Thursday 19 December 2024
Today, the Community and Public Sector Union/Civil Service Association (CPSU/CSA) welcomed the announcement from the Cook Government that it would invest a further $200 million into the Child Protection and Family Support system. The announcement comes after months of building pressure and walkouts by CPSU/CSA members across Western Australia, which culminated in a march on the Western Australian Parliament in October. This announcement will see direct investment in two critical areas in the system, frontline caseworkers and placements for children.
The union continues positive and collaborative discussions with the Department of Communities and the Cook Government on further improvements to the Child Protection and Family Support system, to ensure that workers, whether they are frontline or support staff, can provide best-practice care to some of Western Australia’s most vulnerable children and families.
CPSU/CSA Branch Secretary, Melanie Bray, said the announcement was a testament to the Government working collaboratively with the union to achieve outcomes for the workforce, and in turn some of Western Australia’s most vulnerable children and families.
"The CPSU/CSA welcomes today's announcement of an injection of funding to increase the number of placements available in the Child Protection and Family Support system. This $170 million, alongside an additional 55 caseworkers on the ground, is a critical first step in addressing the issues facing the CPFS system. The union looks forward to continuing its positive dialogue with the Minister and the Department as we work towards positive system change to address the issues in Child Protection."
ENDS
- The CPSU/CSA covers 44,000 general public sector workers, one-quarter of the WA public sector, including child protection officers, youth custodial officers, park rangers, veterinary scientists and dental technicians.
- Cook Government Media Statement
- Note to Journalists: Please ensure the full acronym, “CPSU/CSA” when mentioning us. “CPSU” is typically used to refer to the Union that covers Commonwealth, ACT and NT public sector workers. We are related but separate organisations.
For more information or to arrange further comment from incoming Branch Secretary Melanie Bray, please contact CPSU/CSA Reception on 08 9323 3800 and ask for the Media and Stakeholder Engagement Officer.
