Child protection services are among the most dangerous workplaces in Australia. Caseworkers regularly face verbal abuse, threats of violence, and physical assault. 91% of child protection professionals have experienced intimidating behaviour, and 72% have experienced threats of violence.
Why This Matters:
- The average child protection worker in NSW leaves 14 months into the job.
- There are 210 NSW child protection caseworkers on workers’ compensation, representing 9% of the workforce.
- Three in four children assessed to be at risk of significant harm are not seen by caseworkers.
What Can Be Done:
- Conduct regular risk assessments: Every home visit and interaction should be pre‑assessed for risk.
- Provide personal duress alarms: A GPS‑enabled duress alarm gives workers a direct line to help.
- Implement automated check‑ins: Scheduled welfare checks that escalate if unanswered.
- Train staff in de‑escalation: Equip workers with the skills to manage volatile situations.
- Ensure proper staffing levels: Overworked staff are more vulnerable to mistakes and injury.
Protecting child protection workers is not optional. It’s a legal and moral obligation.
Learn more about safety solutions for child protection workers.
Contact SafeTCard to learn how we can help improve staff safety in child protection services.
