NSW social workers are set to walk off the job in protest at on-going staff shortages.
Case workers at the Department of Family and Community Services (FACS) will strike for one hour from midday (AEST) on Tuesday to highlight the high vacancy rates, lack of resources and "frustrating red tape" that is hampering effective child protection, the Public Services Association (PSA) said in a statement on Monday.
It comes in the wake of reports last week that revealed NSW is short about 270 caseworkers.
PSA spokesman Steve Turner said caseworker and staff vacancy rates remained as high as 40 per cent in some offices, including in areas with some of the most vulnerable children and families in the state.
"Despite best efforts, staff are overwhelmed by inadequate resources and understaffing that stops them from essential face-to-face work with vulnerable children and their families," Mr Turner said in a statement.
The organisation is calling on Family and Community Services Minister Pru Goward to immediately address the staff shortages.
Caseworkers will only walk out at offices where it is safe to do so, with staff on hand for emergency cases, Mr Turner added.
Ms Goward has consistently claimed there are more than 2000 caseworkers in NSW.
But a new report found there were only 1797 caseworkers employed by the government in March.
Ms Goward denied she deliberately misled parliament, saying her figure of 2068 related to the total positions funded.
The opposition also claims internal documents obtained by them reveal that just 7.6 per cent of children in southwest Sydney reported to be at risk of serious harm received a check in March.
In other regions, only seven to 14 per cent of vulnerable children reported to be at risk of serious harm were seen, opposition spokeswoman for family and community services, Linda Burney, said.
