PSA welcomes extra funding for Child Youth and Family

3.45pm

The Public Service Association (PSA) is glad the Government has put its money where its mouth is by boosting funding for Child Youth and Family, PSA National Secretary Richard Wagstaff said today.

In today's Budget, Finance Minister Michael Cullen announced an increase of $173 million over four years for Child, Youth and Family Services.

The PSA had been working with the Department and Government on dealing with the under resourcing problems and it was heartening their concerns had been listened to, Mr Wagstaff said.

"We are pleased that recruitment and retention of staff has been treated as a priority with money earmarked especially to deal with the problem," he said.

"Now we will be talking with the Department to work out the best ways this can be used to attract more staff and keep existing staff in the job."

Along with the New Directions plan announced by the Minister the extra funding would hopefully signal a new direction for child welfare services - one where the service and the workers in it were properly valued and resourced to do the job the public expected, Mr Wagstaff said.

"The job now is to sit down with the Department to work out how the new money and direction will be introduced.

"Our main objective is to ensure that this money gets to where it is most needed - out to the front line, so that social workers and others can offer the best support to children and families in need," Mr Wagstaff said.

- NZPA

www.nzherald.co.nz/budget

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