Queensland's Child Safety Minister Hon Mike Reynolds met students and staff at CQU Rockhampton this week (Feb 2) to discuss developments in a partnership between the University and his Department.

Mr Reynolds said Central Queensland’s child protection professionals would benefit from greater education, research and training thanks to the innovative parternship.

The Department of Child Safety is currently negotiating a $50,000 funding commitment to CQU’s School of Social Work and Welfare Studies to develop a specialist child protection stream within the undergraduate social work program during 2005.

The parternship will also involve the Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research based at CQU Mackay.

“This (infusion of a Child Protection Stream into the current undergraduate program) is an exciting initiative that will further assist the department with its recruitment of well-trained and highly-qualified Child Safety Officers,” Mr Reynolds said.

“The course will combine theoretical and practical learning to better equip future child safety officers with the skills and knowledge required in delivering frontline child protection services,” he said.

“The partnership between the department and university will ensure Queensland’s child protection professionals benefit from access to the latest research and are informed about and contribute to improved child safety practices.”.

The Minister said the university would also provide training for Central Queensland child protection professionals in 2005.

“Senior practitioners within the department will soon be able to access more specialised training, resources and current practice knowledge. Induction training for Child Safety Officers will also be conducted jointly by the department and University.

“This innovative partnership will ensure that strong links are maintained with CQU which is a major provider of distance tertiary education in Australia,” he said.

Mr Reynolds told the gathering of CQU social work students that he had been a social work graduate of James Cook University three decades ago. However, he had spent only three months on the job before embarking on a political career.

The Minister urged the students to get involved in the 'helping' aspects of the profession, but also to become advocates and agents of enduring change.

He assured students that Child Safety was ending its practice of sending new employees straight to the frontline, instead implementing a period of induction and professional development.

"We want our new practitioners to understand the whole landscape of child protection," he said.

Photo (above): Child Safety Minister Mike Reynolds met today with CQU Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Jim Mienczakowski (centre) and Dean Professor Errol Payne.

Photo (left): CQU social work students Julie Norman (second from right) and Debra Wakefield (second from left) meet with Child Safety Minister Mike Reynolds (front), Head of the School of Social Work and Welfare Studies Associate Professor Jane Maidment, DVC Professor Jim Mienczakowski (centre rear) and Dean Professor Errol Payne.