Boost for troubled outback regions
Paige Taylor; 9/5/08
The WA state Government’s three-year overhaul of child protectionservices yesterday topped $500million and will include $112million over four years for more case workers in needy areas such as Aboriginal communities in the remote Kimberley. Within 12 months, an additional 210 child protection workers, service delivery workers and support staff will be deployed to the areas of greatest need. At a cost of $5 million, remote community workers will be sent to Warmun and Oombulgarri in the East Kimberley. “Following last year’s review of the former Department for Community Development, we made structural changes and invested significant further funding into protecting our children,” Treasurer Eric Ripper said. The budget allocation comes three months after West Australian Coroner Alastair Hope described the plight of Aboriginal children as “especially pathetic”.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23668762-5013404,00.html
Tags: Aboriginal, Australia, Welfare