Vic: Staff turnover to blame for lack of child case workers

AAP General News (Australia)
08-05-2009
Vic: Staff turnover to blame for lack of child case workers

Victorian premier JOHN BRUMBY says at-risk children are forced to wait for a case worker
because the government can't attract and retain staff.

But he denies any child is left uncared for while waiting to be assigned to a permanent
child protection worker.

A whistleblower claims two thousand Victorian children assigned to the Department of
Human Services don't have case workers.

But Mr BRUMBY says the government employs about 200 social workers a year and recruitment
and retention is extremely difficult and virtually impossible in some country areas.

He's admitted about 25 per cent of children on DHS' books can't be immediately allocated
a permanent case worker and are instead supervised by team leaders.

AAP RTV cmb/gfr/crh

KEYWORD: WELFARE (MELBOURNE)

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