Disability Services

The Hon. I. PNEVMATIKOS (14:44): My question is to the Minister for Human Services regarding disability. Given the minister and her department promised to hire 200 disability support workers, including the first 100 in 100 days, how does the minister explain why only 39 people have been hired? Secondly, what is the annual percentage and number of turnover for staff in state-run disability care?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:45): I thank the honourable member for her question and for her interest in this area. We did, as part of our workforce planning and support for the sector, put out a call for traineeships, which did receive significant interest. The trainees will be employed in our accommodation services and, on completion, will be available to other services, so that will assist other providers in this space.

We are managing this in a staggered manner so that we will recruit in cohorts. That will enable us to provide the appropriate level of support and supervision to those trainees as they go through. In terms of the statistics, I am not sure that I have the number with me, but we did actually have quite significant interest in it, so we are very confident that that will add to the particular workforce. I am not sure that I heard the second part of the honourable member's question. If she wouldn't mind repeating that, please.

The Hon. I. PNEVMATIKOS: What is the annual percentage and number of turnover for staff in state-run disability care?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: In terms of the turnover of staff, I would need to take that particular question on notice.