There are cautious hopes for change for our region's most vulnerable children, after the New South Wales Government's 2025-26 budget set aside a landmark $1.2 billion for a Child Protection Package.

Part of the package, will be a $191.5 million investment to recruit more than 200 new caseworkers and retain 2,126 caseworkers with higher pay and more specialised training, including 100 new leading caseworker roles. 

In Western New South Wales, recruitment and retention of caseworkers is particularly difficult.

Several towns in Western NSW face persistent understaffing issues, including Brewarrina, Nyngan, Coonamble and Bourke.

There are 246 caseworkers in the Western NSW district, out of a total of 279 funded positions. This means 33 of these positions (or 12 per cent) are vacant.

The Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) advised that Walgett and Coonamble are both staffed with full-time caseworkers, however due to the nature of their work and the vastness of the region, they often have to travel and are not always present in the office.

While the statewide caseworker vacancies have decreased by seven per cent, problems persist with retention.

Members of the Public Service Association (PSA) union recently accepted a new caseworker award, looking to increase workers' pay by three per cent and give overtime provisions so that staff are no longer forfeiting hours.

The next pay period after 1 July 2025, will see a salary transition for caseworkers.

But will the increased pay be enough to attract caseworkers to Western NSW?

Regional Organiser from the PSA Tom Hopper says while the pay increase will make the salary competitive, more support is needed to recruit workers to Western NSW.

"The uplift for new workers has made the job competitive again in terms of salary however there needs to be incentives to entice people away from the city the same way that police and teachers do," he said.

"Staff turnover is very high in Western NSW given there are very few supports in place for new caseworkers.

"Community Services owns properties in a number of town in Western NSW but refuse to utilise them to make it more attractive for staff.

"In Walgett the house they own has fallen into disrepair and cannot now be lived in without major renovations," he said.

Tom Hopper. [IMAGE: The Daily Telegraph]

While specific data on Western NSW isn't available, statewide the DCJ estimates 80 per cent of new caseworkers leave within two years of being on the job.

Ultimately the staff shortage has an impact on vulnerable children.

Between January and March 2025, in the Western, Far West, and Murrumbidgee areas of NSW, a total of 15, 787 children were considered at significant risk of harm, but only 2, 844 (or 18 per cent total) were seen by a caseworker.

DCJ is actively trying to recruit staff in Bourke, Brewarrina, Cobar, Condobolin, Coonabarabran, Coonamble, Nyngan and Walgett.