NSW Government Child Protection Internship Program in Dubbo NSW

Impact summary

Through my child protection work I was aware of hard to fill locations for child protection caseworkers in rural and remote NSW. I approached, discussed, and worked with the NSW Department of Family and Community Services (FaCS) to establish a scheme of linking final year social work students to hard to fill job vacancies. This was done and implemented by merit selection through the NSW Government recruitment site. If successful NSW Government would pay the students final year contribution to Higher Education costs, would be given study leave to complete their social work degree, and students would gain bonded employment. This would benefit, not only FaCS, but also the University by increasing our reputation with the sector, strengthening the workforce pipeline and increasing student employability. Within the first offer of the internship all paces where filled. Ultimately the impact is having more staff to response to reports of child safety and abuse, and thus protecting both children and the community.

Impact date	2014
Category of impact	Social Impact, Other Impact