Child safety boosts careers to protect the children

The Bligh Government is boosting career opportunities for 300 of its frontline child protection workers to help keep them on the job, protecting children and young people.

Child Safety Minister Margaret Keech said a $2.2 million injection would upgrade salaries for up to 300 frontline positions and help the department attract and keep child protection workers.

“This injection will mean more than a third (38 per cent) of child safety officers could be promoted from PO2 to PO3,” she said.

“Staff are my number one priority because I know if my staff are happy and well looked after, then so to are the at risk children of Queensland.

“We are rewarding the hardworking staff who are out there on the front-line every day protecting children, this is the toughest job in government and that deserves to be recognised.

“With this workforce restructure the Bligh Government is rewarding staff with better pay and improved career pathways, which are keys to retaining and attracting people.

Under the career boost plan, up to 300 child safety officers at PO2 level will have the opportunity to demonstrate that they have the skills and experience to be promoted. This could be worth up to $315 gross extra in a child safety officer’s fortnightly pay packet.

A new principal child safety officer position, at PO4 level, is being piloted across the state as another key element of the career boost plan.

Mrs Keech said the seven new PO4 positions would be spread across the state and attract and reward experienced staff with career progress and challenges.

“The people who win these new jobs will focus on complex cases and mentor and advise less senior staff,” she said.

“We need to provide the right level of rewards to attract and keep the right people, so that children and young people can get the best possible people to protect them.”

ENDS

Media Contact: Matthew Hyde 3235 9236