This week'sStronger Communities report from the NSW Auditor General shows thatover 105,000 children and young people in NSW were reported as being atserious risk of harm (ROSH). The report shows that 71% of those kids never saw a child protection case worker.



Today I joined with my Labor colleauge Penny Sharpe MLC, Shadow Minister for Family and Community Services, in raising serious concerns about the state of our child protection system which is being subjected to cuts due to the Berejiklian Government's efficiency dividends.

In response to the report, Penny has said,

The NSW child protection system is unable to keep children safe. When only 30% of children and young people see a case worker too many children are left unprotected and in abusive and dangerous circumstances. Shadow Minister for Family and Community Services, Penny Sharpe said today.



TheStronger Communitiesreport also shows that the number of children being reported as being at risk of serious harm (ROSH) continues to rise at unacceptable levels.In 2013/14 there were 73,698 reports of children at serious risk on harm. In 18/19 that has for the first time tipped over 100,000 to 105,772 a 44% increase.



While caseworkers work tirelessly to see kids reported as at risk of harm todaysStronger Communitiesreport from the NSW Auditor-General shows this Governments under-resourcing is putting kids at risk. With further cuts to staffing in FACS guaranteed as a result of having to meet the Governments efficiency dividend, children and young people will continue to pay the cost.



Penny has said, There are nearly 75,000 cases in 2018-2019 where kids have been reported as being at risk of significant harm but havent been seen by a caseworker, we urgently need more caseworkers that are fully trained and supported to be undertaking these crucial assessments



The Auditor Generals report also points to cost overruns in the IT system (called ChildStory) to manage child protection. The system is still not fully operational and is $31mil over budget. This waste could have been directed at employing 100 additional case workers to get to the kids that need our help.



Penny has said, The Minister for Community Services has to explain why so few children and young people are receiving face to face assessments from DCJ caseworkers and how he will address the rising number of reports of harm.