TOWNSVILLE: The protection of Townsville’s most vulnerable children and young people was boosted this week with the opening of two new child protection facilities in the city.
Child Safety Minister Phil Reeves officially opened the Wee Care (Shared Family Care) facility in Aitkenvale today (Thursday) and will open the Thuringowa Child Safety Service Centre tomorrow (Friday).
Mr Reeves was joined at the opening of the Wee Care (Shared Family Care) building by the Member for Mundingburra Lindy Nelson-Carr.
Ms Nelson-Carr said the Wee Care (Shared Family Care) building would be used to recruit, train and support foster and kinship carers to provide safe homes for up to 165 local vulnerable children and young people.
“The Department of Communities provided almost $900,000 earlier this year to enable Wee Care to employ three more people and move premises to expand their foster and kinship carer recruitment by an additional 60 foster care places.
“Since 2004, the Queensland Government had invested close to $20 million in its community child protection partners in Townsville. Wee Care will receive $2.5 million over the next three years,” she said.
Mr Reeves said community partners like Wee Care and our foster carers are the backbone of Queensland’s child protection system.
“Without them, it would be an impossibly hard task to find safe and nurturing environments for traumatised children and young people to go to when they can’t live at home.
“It’s a sad fact that for more than 420 children and young people in Townsville, it is not safe to live at home with their parents.
“While we currently have in the vicinity of 250 foster and kinship carers in the Townsville area, agencies such as Wee Care do an outstanding job ensuring we are always recruiting more.
“The Bligh Government’s recent statewide foster carer recruitment campaign yielded 503 enquiries that have so far resulted in 44 foster carers in Townsville.”
Mr Reeves said that by recruiting more carers the Bligh Government was looking over the horizon and continuing to improve their capacity to protect Townsville’s at risk children and young people.
The Child Safety Minister said the Government had invested $1.1 million for the fit-out of the Thuringowa Child Safety Service Centre, which started operating on 16 March 2009.
“In practical terms, the centre will provide a safe, modern and secure work environment for Child Safety Services’ staff when faced with a confronting range of child abuse and neglect cases,” he said.
“It can accommodate up to 45 staff and includes a children’s play area, a dedicated foster and kinship carer area, conference and meeting rooms, an outdoor barbecue area and a secure reception area.
“By continuing to invest in Queensland’s services the Bligh Government is helping the local economy – 25 jobs were created in the refurbishment and relocation of this centre.
“The relocation and expansion of the Thuringowa centre is a welcome boost to our child protection efforts in Queensland’s north.
“Despite the global financial crisis the Bligh Government is committed to keeping our essential child safety services going.”
Media contact: Minister Reeves’ office 3224 7081 or 0400 232341
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