A message from the Chief Executive

Dear sector colleagues

Welcome to our first edition of Partner for 2022. For many of us, there’s no such thing as a ‘quiet period’ and the start of this year has been very busy. I want to acknowledge your dedication, particularly during the traditional holiday period when COVID-19 made the role of supporting children, young people, families and carers all the more important.

Moving forward, there’s plenty to update you on. I’m pleased to share the results of the latest Report on Government Services (ROGs) into child protection services throughout Australia. Released in mid-January, the report shows how far we’ve come in many important areas.

Sticking with the national theme, we are also playing a lead role with the Commonwealth Government on Safe & Supported: the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021-2031 and the development of action plans. You’ll find an update of this work in this edition.

In this edition you’ll also find updates on the new Newpin centre at Port Adelaide, our new Agency Staffing Portal, school scholarships program and the ACCO kinship care program.

We also pay tribute to several of our colleagues who are leaving the sector and welcome some new faces in our ‘sector appointments and farewell’ section.

I am really looking forward to the year ahead and continuing our work together to deliver the best child protection system that ensures the safety and welling of children and young people.

Ngaityalya (thank you – Kaurna),

Cathy Taylor
Chief Executive
Department for Child Protection

COVID-19 sector update

While it seems COVID-19 is no longer leading the news headlines every night, on the ground we know it is still having a significant impact on the important work we do in the community.

Whether it’s caring directly for children and young people who are COVID positive, supporting carers who may have tested positive or are required to isolate with a young person, or ensuring staff have the appropriate equipment and support to do their jobs safely – we are so grateful for the dedication and commitment you have shown in this challenging time.

We have some further information to share with you, since the last edition. Read more here.

Best practice spotlight

Keeping families together

Since the northern Newpin centre opened in October 2021, Uniting Communities has successfully reunited 12 children with their families, with a new Newpin centre in Port Adelaide opening for referrals last month to keep even more families safely together.

To read the full story, visit DCP's website.

Brighter futures

Now open: Dame Roma Mitchell Grants

The 2022 Dame Roma Mitchell Grants Round 1 opened on Monday 7 February 2022. These grants provide opportunities for eligible children and young people under 30 who are, or have been, in care.

To read the full story, visit DCP's website.

Procurement and contracting news

Next Steps program receiving referrals

The Next Steps Pilot Program welcomed the first referrals of young people who will receive life-changing support as they move from residential care into adult life and independence.

Centacare Catholic Family Services will operate the service, in partnership with Housing Choices SA, Aboriginal Sobriety Group and the Department for Child Protection (DCP), to June 2025.

To find out more, visit DCP's website.

Residential Care Services tender

Thank you to everyone who attended the recent online industry briefings for DCP’s Residential Care Services tender for the provision of up to 80 placements across South Australia.

Submissions are now closed and being evaluated. We expect this process to be completed this month, with successful and unsuccessful suppliers notified in April.

To keep up-to-date with the department’s open procurements, register on the SA Tenders and Contracts website.

News

ROGS results highlight positive progress

The latest Report on Government Services (ROGS) has been released, highlighting how South Australia is making positive progress in a number of key areas. The ROGS includes a dedicated chapter about child protection services.

South Australia ranked highly in its ability to respond to child protection notifications in a timely manner, pursue safe reunification and permanency options and improve case planning for children and young people with 97.6% of children having a documented and approved case plan.

The report highlights the importance of continued active efforts to end the over representation of Aboriginal children in the child protection system, and to maintain our shared commitment to recruiting, supporting and retaining carers.

The full report can be found here.

Inquiry into Foster and Kinship Care: Submissions now open

Submissions are now open for the independent inquiry into foster and kinship care. The inquiry is being led by international child protection expert Dr Fiona Arney. Submissions opened on 8 February and close on 3 May 2022. More details, including information for carers, are available at sa.gov.

New agency staffing portal

DCP launched its new Agency Staffing Portal last month. It provides agency staff working in DCP Residential Care access to the same documents used by DCP staff that are critical to ensure safe, consistent and effective practice when working with children and young people in DCP Residential Care.

It’s another example of how DCP is innovating the way we work with our providers. For more information about the portal, click here.

Working with Children Checks - answering your questions

Do regular visitors to a carer household need Working with Children Checks? And who is considered a regular household visitor? You’ve flagged that these are some of the most common questions carers ask about on this topic, and we’ve compiled answers to these questions, and more here.

MOCKINGBIRD program providing more support for carers

A second MOCKINGBIRD FAMILY^TM Constellation will soon be established in Adelaide’s north-east, uniting up to 10 foster carer homes and providing connection, information, training and emotional support.

Learn more about this program and how DCP is partnering with Life Without Barriers, here.

The Life Without Barriers team with southern suburbs carer and Home Hub provider Kristy Smith (second from left).

Treatment Foster Care Oregon Adolescent carers recruited

The first carers to take part in the Treatment Foster Care Oregon Adolescent (TFCO-A) pilot program have been recruited and received specialised training to help create better outcomes for young people in care.

Read the full story on the department’s website.

Aboriginal Kinship Care program update

Since the Aboriginal Kinship Care Pilot Program began in June 2020, three Aboriginal Community Controlled organisations (ACCOs) engaged by the Department for Child Protection to deliver the program have successfully supported more than 100 kinship carers to care for 170 Aboriginal children.

To find out more visit DCP's website.

DCP award winners Annette Groat (left) and Shalini McCarthy (second from right) with DCP Chief Executive Cathy Taylor and Department of the Premier and Cabinet Chief Executive Nick Reade.

DCP's receives two gongs at 2021 Premier's Excellence Awards

The Department for Child Protection was a major winner at the 2021 Premier's Excellence Awards, taking home two of the eight awards.

Discover more about our winners here.

Update on Safe and Supported: the National Framework

You may recall in December 2021, the release of Safe & Supported: the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2021-2031. The Framework aims to ensure that children and young people in Australia have the right to grow up safe and supported, in nurturing and culturally appropriate environments.

To read the full story, visit DCP's website.

Children and young people in care with a NDIS plane

The DCP Disability and Development Services (DDS) Program plays an important role in supporting children and young people in care’s access to specialist disability supports through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The DDS Program have been grateful to our partners who have reached out to discuss the supports they offer through the NDIS. We encourage our partners to continue these important discussions, and to chat about the best way to support children and young people in care with disability and developmental delay.

If you would like to connect to discuss your organisation’s NDIS services, please feel free to make contact with Cassie Bouyer-Sanderson, Manager Strategic Relations. You can find out more about the NDIS and children and young people in care here.

Issue 3 of DCP's carer newsletter out now

Stay up-to-date with what carers are reading in Issue 3 of DCP’s Caring Together. In this issue we look at the Statement of Commitment, how DCP staff are using it and tips for carers.

There is also information on Working with Children Checks, and early childhood support initiatives and new resource webpages for carers. Lots more inside!

Expansion of the DCP School Scholarships Program

With the beginning of the 2022 school year, we wanted to provide an update on the DCP School Scholarships Program and its ongoing expansion.

For more details, visit the department’s website.

CREATE's Caseworker Awards

CREATE has recently opened applications for its Case Worker Awards, which will be presented during the 2022 CREATE Foundation Voices in Action conference, 26 to 29 April 2022.

These awards recognise caseworkers for going above and beyond for children and young people with a care experience. Agencies are encouraged to nominate a caseworker and help young people to do the same.

For all the information, visit CREATE Caseworker Awards.

Leadership appointments and farewells across the sector

Meet Baptist Care’s new CEO

Shane Austin has taken on the role of Baptist Care SA’s new CEO after holding senior executive roles for more than 15 years in specialist homelessness services, community housing, cross-cultural international development and social justice philanthropy.

Shane takes the reigns from former CEO Graham Brown.

Read more about Shane Austin’s appointment here.

To find out more, visit Minda’s website here.

Minda announces its new CEO

Dr David Panter is Minda’s new Chief Executive Officer, bringing with him more than four decades of experience in health, community and social welfare services in Australia and the UK.

Dr Panter took over the reins in January from previous CEO Kym Shreeve.

Centacare appoints Leanne Haddad to key role

Leanne Haddad has been appointed Deputy Director at Centacare.

Leanne joined Centacare in 2017 and most recently held the title of Children’s Services Unit (CSU) Executive Manager where she oversaw a range of metropolitan regional-based programs including foster care and reunification support services.

See Centacare’s announcement here.

CREATE Foundation seeking new State Co-ordinator

CREATE’s SA State Co-ordinator, Amy Duke, has left the organisation after almost three years of representing the voices of children and young people with an out-of-home care experience. Amy will, however, continue doing this vital work in her new role with Anglicare SA’s Post Care Program.

CREATE are currently recruiting a new SA State Co-ordinator.

Do you have a new executive appointment you’d like us to share? Or, would you like to bid farewell to an executive who has made a significant contribution to the child protection sector in South Australia?

Let us know at DCPCommunications@sa.gov.au.

Upcoming events

Create Voices in Action Conference

In DCP, conversations about what’s important to South Australian children and young people in care are happening all the time. That’s why we jumped at the chance to become a sponsor of the 2022 CREATE Foundation Voices in Action conference scheduled to be held online from 26 to 29 April 2022.

Learn more here.

Save the date for the SA Child Protection Awards

The second SA Child Protection Awards will be held on 6 September 2022. We will continue to keep you posted with updates as plans progress. In the meantime, you can find out more about the first-ever awards, held last year, and the deserving winners here.

How to contribute to Partner

We are keen to hear from you

Partner is a great platform for us to collaborate and share learnings, innovation and best practice. Partner can showcase the great work that happens every day.

If you have an article you would like to share with your sector colleagues, contact DCPCommunications@sa.gov.au.