TWENTY child safety alerts ignored in the state’s North-West in the past year related to concerns about possible sexual abuse, the government has confirmed. Human Services Minister Jacquie Petrusma said a further 87 notifications related to possible family violence or arguments. The remainder stemmed from reports of possible neglect, homelessness or concerns for welfare. Eight of the 151 notifications remain open with Child Protection Services staff, six weeks after the systemic failure was first made public. However, Ms Petrusma said there was still no evidence to suggest any children had been harmed as a consequence of the breakdown. ‘‘Every notification to child protection is to be taken seriously,’’ she said. ‘‘However, it must be noted that in many cases, most notifications are expressions of concerns.’’ Labor human services spokeswoman Rebecca White said while none of the missed alerts were ‘‘category one’’, it was clear some were based on extremely serious concerns. ‘‘It’s really worrying to now understand some of those notifications were for very serious things – family violence and sexual abuse,’’ Ms White said. ‘‘I think the minister needs to explain exactly what the status is of those children so people can have confidence they’ve been appropriately dealt with.’’ Ms White said it was troubling that some cases were still not closed. ‘‘The fact that you still have eight open means that those children are at risk of being harmed and do require further support,’’ she said. ‘‘I think the minister should apologise to those children, those families and those people who made those notifications, because they did that in good faith.’’ Ms Petrusma said the government was committed to a complete overhaul of the child protection system, with a full redesign to be released within the next five months.
TWENTY child safety alerts ignored in the state’s North-West in the past year related to concerns about possible sexual abuse, the government has confirmed.
Human Services Minister Jacquie Petrusma said a further 87 notifications related to possible family violence or arguments.
The remainder stemmed from reports of possible neglect, homelessness or concerns for welfare.
Eight of the 151 notifications remain open with Child Protection Services staff, six weeks after the systemic failure was first made public.
However, Ms Petrusma said there was still no evidence to suggest any children had been harmed as a consequence of the breakdown.
‘‘Every notification to child protection is to be taken seriously,’’ she said.
‘‘However, it must be noted that in many cases, most notifications are expressions of concerns.’’
Labor human services spokeswoman Rebecca White said while none of the missed alerts were ‘‘category one’’, it was clear some were based on extremely serious concerns.
‘‘It’s really worrying to now understand some of those notifications were for very serious things – family violence and sexual abuse,’’ Ms White said.
‘‘I think the minister needs to explain exactly what the status is of those children so people can have confidence they’ve been appropriately dealt with.’’
Ms White said it was troubling that some cases were still not closed.
‘‘The fact that you still have eight open means that those children are at risk of being harmed and do require further support,’’ she said.
‘‘I think the minister should apologise to those children, those families and those people who made those notifications, because they did that in good faith.’’
Ms Petrusma said the government was committed to a complete overhaul of the child protection system, with a full redesign to be released within the next five months.
