$1.3M Boost to Central Queensland Child Protection

Child Safety Minister Margaret Keech today announced a Bligh Government investment of up to $1.36 million to help keep Central Queensland children safe.

Mrs Keech said she was delighted to announce the relocation and expansion of the Rockhampton North Child Safety Service Centre, which started this week.

The new centre will accommodate 48 workstations, including six offices, quiet room, foster carer room, staff toilets, staff meeting room, lunch room, storage room, a large Training and Specialist Support area, secure fleet parking, client toilet and shower, interview and conference rooms and reception/waiting area.

The Rockhampton North CSSC relocation and expansion is part of the Bligh Government’s $34 million investment to improve Child Safety offices across the state.

To June 2008, the Department of Child Safety had spent $26.456 million and completed 43 Child Safety office projects.

“Toward Q2 is about building a first-class child protection system, and this money demonstrates that is exactly what we are doing,” Mrs Keech said.

“The Bligh Government is looking over the horizon and building tomorrow’s Queensland today.”

Member for Rockhampton Robert Schwarten said the new centre would provide staff with state child protection facilities.

“The new Rockhampton North centre will be a very welcome boost to the Department’s child protection efforts in the area.

“The centre will offer greatly improved and expanded interview facilities and a dedicated high-security room to improve staff safety. The office will also be equipped with an integrated security system.”

“The centre will provide a safer, modern and secure work environment for Child Safety staff when faced with a confronting range of child abuse and neglect cases.”

Mrs Keech urged the Rockhampton community to continue to open their hearts and homes to its most vulnerable 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 safely at home because of abuse and neglect,” she said.

The Bligh Government has committed more than $15 million over five years to recruit, train and increase support for carers.

Volunteers such as foster and kinship carers were needed and continued to play a vital role in Queensland communities.

As part of the new Toward Q2 strategy, the Bligh Government had made a commitment to boost the proportion of volunteers in Queensland communities by 50 per cent by 2020.

“It’s a sad fact that there are about 272 children and young people in Rockhampton who are unable to live at home because of abuse or neglect,” Mrs Keech said.

“We desperately need more care, we desperately need more community heroes to transform a vulnerable child’s life.

“Any amount of time a person can devote to being a foster carer will make a genuine difference in the life of a child at risk.”

The Rockhampton North CSSC will move from Bolsover Street to the former judges’ chambers and courthouse at Level 4, 36 East Street. The new office fit-out is expected to be completed in time for staff to move in at the start of 2009.

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

ENDS

Media contact:

Matthew Hyde 3235 9236