Child protection workers rally over proposed changes

CHILD protection workers have warned vulnerable children could be at risk if
proposed restructuring to child protective services in the Loddon Mallee region
goes ahead.

Staff staged a protest outside Nationals Deputy Leader Peter
Walsh’s office last Friday to ask for his help to avoid cutbacks to the region’s
Department of Human Services (DHS) child protection unit.

The protesters
claim the restructure will result in 15 fewer positions in the Loddon Mallee
region, compounding the stress and strain currently being experienced by the
workers.

Community and Public Sector Union industrial officer Mandy Coulson
said the group was asking Mr Walsh to stand up for regional communities,
vulnerable children and safe workloads.

“We are asking Peter for his help to
stand up for his region, for staff, to have a manageable workload and for
vulnerable children,” she said.

Ms Coulson told The Guardian that prior to
the rally, workers had been contacted by regional management to refrain from
protesting.

Staff are opposing what they say is a reduction of 15 child
protection positions in the Loddon Mallee region, which would take the total
number of full time equivalent roles from 146 to 131.

For more of this story, see Monday’s Guardian (June 17).