Dear sector colleagues

I want to start by expressing my deepest thanks to you for the work you do each and every day.

Child protection work is tough, challenging and complex. I am proud of our sector’s exceptional resilience and determination and our collaborative efforts to create positive outcomes for children and young people.

The recent SA Child Protection Awards celebrated the outstanding achievements of children and young people, carers, volunteers, staff and organisations from across the sector.

It was an inspiring event, and I congratulate the winners and finalists. We received almost 300 nominations, each highlighting why our work matters so much.

Speaking about roles that matter – we also recently marked Foster and Kinship Carer Week.

Carers make an extremely important contribution in transforming the lives of children in care and this week gives us an opportunity to celebrate and recognise them.

I was also fortunate last month as part of the Country Cabinet to visit Port Augusta and Port Pirie and spend time with carers at events in these locations.

Another focus of the trip was discussing the review of the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 with our Upper Spencer Gulf stakeholders. Over the coming weeks we’ll continue to hold consultation events across the state and encourage you to get involved – join the discussion – and tell us what works, what doesn’t and how the legislation can be improved.

In this edition of Partner, you’ll find several updates from our Contracts and Licensing team, details about a new leadership program for young people and an update on the department’s first Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan.

Ngaityalya (thank you – Kaurna),  

Cathy Taylor
Chief Executive
Department for Child Protection

Meet our winners

A choir giving young people a powerful voice, a group of dedicated residential care staff and inspirational foster and kinship carers have been recognised in the 2022 SA Child Protection Awards.

These winners were among those taking out 11 categories at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Friday 9 September, during National Child Protection Week. 

Find out more, and see the full list of winners on the department’s website.

Uniting Country SA’s Harry Randhana and Liz Sampson accept the award for Outstanding Service (Regional) from the Hon Katrine Hildyard MP, Minister for Child Protection.

Leadership program scholarships for young people

The Department for Child Protection (DCP) has partnered with Youth Opportunities to offer scholarships for up to 20 young people aged 15-25 to complete a personal leadership program.

The 10 week self-paced learning program empowers young people to use their voice and build the skills and confidence they need to make decisions about their future.

If you know a young person who would benefit, please visit our website for more information or email CPReform@sa.gov.au.

Residential Care Services

DCP is proud to be working with our partners to continue transforming our non-family-based care services throughout South Australia.

Twelve providers were successful in the  general residential care placement tender to provide up to an additional 80 placements throughout the state. 

Read the full story.

Quarterly contract review update

Thank you to our partners who took part in the Quarter 4 (Q4) contract reviews. The open and honest discussions DCP is able to have during these reviews, and the feedback provided, plays a key role in helping us achieve our combined goals. 

Find out more about the feedback received in the Q4 reviews.

Missing person response - police change

From November, the way police respond to missing person reports for children and young people in care will change.

Police Security Officers, who were previously called Protective Security Officers and were mainly responsible for the security of State Government buildings, will now respond instead of SA Police Officers.

It’s part of legislative changes to expand the role of Police Security Officers into some operational areas of frontline policing.

While staff and carers will see officers responding wearing a different uniform, they will carry out the same duties.

Police Security Officers will help locate missing and at-risk children and young people, provide care and support and help them return to their placement or care home.

They will also receive training in the welfare, care, safety, security and legislation related to children and young people in care.

Guardian for Children and Young People - Ask Shona

Shona Reid (right) is South Australia’s new Guardian for Children and Young People. She is calling on children and young people with a care experience to ask her a question.

It could be about Shona herself (‘How many pairs of shoes do you have?’), the advocacy work of her office, or about life in care, like connecting to culture and if they really do need to eat all their greens.

Please encourage children and young people to get involved by emailing their questions to gcyp@gcyp.sa.gov.au.

PLUS if the child/young person would like to be part of a video asking the questions directly to Shona, please let her team know and they will get in contact with you.

Emailed questions and expressions of interest to participate in the video close at 5pm on Monday 31 October.

DCP's new Reconciliation Action Plan launched

DCP is extremely proud to have launched its first Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) on National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day. 

The RAP is a continuation of our reconciliation journey. Throughout implementation DCP is committed to challenging ourselves and our ways of working and aiming high – working towards measurable targets, implementing long-term strategies, and embedding governance and accountability.

DCP is fully committed to bringing our stakeholders along on this journey; working alongside our partners to build a system that supports real change for Aboriginal children and young people, embeds self-determination for Aboriginal families and communities, respects Aboriginal cultures and recognises the role every one of us plays in reconciliation.

Find out more.

2022 International Foster Care Conference

DCP, Life Without Barriers and Flinders University presented at the 2022 International and National Foster Care Conference in Darwin recently.

The presentation highlighted the success of the MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ Program in helping increase support for carers and keep siblings connected in South Australia. The conference provided an opportunity to hear from key stakeholders including foster families, children in care, social workers and academics.

Find out more on the department’s website.

Back (L- R): DCP Executive Director Out of Home Care Sue Barr, Flinders University Senior Lecturer in Social Work Dr Helen McLaren, Manager Practice Advancement & Implementation MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™, Life Without Barriers, Chris Skinner, Life Without Barriers SA Director Simone Mather and foster carer and Hub Home Provider Kristy Smith.

Front (L – R):  Foster carer and Hub Home Provider Deb Bills, Flinders University Senior Lecturer in Social Work Dr Michelle Jones and Life Without Barriers MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY™ Liaison Officer Kate Teekens.

Free water safety and survival programs for children in care

The summer holidays will soon be here and VACSWIM is again offering free water safety and survival programs to children in care aged 3-12 during December 2022 and January 2023.

The 5-day program builds water safety awareness and confidence, and is a great way to keep children busy during the school holidays. We’re asking that you please share information about the program with carers.

All VACSWIM enrolments for children in care must be completed via this form. You can find out more on DCP's carer portal.

Child and Family Focus SA

Child and Family Focus SA’s (CAFFSA) Dr Rob Martin (right) is the new Chair of the National Board for the Child and Family Wellbeing Association of Australia. Rob has extensive experience in the sector.  Congratulations Rob!

Melissa Gibson (left) has been appointed as Deputy Chief Executive at CAFFSA. Melissa is the Deputy CEO and Policy and Advocacy Lead for CAFFSA. She brings senior and executive level management experience across a range of human services in the government and non-government sector and is passionate about supporting vulnerable children, families and communities.

DCP makes two key appointments

We are pleased to announce two new appointments to our Senior Executive Group.

Billie-Jo Barbara (right) is DCP’s new Chief Human Resources Officer, and joins the department from PIRSA, where she was the Director, People and Culture. Billie-Jo has also held executive HR roles at the Department for Education, Anglicare NT and Charles Darwin University.

Nikunj Mandlas (left) has been appointed Chief Information Officer. Nikunj brings extensive experience in delivering business and organisational outcomes across the private and public sector. His career has included roles as Digital Transformation Director at the Department for Innovation and Skills in South Australia, the Principal Architect (Digital Program) at the Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Digital Technology Manager at SA Power Networks.