Foster Carers

749 Ms STINSON (Badcoe) (14 May 2019). Has the entry of new foster carers into the child protection system met the demand of rising numbers of children in the child protection system since 1 April 2018? If not, what is the gap in supply of foster carers and demand of children in care? If so, what is the surplus?

The Hon. R. SANDERSON (Adelaide—Minister for Child Protection): I have been advised:

The Department for Child Protection (DCP) is working to increase the number of children and young people placed within family-based care placement options. This is not solely limited to the placement of children or young people in foster carer placements.

While the rate at which children are entering the care system is growing, DCP continues to increase the proportion placed in family based care, which reached 85.7 per cent as at 30 April 2019. The placement of a child or young person is a process of negotiation between meeting the needs of the child and the capacity of the placement options available. Considerations of ensuring the child or young person has a connection to culture and their community can also affect this process.