A Townsville youth care worker claims Queensland’s Department of Children has told her not to report crimes being committed by juveniles in care.
Sky News has concealed Monika’s identity but has verified that she is a youth care worker in a Townsville residential care home. Residential care homes can house up to six children in one property and have staff rostered on various shifts to supervise. “If we know that a child or have suspicions that a child has committed a crime, we get our management to inform the department,” Monika told Sky News.
“In speaking to Child Safety After Hours, which is the service for emergency services or carers in the state after business hours, if we need to call child safety to report anything, they have instructed us not to report bail breaches and curfew breaches.” The Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs has refuted some of the claims made and issued a statement to Sky News in response.
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