The NSW government and the Public Service Association (PSA) have signed a reform agreement to deliver an immediate $8,283 pay increase for new caseworkers and improve rates of pay, roles and conditions for the state’s child protection workforce.
The agreement covers more than 2,000 public sector caseworkers who do one of the most important jobs in the state, keeping vulnerable children safe.
Under the reform agreement:
- Child protection caseworkers will receive a 4 per cent pay increase this year, backdated to 1 July 2024, plus 0.5 per cent in superannuation. This totals 8 per cent in the first two years of the Labor government;
- The commencing rate for new child protection caseworkers in 2024-25 has been lifted by $8,283, including the 4 per cent;
- A standalone child protection worker classification will be established for the first time in NSW history (currently child protection workers are under the general classification structure which covers nearly 80,000 workers);
- The NSW government and the PSA will enter into a reform process to update role descriptions and examine specific conditions such as safe working allocation guidelines;
At the conclusion of the reform process a three-year pay agreement will be made from 2025-26 onwards under a new Child Protection Award.
Promise delivered
The Minns government says this agreement delivers on a promise to better support the vital work caseworkers do, and consigns the former Coalition government’s punitive public sector wages cap to history.
The NSW government is also undertaking significant structural reform of the child protection system following years of neglect under the former government.
The government will ban the use of unaccredited emergency accommodation for vulnerable children in the foster care system from March next year, with the government already achieving a 72 per cent reduction in the number of these arrangements since November 2023.
The 2024-25 NSW budget has invested $224 million in funding. The government says this will allow the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) to:
- re-enter the market as a foster care provider and expand the recruitment of DCJ emergency foster carers to include longer-term carers,
- introduce government-run intensive and professional foster care models,
- deliver government-run residential care for children where non-government providers are unable to offer stable placements,
- ensure children living in residential care are supported by high quality, accredited providers, and
- commence recruiting family time workers and additional caseworkers to undertake carer authorisation assessments.
They say these initial measures will help rebuild the broken out-of-home care system and ensure that more children grow up in safe and loving homes in NSW.
Fixing a broken system
Minister for Families and Communities, Kate Washington said, ‘Child protection caseworkers have one of the most challenging and important jobs in the world, keeping vulnerable children safe.
‘When we came into government, we inherited a broken child protection system with a workforce walking out the door because they hadn’t felt valued in years.
‘I have seen firsthand the incredible difference these workers make to children and families, and I hope that this agreement will encourage more caseworkers to take up positions with DCJ,’ said Ms Washington.
‘I thank the PSA and their hardworking members for their advocacy and commitment to keeping children in NSW safe.’
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