Published Monday, 29 January, 2007 at 12:00 AM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Minister for Child Safety
The Honourable Desley Boyle
NEW CHILD PROTECTION FACILITY SERVES REDCLIFFE
A new purpose-built Child Safety Service Centre in Redcliffe will help boost protection for vulnerable children and young people.
Premier Peter Beattie and Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle today announced the centre was up and running, with staff moving into the new facility at 59-61 High Street, Kippa-Ring, last week.
“Child safety service centres are the bases for our frontline staff who deal directly with children who have been or are at risk of being abused or neglected, along with court coordinators and support staff,” Mr Beattie said.
“When parents can’t or won’t keep their children safe, Child Safety Officers work in partnership with foster carers and the community to step in and protect them.
“Their work is so important. After all, our children only get one chance at childhood.
“This new Redcliffe facility is bigger and better than the centre it replaces.
“We’ve spent $740,000 on the fit out to help children, parents, and foster carers feel more comfortable, and support staff members in their crucial work.”
Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle listed some of the features of the new office.
“There’s a children’s play area, a dedicated foster and kinship carers’ room, family and meeting rooms, baby change facilities, off street parking and a new modern and secure reception area,” Ms Boyle said.
“It is important children have a play area and some toys to help them feel more at ease when they are brought to Child Safety Service Centres,” she said.
“Foster and kinship carers are vital for child protection and they have a dedicated space in the Redcliffe facility. It will also serve as a venue for foster carers to meet among themselves.
“Staff numbers in the Redcliffe office have increased 25%, from 25 to 31, in the past three years and the new facility has room for continued growth.
“In 2005-06, the Redcliffe Child Safety Service Centre recorded 896 notifications of harm, or risk of harm, to children and young people within the service centre’s district.
“Of those notifications, there were 503 confirmed cases of harm or risk of harm.
“It’s disappointing that so many parents are not providing their children with a safe and loving home.”
Presently, there are 1138 children in care in the Brisbane North and Sunshine Coast Zone of which about 135 are within the Redcliffe and Deception Bay district. The district has 79 foster carers.
“Our foster carers do a terrific job, but there is no doubt we need more of them,” said Ms Boyle.
To become a foster carer, phone 1300 550 877.
The Redcliffe Centre is part of the new Department of Child Safety’s $30 million plan to improve facilities across Queensland.
New Child Safety Service offices will open in the next six months at Woodridge, Caloundra, Ipswich, Nerang, Kingaroy, Edmonton, Maryborough, Gladstone, Loganlea, Labrador, Beaudesert, Murgon and Thursday Island, Toowoomba, and Atherton. A new Central Queensland Zonal Office will also open in Rockhampton.
Media Contacts: Premier’s Office 3224 4500,
Minister Boyle’s Office 3224 7477
Premier Peter Beattie and Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle today announced the centre was up and running, with staff moving into the new facility at 59-61 High Street, Kippa-Ring, last week.
“Child safety service centres are the bases for our frontline staff who deal directly with children who have been or are at risk of being abused or neglected, along with court coordinators and support staff,” Mr Beattie said.
“When parents can’t or won’t keep their children safe, Child Safety Officers work in partnership with foster carers and the community to step in and protect them.
“Their work is so important. After all, our children only get one chance at childhood.
“This new Redcliffe facility is bigger and better than the centre it replaces.
“We’ve spent $740,000 on the fit out to help children, parents, and foster carers feel more comfortable, and support staff members in their crucial work.”
Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle listed some of the features of the new office.
“There’s a children’s play area, a dedicated foster and kinship carers’ room, family and meeting rooms, baby change facilities, off street parking and a new modern and secure reception area,” Ms Boyle said.
“It is important children have a play area and some toys to help them feel more at ease when they are brought to Child Safety Service Centres,” she said.
“Foster and kinship carers are vital for child protection and they have a dedicated space in the Redcliffe facility. It will also serve as a venue for foster carers to meet among themselves.
“Staff numbers in the Redcliffe office have increased 25%, from 25 to 31, in the past three years and the new facility has room for continued growth.
“In 2005-06, the Redcliffe Child Safety Service Centre recorded 896 notifications of harm, or risk of harm, to children and young people within the service centre’s district.
“Of those notifications, there were 503 confirmed cases of harm or risk of harm.
“It’s disappointing that so many parents are not providing their children with a safe and loving home.”
Presently, there are 1138 children in care in the Brisbane North and Sunshine Coast Zone of which about 135 are within the Redcliffe and Deception Bay district. The district has 79 foster carers.
“Our foster carers do a terrific job, but there is no doubt we need more of them,” said Ms Boyle.
To become a foster carer, phone 1300 550 877.
The Redcliffe Centre is part of the new Department of Child Safety’s $30 million plan to improve facilities across Queensland.
New Child Safety Service offices will open in the next six months at Woodridge, Caloundra, Ipswich, Nerang, Kingaroy, Edmonton, Maryborough, Gladstone, Loganlea, Labrador, Beaudesert, Murgon and Thursday Island, Toowoomba, and Atherton. A new Central Queensland Zonal Office will also open in Rockhampton.
Media Contacts: Premier’s Office 3224 4500,
Minister Boyle’s Office 3224 7477