Ombudsman attacks over child protection ‘failures’

THE Government is still failing to implement policies to protect children at risk which were adopted over a decade ago, an investigation by the Children’s Ombudsman has found.

Ombudsman Emily Logan revealed there was a severe shortage of social workers and uncovered evidence of an unresolved industrial dispute dating back to 2002.

Among other concerns raised by the ombudsman’s first investigative report is variable child protection practice by state agencies, a lack of internal and external scrutiny, and a failure of inter-agency collaboration on the issue.