Thousands of Queensland child safety workers to walk off the job

Child safety and youth justice workers in Queensland will strike for approximately two-and-a-half hours, according to the Together Union. Negotiations on a new child safety and youth justice agreement, initiated in March, have been ongoing since August. A spokesperson for the Child Safety Department stated that the government has made an offer and is proceeding with negotiations in good faith.

Thousands of Queensland child safety workers are scheduled to halt their duties this afternoon due to stalled negotiations over pay and conditions.

Dee Spink, the union's assistant secretary, expressed that the members would escalate their action on Friday afternoon. She emphasized that the workers are already dedicating thousands of hours each month to the department without compensation but are compelled to do so due to the government's lack of seriousness. Child safety workers often manage caseloads exceeding 30 children, far exceeding the agreed-upon safe caseload of around 16, according to the union.

Lucy Besnard, a child safety worker, highlighted the consequences of these caseloads, stating that children are not receiving their needs met. The workers strive to ensure every child and young person's safety, but they acknowledge that if they cannot conduct all the necessary visits, they cannot provide an adequate service.

More than 100 child safety officer positions remain vacant, as reported by the union. Ms. Besnard emphasized that the sector has been asked to do more with less and that they have reached the limit of what can be managed with fewer resources. Many members are sacrificing personal time, such as being parents to their own children, to ensure the safety of children in the system.

The union has asked the community to support their cause by bringing air mattresses to local members of parliament's offices to highlight cases where children have spent the night in government offices while awaiting placement. In June, the state government confirmed that instances of children sleeping in offices do occur but described it as a rare occurrence. Ms. Besnard underscored that such instances should not happen.

A spokesperson from the Child Safety Department affirmed that the government has made an offer and is continuing negotiations on enterprise bargaining agreements in good faith. The department has established business continuity plans to ensure the safety and well-being of children and young people and work to minimize the impact on the delivery of critical services during the work stoppage.

Meaghan Scanlon, the Labor opposition spokesperson, acknowledged that the child safety system is in crisis and is negatively impacting the state's most vulnerable individuals.