The Department for Child Protection (DCP) has been given the OK to recruit additional staff to boost the protection of South Australia’s children and young people.
In response to the child protection reports delivered by former Police Commissioner Mal Hyde and child protection expert Kate Alexander, the new move was announced by the Minister for Child Protection, Katrine Hildyard, who said funding will be provided to recruit 42 additional social workers and 10 additional Principal Aboriginal Consultants.
Ms Hildyard said the Government was committed to resourcing the child protection system appropriately so that vulnerable children and young people could receive additional levels of support and security.
“It is extremely important that we listen to these reviews, and act swiftly and decisively to respond to the recommendations provided by Mal Hyde and Kate Alexander,” Ms Hildyard said.
“We are determined to continue to work toward lasting improvements to the child protection system.”
She said Ms Alexander highlighted that the child protection system was under pressure.
“Ensuring all offices are responding to a level of cases relative to the size of its workforce and ensuring additional resources are allocated where need is greatest, is essential,” Ms Hildyard said.
“(The) 10 additional Principal Aboriginal Consultants will be employed in line with recommendations and observations from Ms Alexander’s report, to provide appropriate cultural advice to social workers working with Aboriginal families in a child protection setting.”
She said the planned new actions came alongside the ongoing work coordinated by SAPOL to undertake a multi-agency welfare check on the approximately 500 children identified in former Police Commissioner Hyde’s report, and establishing a South Australia Child Protection Expert Group.
Ms Hildyard said the cost of the new staff members would come from the $128.9 million allocated to child protection in this year’s State Budget.
