The walkout was planned in the central western city in reaction to a staff shortage that has resulted in only 20 per cent of children in need of support being seen by a Caseworker.

The action is part of a statewide series of walkouts to highlight a Child Protection system in crisis.

After a meeting with PSA Assistant General Secretary Troy Wright, Organiser Belinda Tsirekas and Industrial Officer Graydon Welsh, staff planned to walk out of the centre in front of local media, only to turn back and return to the lobby. 

“This tells us, as a union, that morale in this particular location in particular, is even more crushed than across the state,” said Mr Wright.

“We deal with workers in this field right across NSW, who are dealing with a horrific workload under unsustainable pressure. It is quite clear to us when the workers can’t get away from their desk for five minutes, that here at Orange, things must be far worse than at any other location.”

Mr Wright said the PSA will investigate whether there is a culture of fear in the Orange Community Services office that is preventing Caseworkers taking five minutes to protest about their working conditions and staffing levels.