Changes to child safety queried

THE union representing child safety workers says a proposal to centralise officers in Hobart is a throwback to the past that won’t work.

The Health and Community Services Union is demanding a meeting with Human Services Minister Roger Jaensch, claiming seven officers from each of the North and North-West will be relocated.

“A centralised intake system such as this was in place before in Tasmania and it was scrapped because it failed to protect and keep children safe,” union spokesman Robbie Moore said.

“The proposal is Tasmania returning to a model which provides multiple safety risk issues to children.”

The State Government said this month it would spend an extra $24 million on child protection over the next four years.

The money would be spent on the redesign of the child safety system, employing more child safety officers and assisting vulnerable children with complex needs in out-of-home care, Mr Jaensch said.

Mr Moore said that would mean a centralised intake service, with child safety services co-located with non-government organisations in a call centre also housing mental health, alcohol and drug and police workers.

“This proposal is concerning because it removes local knowledge from the North and North-West — local knowledge that relates to families and children at risk,” he said.