The Commission of Inquiry into the Tasmanian Government’s Responses to Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Settings will soon release it’s final report. It will be handed to the Governor on the 31 August and then tabled in both houses of the Tasmanian Parliament before 28 September. It will be accessible at https://www.commissionofinquiry.tas.gov.au/, then the Rockliff Government will release a detailed response by December 2023.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff needs to ensure there is enough resourcing in the public sector to respond to and address the recommendations.
At the same time, we also urge the Rockliff Government to stop letting down the children today.
If you are apologising for past behaviour, you don’t keep doing it. But that’s what is happening to so many child-facing services today under the watch of the Rockliff Government.
Understaffing school social workers, Child Safety Service and The Advice and Referral Line, Youth Justice, Mental Health Services, and The Family Violence and Counselling and Support Service means the Rockliff Government is failing children now.
This week a Mercury article highlighted a crisis looming for children and mental health, saying that children in primary schools had inadequate support.
Keep reading: ‘Child Mental Health Crisis Looms’ (via The Mercury)
All these services are facing understaffing and underfunding from this Government – this means families and children cannot get the help they need. It is setting up future trauma. This is unacceptable.
We know staff across services are working as hard as they can but there simply aren’t enough of them.
While Jeremy Rockliff says he wants to ensure past failings are not repeated, he is letting down another generation of young people. He is continuing with his efficiency dividends even though services are already cut to the bone, with multiple areas facing recruitment and retention crises.
Premier Rockliff needs to fund public services properly so we’re not betraying another generation of children or setting up another Commission of Inquiry in years to come.
Let’s Stand up for Services That Keep Kids Safe: Public Services Watch
Let’s share the stories about what’s happening in the public services children need and rely on to help them stay safe
Your words and stories matter and help hold the Rockliff Government to account.
Make a confidential report: https://www.cpsu.com.au/pswatch/
Commission of Inquiry: Support if you need it.
If you need support with regards to the Commission of Inquiry, here are some ways you can get assistance, advice, and support if you need it.
Employee Assistance Programs (EAP): Agencies have EAP providers, so it could be a good idea to familiarise yourself with who the provider in your department is. Sometimes just reading or hearing about certain events can be traumatic and take you by surprise. Workers should have access to three EAP sessions a year, but more sessions are available if required on request.
CPSUDirect: If you are unsure about your industrial avenues, whether you should make a complaint, or how you should make a complaint or raise issues with your manager, you can contact us on CPSUDirect – at CPSUDirect@tas.cpsu.com.au, on 6234 1708 or at https://www.cpsu.com.au/cpsudirect/.
Worker Assist: this is a free legal service for workers who are injured in the course of their duties. This could be relevant if workers have been involved with the Government’s preparation or response to the Commission of Inquiry and experienced anything distressing. While you should contact your medical provider in the first instance, if you have any questions about Workers Compensation, you should feel free to contact this confidential, independent service: https://workerassist.org.au/
