Published Friday, 09 February, 2007 at 08:29 AM
Minister for Child Safety
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Regional Queenslanders win child safety scholarships
Regional Queenslanders have scored most of the 15 scholarships awarded for study to become child safety officers
Scholarships are going to people from Cairns, Herberton, Ravenshoe, Townsville (2), Rockhampton (2), Mackay, Bundaberg (2), Toowoomba, Roma, South Burnett and Brisbane (2).
Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle told State Parliament the Beattie Government was building a world-class child protection system and staff were crucial in that process.
“To widen the skills base of the department, we have offered scholarships worth up to $9000 each for people to study to become Child Safety Officers,” she said.
“They are designed to attract people who want to change careers and have decided on a move into child protection.
“Those chosen have life experience and work experience that will stand them in good stead. Many are teachers or nurses already used to working with children.”
This month, scholarship recipients will start a six-month bridging course at the University of Queensland to give them the specialised skills to be Child Safety Officers. They will study a Graduate Certificate in Human Services (Child Protection Practice).
“More than 50 people applied for the scholarships and I am told applicants were of a very high standard,” Ms Boyle said.
“We are constantly trying to recruit more Child Safety Officers for rural and remote areas, so it’s great news that 13 of the 15 scholarships are going to people from the regions.
“The two recipients from Brisbane are willing to work wherever they are needed.
“I am pleased to say one recipient is Indigenous and two amongst them are men. Ideally the proportions of both would have been higher.
“Unfortunately, we have many Indigenous children in the child protection system and so we need more Indigenous officers to help in our work with these communities.
“We also need more men – including Indigenous men – to balance out our workforce, which is 85 per cent women,” she said.
These scholarships are one initiative to achieve a broader range of work backgrounds and improve the system.
Child Safety staff working in remote areas also receive incentives including an extra $10,000 a year, rent assistance for the first three years, further education opportunities and the ability to transfer to a location of their choice after 18 months.
“The new Department of Child Safety has come a long way. We have more than doubled the Budget to $503million, employed more staff, given them better training, increased payments for foster carers and have developed a culture of continuous improvement,” Ms Boyle said.
Ends
Media note: Scholarship recipients are available for interviews.
Media contact: 3224 7477
9 February 2007
Scholarships are going to people from Cairns, Herberton, Ravenshoe, Townsville (2), Rockhampton (2), Mackay, Bundaberg (2), Toowoomba, Roma, South Burnett and Brisbane (2).
Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle told State Parliament the Beattie Government was building a world-class child protection system and staff were crucial in that process.
“To widen the skills base of the department, we have offered scholarships worth up to $9000 each for people to study to become Child Safety Officers,” she said.
“They are designed to attract people who want to change careers and have decided on a move into child protection.
“Those chosen have life experience and work experience that will stand them in good stead. Many are teachers or nurses already used to working with children.”
This month, scholarship recipients will start a six-month bridging course at the University of Queensland to give them the specialised skills to be Child Safety Officers. They will study a Graduate Certificate in Human Services (Child Protection Practice).
“More than 50 people applied for the scholarships and I am told applicants were of a very high standard,” Ms Boyle said.
“We are constantly trying to recruit more Child Safety Officers for rural and remote areas, so it’s great news that 13 of the 15 scholarships are going to people from the regions.
“The two recipients from Brisbane are willing to work wherever they are needed.
“I am pleased to say one recipient is Indigenous and two amongst them are men. Ideally the proportions of both would have been higher.
“Unfortunately, we have many Indigenous children in the child protection system and so we need more Indigenous officers to help in our work with these communities.
“We also need more men – including Indigenous men – to balance out our workforce, which is 85 per cent women,” she said.
These scholarships are one initiative to achieve a broader range of work backgrounds and improve the system.
Child Safety staff working in remote areas also receive incentives including an extra $10,000 a year, rent assistance for the first three years, further education opportunities and the ability to transfer to a location of their choice after 18 months.
“The new Department of Child Safety has come a long way. We have more than doubled the Budget to $503million, employed more staff, given them better training, increased payments for foster carers and have developed a culture of continuous improvement,” Ms Boyle said.
Ends
Media note: Scholarship recipients are available for interviews.
Media contact: 3224 7477
9 February 2007