About
Welcome to Safe Hands, a campaign that represents the important work done by people in Community Services.
This campaign aims to ensure child protection services in NSW remain a responsibility of the Government, and that the Department is properly resourced, staffed and funded to provide high-quality care and support to vulnerable families and children in our community.
Background
Last time child protection services were privatised under Premier Greiner, more than 2,000 children in need were neglected. We can’t let this happen again.
To properly care for vulnerable children you need a Department that is adequately funded, resourced and staffed.
Privatising child protection services to non-government providers means that the Government won’t know when things go wrong as the sector is not accountable.
The Government will no longer be able to provide the necessary checks and balances to ensure children are properly fed, clothed and are safe.
The non-government sector can pick and choose which children to look after, and they do not have the capacity or skills to look after so many children – particularly older children in need of care.
It’s also more expensive, so it costs tax payers more. Currently, the non-government sector looks after 15 per cent of children in care, but it takes up 40 per cent of the budget.
While we agree with the Wood Report that excessive caseworker workloads and the chronic under-resourcing of Community Services are serious issues, outsourcing the sector and further budget cuts will not solve this problem.
It just transfers the problem to a less regulated, less accountable sector, with less expertise, higher turnover and greater difficulty attracting staff.
On Wednesday 14 March 2012 from 5:30-8PM, the PSA will hold a candlelight vigil in the Domain, Sydney, behind Parliament House.
It will be a community event designed to send a message to our Government that children must be kept in Safe Hands.
It’s time to take responsibility Premier O’Farrell and Minister Goward!
Out of Home Care
Like early intervention, Out of Home Care is a vital service delivered by the Government for children who are unable to live with their birth families.
By 2014 there are estimated to be around 24,000 children in NSW relying on Out of Home Care. That’s why it is vital the Government continues to play a role in this service, and maintains a responsibility for placing children in appropriate care.
Out of Home Care is already in the process of being outsourced to the non-government sector, despite appropriate checks and balances not being in place.
Following the state election, there is a risk Community Services will lose 700 experienced caseworkers and casework managers if Out of Home Care is fully outsourced.
The state should continue to support and properly resource Out of Home Care. Not hand over responsibility to NGOs that are already having trouble coping with the number of children requiring out of home care.
Click here to read about problems with outsourcing Out of Home Care.
What needs to happen?
All sides of politics need to commit to investing more in Community Services, not transferring its responsibilities. By working together Community Services and NGOs have a greater chance of protecting children and helping families in need.
Early intervention and Out of Home Care are vital programs that needs greater investment, not outsourcing. We need to build on what we already have, not waste money recreating the same system in another sector.
How will taking money away from Community Services and letting experienced staff go help keep our children safe?
Contact Us
The Safe Hands campaign is run by the Public Service Association of NSW, the union representing Community Services employees.
For any information about the campaign please call the Community Services team on (02) 9220 0900 or 1800 467 932 (free call).
Any comments please email the campaign: info@safehands.org.au
