Child Protection

In reply to Ms SANDERSON (Adelaide) (9 March 2016).

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Minister for Education and Child Development, Minister for Higher Education and Skills): I have been advised:

As at 15 March 2016, 164 children currently living in residential care have been identified as being in a continuous residential care placement for 18 months or more.

The government is actively working to increase the number of children placed in family based out-of-home care.

The government has announced a commitment of $9 million per annum over the next three years to recruit an additional 130 foster carers in South Australia. This funding will go towards implementing initiatives to assess and support, as well as increase the number of foster carers.

These initiatives are also expected to improve outcomes for children in care by transferring children from non-family based care accommodation into home-based foster care.