Caseworker visits boosted in remote NSW

Families living in remote NSW are getting more home visits from caseworkers following the roll-out of a dedicated child protection unit.

The number of visits made to homes around Bourke, Brewarrina, Walgett and Cobar in western NSW nearly tripled in the first nine months of the trial to 1250 calls, compared to the 459 made the same period before.

The Dubbo-based team of caseworkers were able to devote thousands of more hours to casework rather than deskwork, Family and Community Services Minister Brad Hazzard said.