Roger Jaensch says 10 extra Tasmanian child safety officers have been employed

Three of the permanent positions will be in the North, three in the North West, and four in the South.

Human Services Minister Roger Jaensch told state parliament on Thursday that further recruiting for additional child safety officers was continuing.

“More child safety officers and support at the front line will increase our ability to ensure that vulnerable children and families get the response they need, when they need it.” Mr Jaensch said.

The government has allocated an extra $24 million over the next four years, to employ up to 25 additional child safety officers and other front line staff.

Mr Jaensch said the government was committed to redesigning the child safety system.

“We want to better support families before they get into crisis. By giving earlier support, children are less likely to be removed from their families and relationship breakdown can be prevented,” he said.

Labor’s child safety spokesman Josh Willie said the remaining positions must be filled.

“Too often the Government dismissed the workforce’s pleas for more staff and Labor will continue to hold Minister Jaensch to account to ensure he fills the remaining positions,” Mr Willie said.

“The Government only acted after a Labor Right To Information request exposed the Liberal Government allocating caseloads to staff who no longer worked for Children and Youth Services.”