Published Tuesday, 03 April, 2007 at 10:52 AM
Minister for Child Safety
The Honourable Desley Boyle
New child protection centre for Rockhampton
Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle today officially opened the Rockhampton South Child Safety Service Centre, which will better protect local children.
“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 foster carers and the community to protect them.
“Their work is so important. After all, our children only get one chance at childhood,” she said.
Member for Rockhampton Robert Schwarten said the new Rockhampton South Child Safety Service Centre in Fitzroy St was fit out specifically for child protection work.
“About $843,000 was spent on the fit-out to make it comfortable for children and to assist staff in their work,” Mr Schwarten said.
“The new centre has a play area with toys to help children feel more at ease and a dedicated room for foster and kinship carers where they can meet among themselves,” he said.
“There are also meeting rooms, off-street parking and a new, modern and secure reception area.”
The Minister also officially opened the Department’s revamped Central Queensland zonal office in Bolsover St.
“The zonal office supports our Child Safety Centres right across Central Queensland - at Mackay, Bowen, Emerald, Rockhampton North and South, Gladstone, Bundaberg and Maryborough,” Ms Boyle said.
She said in the past financial year, the Rockhampton Child Safety Service Centre - which previously covered the Rockhampton north and south areas - recorded 1411 notifications of harm, or risk of harm, to children and young people.
“Of those notifications, there were 379 confirmed cases of harm or risk of harm in the Rockhampton district, down from 473 in the previous financial year,” she said.
“There’s about 90 foster carers in Rockhampton and they do a tremendous job, but we really do need more,” Ms Boyle said.
Foster carers receive a fortnightly allowance to help cover the costs of raising a child. Depending on the age of the children, these are from $370-$434.
To become a foster carer, phone 1300 550 877.
The fit out of the Rockhampton South Child Safety Service Centre is part of the new Department of Child Safety’s $30 million plan to improve offices across Queensland.
Ends
Media contact: 3224 7477
3 February 2007
“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 foster carers and the community to protect them.
“Their work is so important. After all, our children only get one chance at childhood,” she said.
Member for Rockhampton Robert Schwarten said the new Rockhampton South Child Safety Service Centre in Fitzroy St was fit out specifically for child protection work.
“About $843,000 was spent on the fit-out to make it comfortable for children and to assist staff in their work,” Mr Schwarten said.
“The new centre has a play area with toys to help children feel more at ease and a dedicated room for foster and kinship carers where they can meet among themselves,” he said.
“There are also meeting rooms, off-street parking and a new, modern and secure reception area.”
The Minister also officially opened the Department’s revamped Central Queensland zonal office in Bolsover St.
“The zonal office supports our Child Safety Centres right across Central Queensland - at Mackay, Bowen, Emerald, Rockhampton North and South, Gladstone, Bundaberg and Maryborough,” Ms Boyle said.
She said in the past financial year, the Rockhampton Child Safety Service Centre - which previously covered the Rockhampton north and south areas - recorded 1411 notifications of harm, or risk of harm, to children and young people.
“Of those notifications, there were 379 confirmed cases of harm or risk of harm in the Rockhampton district, down from 473 in the previous financial year,” she said.
“There’s about 90 foster carers in Rockhampton and they do a tremendous job, but we really do need more,” Ms Boyle said.
Foster carers receive a fortnightly allowance to help cover the costs of raising a child. Depending on the age of the children, these are from $370-$434.
To become a foster carer, phone 1300 550 877.
The fit out of the Rockhampton South Child Safety Service Centre is part of the new Department of Child Safety’s $30 million plan to improve offices across Queensland.
Ends
Media contact: 3224 7477
3 February 2007