Far North, down from 1682 in the previous financial year.
Ms Boyle said the new centre would house Cairns South staff, who currently shared space with Cairns staff in Lake St.
“The Cairns South Child Safety Service Centre was established when the new Department of Child Safety was set up in 2004 and staff numbers have increased since then to 25.5 full-time equivalents,” Ms Boyle said.
“This new centre has been designed for 36 staff, so it will be able to grow as Cairns’ southern corridor does. There will also be room for students to undertake work placements.
“The building has been designed specifically for child protection work and will include a special children’s play area and a dedicated foster carers’ room, as well as family meeting rooms, baby change facilities, off-street parking and a modern and secure reception area.
“It is also on a bus route, which is great for foster carers and staff.”
The new centre is being built by Renard Developments for $1.95million and will be leased to the Department of Child Safety, which is also paying for the $930,000 fit-out. It is expected to open in late March 2007.
It is part of the new Department of Child Safety’s $30.385million plan to improve office accommodation for staff right across Queensland.
The new Department of Child Safety has 46 Child Safety Service Centres.
Ends
Media contact: 3224 7477
Ms Boyle, also the Member for Cairns, inspected construction at the new centre on the corner of Rivizza Dve and Mill Rd at Edmonton today.
“Child Safety Service Centres are the bases for our frontline staff, our Child Safety Officers and their team leaders - who deal directly with children who have been or are at risk of being abused or neglected - along with court co-ordinators and support staff,” Ms Boyle said.
“When parents can’t - or won’t - keep their children safe, Child Safety Officers work in partnership with the community to protect them.
“Their work is so important. Children only have one chance at childhood,” she said.
In the 2005-2006 financial year, there were 1245 confirmed cases of harm or risk of harm in the Far North, down from 1682 in the previous financial year.
Ms Boyle said the new centre would house Cairns South staff, who currently shared space with Cairns staff in Lake St.
“The Cairns South Child Safety Service Centre was established when the new Department of Child Safety was set up in 2004 and staff numbers have increased since then to 25.5 full-time equivalents,” Ms Boyle said.
“This new centre has been designed for 36 staff, so it will be able to grow as Cairns’ southern corridor does. There will also be room for students to undertake work placements.
“The building has been designed specifically for child protection work and will include a special children’s play area and a dedicated foster carers’ room, as well as family meeting rooms, baby change facilities, off-street parking and a modern and secure reception area.
“It is also on a bus route, which is great for foster carers and staff.”
The new centre is being built by Renard Developments for $1.95million and will be leased to the Department of Child Safety, which is also paying for the $930,000 fit-out. It is expected to open in late March 2007.
It is part of the new Department of Child Safety’s $30.385million plan to improve office accommodation for staff right across Queensland.
The new Department of Child Safety has 46 Child Safety Service Centres.
Ends
Media contact: 3224 7477