Bligh Government opens new safety centre for Woodridge children

Woodridge’s new child protection centre will help to keep local children and young people safe, Child Safety Minister Margaret Keech said today.

Mrs Keech will join with local MP Desley Scott to officially open the $700,000 Woodridge Child Safety Service Centre (CSSC) on Tuesday.

The Woodridge centre is designed to accommodate up to 32 staff and includes a children’s room, family and meeting rooms, baby change facilities and a secure reception area.

“With the opening of the centre we have the capacity to provide local, responsive and accessible services for children at risk,” Mrs Keech said.

“The centre is part of the Bligh government’s $30 million plan to improve its Child Safety offices across the state.

“It provides a modern and secure workplace for child protection staff.

“This magnificent centre offers a central location for child protection staff and stakeholders to meet regularly and improve their coordinated service delivery to vulnerable local children and families.

“But the real winners from the improved office accommodation are children and young people at risk and the community that supports them.”

Member for Woodridge Desley Scott said the Department of Child Safety offices were a welcome addition to the area.

“Queensland’s population continues to boom and it’s vital that we continue to develop services to meet that growth,” she said.

“The Bligh Government is looking over the horizon and planning for the future, building or refurbishing new centres like this one that will help us continue to protect Queensland’s vulnerable children and young people.”

”The opening of the service centre here in Woodridge is a perfect example of how absolutely serious the Bligh Government is about addressing child abuse and neglect in this state.”

“It will be a very welcome boost to the Department’s child protection efforts in the area.

Mrs Keech urged people in Woodridge area to continue to help their most vulnerable children – and move the region Toward Q2 – Tomorrow’s Queensland.

“The Bligh government is urgently seeking more foster carers to provide homes, love and support for vulnerable children and young people who are unable to live at home because of abuse or neglect.

“As part of our Toward Q2 strategy we have made a commitment to increase by 50 per cent the proportion of Queenslanders involved in their community as volunteers.

“Toward Q2 we desperately need more carers, more of these community heroes to step in and help transform a child’s life.”

“When you consider that in the 12 months to 30 June 2007 the child safety service centre that took in Woodridge recorded 1570 notifications of child harm, it becomes glaringly obvious how critical it is that we aim to boost community involvement.

The Woodridge Child Safety Service Centre at Blackwood Road became operational on 25 February 2008. It was previously co-located with Logan Central Child Safety Service Centre at 6 Ewing Road, Woodridge.

For more information visit www.childsafety.qld.gov.au or:

·Phone 1300 550 877 for information on becoming a foster or kinship carer

·Phone 1800 089 515 for information on becoming a child safety officer

ENDS

Media contact: Lisa Taylor 3224 7081