Answers to Questions

FAMILIES SA

In reply to the Hon. R.I. LUCAS (13 June 2012).

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers): The Minister for Education and Child Development has been advised:

Families SA is required under Section 38 (2) of the Children's Protection Act 1993 to ensure that there is 'no parent, able, willing and available to provide adequate care and protection for the child'. For these reasons, from time to time, Families SA makes contact with individuals who have been identified as possible biological parents who may not be aware there are safety and wellbeing concerns for their child or children.

These processes seek to ensure both parents of children are aware that their child may require alternative care. The last thing we would want is a situation where a child was taken into alternative care and the second parent is unaware and may have been able to provide a loving, stable home.

In this particular instance, it should be noted that three letters not ten were sent out. Families SA does not keep data on these types of requests as they form part of standard case management practices. I am advised these are long-standing practices, operational for decades under both Labor and Liberal Governments.