Kimberley youth to benefit from three new residential care homes after State Government cash injection

Children in the Kimberley are set to benefit from three new residential care homes, aimed at ensuring informed therapeutic care for vulnerable and at-risk youth in the region. Announced by Child Protection Minister Simone McGurk on May 25, some $33.98 million will be used over four years to fund five new homes around regional WA, with three in the Kimberley and two in Geraldton. The funding will also be used to review the operations of the broader residential care model to better ensure positive outcomes for children and to ensure safety of staff. In a statement, Ms McGurk’s office said the Department of Communities was working proactively to attract and retain residential care workers and to provide comprehensive training before they started employment. Ms McGurk said the new care homes would reduce overcrowding, helping to provide a safer workplace and better care for vulnerable children. “Almost $34m has been allocated for the ongoing management of these homes and the associated learning and development required for workers,” she said. “Staff in residential care homes are at the frontline of delivering services for some of the most vulnerable young Western Australians. “It is a challenging job, but a rewarding one and we need to ensure those workers are given all the support we can to continue their important work.” There are currently 22 residential group homes in WA, housing children with no other foster or family care options, many of them with complex needs.