A Potential Disaster for Queensland's Children: The Unify IT System Fiasco
The child safety of thousands of Queensland kids is at stake due to a botched IT system, Unify, which was supposed to safeguard them. The LNP government commissioned an independent audit of this $183 million system in October, revealing critical issues that could put children in harm's way.
The audit, conducted by Deloitte, uncovered system gaps that hindered workers' ability to access crucial data, such as family member roles and responsibility for harm. This lack of information could have severe consequences for child safety.
In late 2023, several features were removed from the system's scope, including the ability to monitor individualised placements and supports. This reduction in functionality was not disclosed to the child safety minister, Amanda Camm, who was misled about the system's readiness.
Camm expressed her shock, stating, '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, and they are damning.' She believed the system was fully developed and ready for deployment.
Users encountered unexpected system shutdowns, with one user losing data after spending over an hour on a complex case assessment. The system's search functionality was also flawed, requiring exact name spelling and excluding address searches.
The situation is dire, as Camm emphasized, 'Time is what matters in assessing risk or alleged risk of harm. Throughout that period, there was an increase in risk.'
The government has announced a remedial plan, aiming to publish operational data within a month and stabilize the system within six months. However, the Labor opposition criticizes Camm for attempting to shift blame, accusing her of sacrificing her department officials.
The opposition obtained documents revealing Director-General Belinda Drew's awareness of Unify issues as early as June. Drew's email to a senior executive mentioned low approval ratings and inadequate training, indicating potential problems.
Despite the controversy, Camm defended Drew, who started her role in July. Camm acknowledged ongoing HR matters but remained tight-lipped about specific details.
The Department of Child Safety has been contacted for further comment, leaving the public awaiting answers to crucial questions about the system's failure and its impact on child safety.
