Queensland to recruit more child safety workers to deal with caseloads

An extra 82 new permanent child safety workers will be employed to lower caseloads in Queensland's troubled Child Safety Department.

The State Government said it would spend an extra $7.8 million annually to fund the new positions.

The department has been under fire since the death of 12-year-old Logan schoolgirl Tiahleigh Palmer.

Her foster father Rick Thorburn was charged with her murder and her foster brother Trent Thorburn is facing incest charges.

Child Safety Minister Shannon Fentiman said the new positions would restore frontline services after severe job losses and cuts by the previous government.

Ms Fentiman said she was allocating the staff in response to preliminary advice from a review into her department.

"We know there are areas in Queensland experiencing high demand — the south-east, the south-west, the north coast and central Queensland," she said.

"We'll be finalising exact locations for these additional staff in the next fortnight and recruitment will begin immediately.

"I believe that this investment of 82 full-time staff will immediately reduce caseloads significantly for our hardworking staff, and the significant investment we're making in family support will hopefully see less families come to the attention of child safety."