Community Services caseworkers from across NSW walked off the job for an hour yesterday to highlight a staffing crisis that is preventing effective child protection in NSW.
Read some of the media coverage HERE
See pictures of the walk-out HERE
The spontaneous action by PSA members follows the NSW Government’s outrageous claims in the Sunday Telegraph that blame female workers taking parental leave for a staffing crisis that is crippling effective child protection in NSW.
You can read that article HERE.
The walk-out has exposed the NSW Government’s failure to properly resource child protection.
The action by members also highlighted the recent “Caseworker Dashboard” figures that show the number of children being reported at risk has risen by 21% in the past 2 years. This leaves nearly 55,000 children across NSW who have been reported as being at “risk of significant harm” (ROSH) without a face-to-face response from a child protection caseworker.
As members know, on 26 February, PSA Assistant General Secretary Steve Turner wrote to the Minister for Family and Community Services Gabrielle Upton.
You can read that letter HERE.
Minister Upton still has not responded to this letter and has failed to agree to meet to discuss these serious issues.
What can you do?
- Print this bulletin and place it on your noticeboards
- Discuss these issues with delegates in your workplace
- Talk to your colleagues about joining the PSA
It is important that as many people as possible take an active part in your union to address these concerns.
If you would like a meeting to discuss these issues in your workplace, contact your local delegate or your organising team:
Caroline Staples Marianne Ledic
Nigel Miles Cora Sarmiento
Vivette Horrex Ron Hunter
Jason Saunders Lee Coulton
Metro Team Leader – Siobhan Callinan
Regional Team Leader – Lisa Nelson
1300 772 679