We’ve been receiving pleas for help from child safety workers since before Christmas.

The safety and welfare of young people are at risk, as are the safety and welfare of workers like you.

We know that you are doing all you can for the children and families on your caseload, but you cannot do it safely without proper resources and adequate staff.

We plan to meet with you all over the next few weeks to discuss what we can do together to try and break this current crisis in child safety.

We have also had reports that workers are being denied their right to take leave. A blanket arbitrary statement from a manager saying that leave will not be approved is a breach of the Award. You should be able to negotiate your annual leave dates with management, not simply have them denied in a blanket fashion.

We’re also concerned that to try and do your best by the at-risk young people you work with, you’re taking on too much risk yourself. No one except HACSU will be there to back you if anything goes wrong.

Please keep your eye out for a meeting notice in the next week or so.

For more information or if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us via HACSUassist on 1300 880 032.