The latest Report on Government Services data reveals concerning trends in South Australia’s child protection system, with nearly $1 billion spent annually, primarily on out-of-home care, while investment in family support and early intervention remains insufficient. 

Despite efforts to improve, too many children are removed from their families, with Aboriginal children disproportionately affected, making up 39% of those in care but only 5.5% of the child population. One in 25 children in care has experienced abuse or neglect while in the system, raising concerns about safety and outcomes. 

This briefing paper examines these trends and advocates for shifting resources toward prevention, keeping families together whenever possible.

Key findings

• South Australia (SA) spends nearly $1 billion annually on child protection services and expenditure has increased every year since 2019-2020.
• Most spending is allocated to out of home care and supported placements (with 60% of spending on residential care services).
• SA spends more per child than every other state (excluding the Northern Territory).
• Of the nearly 40,000 notifications to the Department for Child Protection in 2023-24, 9% were substantiated.
• 12 out of every 1000 SA children were in out of home care in 2023-24.
• Half of children in out of home care were in the care of relatives/kinship carers.
• Children in residential care represent 17% of all children in out-of-home care.