Community Services Caseworkers had a lunchtime union meeting at the Edgeworth Community Services Centre (CSC) to draw attention to a system in crisis.

Workers met outside the CSC at 12:30pm today to demand Community Services Minister Kate Washington do more to fix a Child Protection system suffering from years of neglect and poorly planned outsourcing by the previous Liberal National Government.

“I am proud of the action taken by our Caseworkers at Edgeworth,” said PSA General Secretary Stewart Little. “They are showing the people of this state that their vital work is undervalued and the system needs to change.”

Members in Child Protection are demanding better pay that is commensurate with workers in similar fields. They believe better wages and conditions will stem the high rate of resignations plaguing the system.

They are demanding more staff to lighten workloads so heavy that Caseworkers are unable to give the right attention to vulnerable children.

They are demanding an end to an outsourcing program that has seen non-government provider charge exorbitant funds for child protection work that should be done by Community Services employees.

The Edgeworth action is the first of many around the state drawing attention to a system in crisis that is letting down some of the most vulnerable people in NSW.