Premier must intervene on cuts to Child Care Inspectors

The Public Service Association today called on Premier Morris Iemma to intervene to stop the Department of Community Services’ plan to slash the number of Children’s Services Advisers who conduct inspections of childcare facilities, by 40 per cent.

The PSA made the plea on behalf of inspectors following revelations in today's Daily Telegraph that serious breaches of regulations could go unattended under DOCs plans to cut the number of Children's Services Advisers statewide from 77 to 47.

PSA Assistant General Secretary Steve Turner said the cuts would mean complaints took longer to investigate, placing children at risk.

"These workers are responsible for 3,951 licensed services plus many more unlicensed across NSW including childcare centres, family day care, occasional day care and pre-schools," Mr Turner said.

"The DOCS plan is to cut front line workers while increasing head office staff.

"The cuts will mean fewer proactive inspections to identify dangerous practices, longer to respond to complaints from parents and less capacity to take legal action against centres who are breaching licences.

"This is short-sighted policy making at its worst - all parents should be concerned that the government is down-grading the standard of care in childcare centres.

"We call on the Premier to immediately intervene and direct DOCS to maintain the current levels of Children's Services Advisers."