Imagine a situation where the safety of thousands of children hangs in the balance due to a failed IT system. This alarming scenario has surfaced in Queensland, where the state's child safety minister has emphatically stated that she was unaware of significant reductions in the functionality of a problematic IT system prior to its implementation, which may have jeopardized the welfare of countless kids.
In October of the previous year, the government of Queensland, led by the LNP, initiated an independent audit of the costly $183 million child safety IT system known as Unify. This assessment, carried out by Deloitte, uncovered critical shortcomings that hindered staff from efficiently accessing necessary data or pinpointing vital details, such as identifying family members involved and clarifying "who was accountable for the harm."
Late in 2023, the scope of the project was notably diminished, with several essential features—such as the ability to monitor personalized placements and support services—being stripped away, according to a report released recently on Saturday.
Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm has publicly asserted that she was not informed by her department regarding the extent of these cutbacks or any pressing issues prior to the system's launch in April. "I did not know about the descoping of the functionality of this system, nor the history of the system until we read the findings of this report, which are quite severe," Ms. Camm commented.
She expressed confidence based on both the initial briefings she received from the new government and ongoing updates from senior staff, all indicating that the system had been thoroughly developed, designed, and was prepared for rollout.
However, users of Unify reported frustrating experiences, including sudden shutdowns. One user recounted spending over an hour completing a detailed assessment of a complex case only to find that all the entered data had vanished. Furthermore, the review indicated that staff had to input names with precise spelling to achieve accurate search results, and there was no capability to search by address—issues that could significantly impact efficiency and effectiveness.
"Time is crucial when determining risk or suspected harm," Ms. Camm emphasized. "During that timeframe, there was a growing risk."
In response to these revelations, the government has devised a plan to rectify the situation, promising to publish operational data within a month and stabilize the system within six months.
Yet, the Labor opposition has accused the minister of deflecting responsibility onto her department officials. Shadow Attorney-General Meaghan Scanlon remarked, "It is incredible that this LNP minister claims ignorance regarding the failures of a system designed to protect children. The reality is that this system was activated under the LNP. Amanda Camm can attempt to shift blame, but she is the one who initiated this system."
Documents obtained through Right to Information by the opposition reveal that Director-General Belinda Drew had raised concerns about Unify in an email dated June 4, addressed to another senior executive. The subject line read "update from our recent DG meeting." In this correspondence, she noted, "Our survey shows an approval rating of merely 1.79 out of 10. Staff have indicated that training was insufficient, and many are still relying on ICMS, the previous system, for their daily operations."
The following day, June 5, Ms. Drew met with Ms. Camm, as indicated in her diary notes included in the RTI documents. Ms. Camm has since defended Ms. Drew, who took on her role last July. "As part of this effort, an internal audit was conducted... Ms. Drew retains her position. Others do not," Ms. Camm stated.
"There are other ongoing HR matters... and I will refrain from commenting on those at this moment."
The Department of Child Safety has been approached for a statement regarding this unfolding situation.
