As the PSA CPSU NSW toured the state pointing out issues with Child Protection, a new document agrees the system is flawed.

The NSW Auditor General has released a report that backs up the campaign by the PSA demanding changes to the state’s Child Protection system.

The report outlines the Auditor General’s concerns about how children in need were cared for. The report slammed Child Protection in NSW, describing the system as “inefficient, ineffective, and unsustainable”.

The report demanded the end of hotel, motel and apartment stays for children in care. This emergency care system cost $829,000 per child, per year, for those accommodated in such facilities.

The report found the cost of emergency accommodation tripled from $100 million to $300 million over four years.

Its authors also found that Aboriginal families were let down by the system in its current form. Indigenous families are disproportionately represented in the Child Protection system.

Quoted by the ABC, PSA General Secretary Stewart Little said, “Most people would be shocked to learn only one in four kids reported as at risk of serious harm to child protection services by police, nurses or teachers is actually seen because there simply aren’t enough child protection caseworkers.”

The PSA has been campaigning against the state’s over-reliance on non-government organisations. The Child Protection in Crisis campaign is demanding less money be spent on private contractors and more be spent to attract and retain Public Sector workers.

The average Child Protection Worker in NSW leaves 14 months into the job, as the pay is not enough to keep them on the Community Services payroll.

The haemorrhaging of staff means workers are often going out alone on jobs, putting themselves at risk of harm.

PSA Organiser Belinda Tsirekas and Regional Organiser Tom Hooper recently travelled throughout the state, talking to members and publicising the campaign.

Ms Tsirekas and Mr Hooper both worked in Child Protection before working with the PSA. The two took to the airwaves throughout the state and regularly appeared in regional media.

“These two members of staff took our message to the community all over the state,” said Mr Little. “We have been campaigning for years to end the current system to let our members better protect children. Now the Auditor General has agreed with us.”

The Minister for Community Services, Kate Washington, announced she would implement the Auditor General’s findings after the report was released.