Published Tuesday, 27 February, 2007 at 11:08 AM
Minister for Child Safety
The Honourable Desley Boyle
Special thanks for staff committed to child protection
Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle today presented long-service awards to staff she praised for sticking with a job that confronted child abuse every day.
The Service Recognition Awards recognised 43 Child Safety Department staff based at Atherton, Thuringowa, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Mackay, Toowoomba, South Burnett, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Alderley, Brisbane, Wynnum, Loganlea, Logan Central, Woodridge, Browns Plains, Beenleigh and Mermaid Beach.
The Minister presented the awards at a ceremony in Brisbane to staff who had worked in child protection for the Queensland Government for five, 10, 15, 20 or 25 years.
“Child protection is not easy work. Too many parents are failing to care for and to protect their own children and our staff pick up the pieces,” Ms Boyle said.
“It is difficult work for our Child Safety Officers on the frontline, for admin staff who take calls from abusive parents and for HR to recruit people to work in the complex child protection field.
“Our long-serving staff have also seen through major changes over the past two years to everything from their workplace culture to practice standards, IT systems and record-keeping procedures.”
These staff saw the creation of the new stand-alone Department of Child Safety in 2004 and, since then, the implementation of 107 of the 110 Crime and Misconduct Commission’s recommendations following its Inquiry into foster care.
“One of our key challenges is building a qualified, experienced workforce from a range of backgrounds and keeping staff is an important part of that,” Ms Boyle said.
Staff received framed certificates and artwork or $150-$1000 for learning and development, depending on their years of service.
Another Service Recognition Award ceremony will be held later this year for staff who will reach their employment milestone in the second half of 2007.
Recipients include:
5 years
Narelle Raymond, Information and Administration Officer, Sunshine Coast North Child Safety Service Centre; Ainsley Profke, Child Safety Officer, Rockhampton North Child Safety Service Centre; Clayton Harrison, Funding Police Officer, Brisbane; Victoria Reimann, Team Leader, Atherton Child Safety Service Centre; Samantha Lubeck, Senior Practitioner, Loganlea Child Safety Service Centre; Helen Dwyer, Business Support Officer, Logan Central Child Safety Service Centre; Julie McKenzie, Training and Support Officer, Logan and Brisbane West Zonal Office; Fabienne Ramond, Child Safety Officer, Thuringowa Child Safety Service Centre.
10 years
Elizabeth Jackson, Child Safety Support Officer, Browns Plains Child Safety Service Centre; Marguerite Piccolo, Crisis Care Worker, Children at Risk Team Brisbane; Mieke Burman, Senior Licensing Officer, Brisbane.
15 years
Suzanne Tobin, Team Leader, Bundaberg Child Safety Service Centre; Peter Jensen, Quality Assurance Manager, Brisbane.
20 years
Choon Thor, Manager, Wynnum Child Safety Service Centre.
Ends
NOTE: Pictures may be available of some recipients.
Media contact: 3224 7477
27 February 2007
The Service Recognition Awards recognised 43 Child Safety Department staff based at Atherton, Thuringowa, Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Mackay, Toowoomba, South Burnett, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Alderley, Brisbane, Wynnum, Loganlea, Logan Central, Woodridge, Browns Plains, Beenleigh and Mermaid Beach.
The Minister presented the awards at a ceremony in Brisbane to staff who had worked in child protection for the Queensland Government for five, 10, 15, 20 or 25 years.
“Child protection is not easy work. Too many parents are failing to care for and to protect their own children and our staff pick up the pieces,” Ms Boyle said.
“It is difficult work for our Child Safety Officers on the frontline, for admin staff who take calls from abusive parents and for HR to recruit people to work in the complex child protection field.
“Our long-serving staff have also seen through major changes over the past two years to everything from their workplace culture to practice standards, IT systems and record-keeping procedures.”
These staff saw the creation of the new stand-alone Department of Child Safety in 2004 and, since then, the implementation of 107 of the 110 Crime and Misconduct Commission’s recommendations following its Inquiry into foster care.
“One of our key challenges is building a qualified, experienced workforce from a range of backgrounds and keeping staff is an important part of that,” Ms Boyle said.
Staff received framed certificates and artwork or $150-$1000 for learning and development, depending on their years of service.
Another Service Recognition Award ceremony will be held later this year for staff who will reach their employment milestone in the second half of 2007.
Recipients include:
5 years
Narelle Raymond, Information and Administration Officer, Sunshine Coast North Child Safety Service Centre; Ainsley Profke, Child Safety Officer, Rockhampton North Child Safety Service Centre; Clayton Harrison, Funding Police Officer, Brisbane; Victoria Reimann, Team Leader, Atherton Child Safety Service Centre; Samantha Lubeck, Senior Practitioner, Loganlea Child Safety Service Centre; Helen Dwyer, Business Support Officer, Logan Central Child Safety Service Centre; Julie McKenzie, Training and Support Officer, Logan and Brisbane West Zonal Office; Fabienne Ramond, Child Safety Officer, Thuringowa Child Safety Service Centre.
10 years
Elizabeth Jackson, Child Safety Support Officer, Browns Plains Child Safety Service Centre; Marguerite Piccolo, Crisis Care Worker, Children at Risk Team Brisbane; Mieke Burman, Senior Licensing Officer, Brisbane.
15 years
Suzanne Tobin, Team Leader, Bundaberg Child Safety Service Centre; Peter Jensen, Quality Assurance Manager, Brisbane.
20 years
Choon Thor, Manager, Wynnum Child Safety Service Centre.
Ends
NOTE: Pictures may be available of some recipients.
Media contact: 3224 7477
27 February 2007