- Minister for Child Protection
A record number of child protection practitioners are working to keep vulnerable kids safe across Victoria, thanks to a massive recruitment drive from the Andrews Labor Government.
Minister for Child Protection Luke Donnellan last night attended the graduation ceremony for 75 young men and women who have successfully completed the 2019 Child Protection Vacation Employment Program.
Thanks to unprecedented investment in child protection by the Labor Government, the workforce has expanded by more than a third in the last four years, with more than 2,000 child protection practitioners now working across the state.
The 12-week paid Vacation Employment Program offers tertiary students hands-on experience and the opportunity to secure employment as a child protection practitioner within the Department of Health and Human Services.
The Labor Government has invested $255.5 million across the last two Victorian Budgets to recruit close to 500 additional child protection workers – the largest ever expansion in Victoria’s history.
Under its landmark Roadmap for Reform agenda, the Labor Government is transforming Victoria’s children and family services from crises response to prevention and early intervention.
This investment in early years and family services means an additional 3,000 families are receiving early intervention and prevention support, reducing more children from entering the child protection system.
As noted by Minister for Child Protection Luke Donnellan
“These graduates have demonstrated the compassion, dedication and capabilities necessary to not only join our growing workforce but to help brighten the future of children in care.”
“We know a career in child protection isn’t easy but it can be hugely rewarding and also provides a vast range of professional pathways that support personal growth and development.”
“We are reshaping the child and family service sector to keep more children safe, including investing heavily in our child protection workforce so that we can deliver services earlier and better.”
