WA's child protection minister says a worker shortage is hampering efforts to fill more than 100 front line vacancies across the state, including child protection staff. 

The state government announced plans in April to recruit an extra 36 case workers next financial year.

But 102 vacancies in the state's existing rolling recruitment pool are still yet to be filled.

Child Protection Minister Simone McGurk said the challenges in attracting workers was partly a legacy of closed borders and a lack of appropriately skilled workers.

"You've got to have specific skills to do child protection work, we'd usually recruit, particularly from overseas," she said.

Ms McGurk said the high number of vacancies had flow on implications for existing staff.

Housing options for workers an obstacle

Anglicare WA Kimberley and Pilbara regional manager Carina Cooke said attracting skilled workers to regional areas was also difficult for non-governmental organisations.

"We need to be able to find ways that we're able to attract them and then sustain those people that are already working in communities," she said.

Ms Cook said a lack of housing stock in the Kimberley was also a significant challenge to recruiting staff.

"What we often find is well-qualified, interested staff who want to work in our region and we're having conversations and making offers to them," she said.

She said there was an opportunity to consider housing options, particularly for local people.

"I know in some organisations and some government departments there's only options available to people coming from outside to be eligible for subsidised housing," she said.