Published Wednesday, 29 November, 2006 at 12:17 PM
Minister for Child Safety
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Incentives to attract child protection staff to rural and remote QLD
A package of incentives has been developed to entice more child protection workers to rural and remote parts of Queensland, Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle announced today.
“Like most sectors facing skills shortages, it is difficult to attract people to rural and remote areas,” Ms Boyle said.
“But we need good, qualified people able to respond quickly and expertly to children at risk right across Queensland. We especially need more Child Safety Officers, who work on the frontline with children who have been or are at risk of being harmed.”
From 1 July 2006, incentives will be offered to Department of Child Safety staff in the following priority areas: Aurukun/Weipa, Bamaga, Charleville, Cooktown, Cunnamulla, Doomadgee, Emerald, the Gulf, Kowanyama, Longreach, Mornington Island, Mount Isa, Normanton, Palm Island, Roma, South Burnett/Murgon and Thursday Island.
The incentives include:
• an annual bonus of $10,000 each year Child Safety Officers are based in those locations;
• an allocation of $3000 a year for each staff member will be provided to Child Safety Service Centres in the priority areas to enhance training and professional development opportunities for staff;
• rent assistance for the first three years and;
• the ability to transfer to a location of their choice after serving 18 months in a priority area.
“This brings a Child Safety Officer’s employment package from $40,000-$60,000 pa plus super to at least $50,000-$70,000 plus super and rental assistant for eligible officers.
“In most of these priority areas government employees also receive an extra week of annual leave – making a total of five weeks,” Ms Boyle said.
Ms Boyle said the incentives were part of a wider strategy to attract more child protection workers.
“Last week, applications closed for 15 scholarships of up to $9000 each for people, such as nurses, teachers and police officers, to build on their skills and qualify as Child Safety Officers,” Ms Boyle said.
“I also want to see more diversification in skills and experiences of the child safety workforce and in particular more men working for the Department of Child Safety.
“It sends a strong message to have male Child Safety Officers telling men that child abuse or neglect is not on.”
Ms Boyle said the Department of Child Safety had turned the corner in terms of child protection.
“The new Department of Child Safety is up and running but there is still more to do. Since 2004, we have more than doubled the Budget to $503million, increased staff by 75 per cent and have increased foster carers,” she said.
People interested in becoming a Child Safety Officer can phone the Department of Child Safety on 1800 089 515.
Ends
Media contact: 3224 7477
“Like most sectors facing skills shortages, it is difficult to attract people to rural and remote areas,” Ms Boyle said.
“But we need good, qualified people able to respond quickly and expertly to children at risk right across Queensland. We especially need more Child Safety Officers, who work on the frontline with children who have been or are at risk of being harmed.”
From 1 July 2006, incentives will be offered to Department of Child Safety staff in the following priority areas: Aurukun/Weipa, Bamaga, Charleville, Cooktown, Cunnamulla, Doomadgee, Emerald, the Gulf, Kowanyama, Longreach, Mornington Island, Mount Isa, Normanton, Palm Island, Roma, South Burnett/Murgon and Thursday Island.
The incentives include:
• an annual bonus of $10,000 each year Child Safety Officers are based in those locations;
• an allocation of $3000 a year for each staff member will be provided to Child Safety Service Centres in the priority areas to enhance training and professional development opportunities for staff;
• rent assistance for the first three years and;
• the ability to transfer to a location of their choice after serving 18 months in a priority area.
“This brings a Child Safety Officer’s employment package from $40,000-$60,000 pa plus super to at least $50,000-$70,000 plus super and rental assistant for eligible officers.
“In most of these priority areas government employees also receive an extra week of annual leave – making a total of five weeks,” Ms Boyle said.
Ms Boyle said the incentives were part of a wider strategy to attract more child protection workers.
“Last week, applications closed for 15 scholarships of up to $9000 each for people, such as nurses, teachers and police officers, to build on their skills and qualify as Child Safety Officers,” Ms Boyle said.
“I also want to see more diversification in skills and experiences of the child safety workforce and in particular more men working for the Department of Child Safety.
“It sends a strong message to have male Child Safety Officers telling men that child abuse or neglect is not on.”
Ms Boyle said the Department of Child Safety had turned the corner in terms of child protection.
“The new Department of Child Safety is up and running but there is still more to do. Since 2004, we have more than doubled the Budget to $503million, increased staff by 75 per cent and have increased foster carers,” she said.
People interested in becoming a Child Safety Officer can phone the Department of Child Safety on 1800 089 515.
Ends
Media contact: 3224 7477