New $670,000 Child Safety Service Centre officially opens in Roma

The Roma community has been urged to open their hearts and homes to the areas most vulnerable children – and help support the regions new $670,000 Child Safety Service Centre which opened today.

Roma’s new purpose built service centre is part of the Bligh government’s $30 million plan to improve its Child Safety offices across the state and build a first-class child protection system.

Child Safety Minister Margaret Keech said she was delighted to be able to personally open the centre today.

The centre is designed to accommodate 22 staff and includes a children’s play area, a dedicated foster and kinship carers room, family and meeting rooms, baby change facilities and a secure reception area.

“The Bligh government is looking over the horizon and building tomorrow’s Queensland today,” Mrs Keech said

“This centre provides a central location for child protection professionals and advocates to meet regularly and improve their coordinated service delivery to vulnerable local children and families.

“Roma’s new Child Safety Service Centre is a very welcome addition to the Department’s child protection efforts in the region.

“Staff at the centre provide services to an area spanning from Roma to Chinchilla, Taroom, and the borders of South Australia and New South Wales.”

Mrs Keech said the new centre needed the help of the community to protect Roma’s at risk children.

“We are urgently seeking more foster carers in the region to provide homes, love and support for vulnerable children and young people who are unable to live at home because of abuse or neglect,” she said.

Mrs Keech said the Bligh Government had committed more than $15 million over five years to recruit, train and increase support for carers.

“This is the most extensive foster and kinship carer recruitment campaign ever seen in Queensland.

“It’s a sad fact that there are 57 children and young people in Roma who are unable to live safely with their families because one or both of their parents abuse or neglect them,” she said.

“We desperately need more people to put up their hands to become carers.

“Any amount of time a person can devote to being a foster carer will make a difference in a child’s life – whether it’s a few hours a week, a few days a month or providing full-time care.”

“They are genuine community heroes and we need many more people to play this role that makes a genuine difference to a child’s life.”

And to support these children, carers and child protection workers the Bligh Government has invested $673,000 for the fit-out of the new centre.

In the twelve months to 30 June 2007, the Roma Child Safety Service Centre recorded 214 notifications of harm, or risk of harm to children and young people.

“In practical terms, the centre will also provide a safe, modern and secure work environment for Child Safety staff when faced with a confronting range of child abuse and neglect cases,” Mrs Keech said.

The new centre, in a new purpose-built building, became operational on March 25 2008. The former centre was at 79a Arthur Street, Roma.

Mrs Keech also presented Spirtius, Roma with a Certificate of Appreciation for their outstanding work in child protection, during her visit to Roma today.

For more information on becoming a foster or kinship carer, phone the Department of Child Safety on 1300 550 877 or visit www.childsafety.qld.gov.au.

Ends

Media contact: Matthew Hyde 3235 9236