Thursday, 23 March 2023

Ministers statements: child protection

Lizzie BLANDTHORN (Western Metropolitan – Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers, Minister for Child Protection and Family Services) (12:14): I rise to update the house on how the Andrews Labor government is supporting the recruitment of new child protection practitioners to support Victorian families. Child protection practitioners play a key role in keeping Victorian children safe, and it is this side of the house that back this workforce and the important work that they do. Since 2014 we have been proud to have funded an additional 1180 child protection practitioners to ensure that we keep Victorian children as safe as we can.

It is important to contrast this with when those opposite were in power. Dr Bach was a key adviser to a former minister, and they cut 500 staff from the Department of Human Services. In case you could not hear me, Dr Bach: 500 staff from the Department of Human Services. It is not only funding additional child protection practitioners where there is a difference in approach; we have increased funding in family services to over $385 million. That is a threefold increase in funding compared to those opposite.

We recognise the need to promote the fulfilling career option that child protection offers Victorian jobseekers, and that is why last week we launched the latest round of our Go Where You’re Needed campaign. Through the campaign we continue to attract a highly skilled, capable and diverse child protection workforce for metropolitan, regional and rural areas. The campaign is a key part of the government’s work to attract and retain skilled staff to this sector. Supporting families is important and impactful, and you are helping to create better futures for Victorian children and their families. A key element of the campaign is showcasing the positive difference people working for Victoria’s child protection service make each and every day by protecting children at risk and keeping families strong. Child protection practitioners gain a wide range of professional skills and are specialists in working with families who are most at risk. They can choose their own career path and collaborate with other professionals to support families.

The campaign is running through metropolitan and regional radio, regional press and social media, including Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. We are proud to be promoting the work of child protection practitioners, not talking them down or cutting their workforce, like those opposite. There are child protection jobs – (Time expired)