House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-03-09 Daily Xml

Contents

Child Protection Case Management System

Mr TEAGUE (Heysen) (14:29): My question is to the Minister for Child Protection. Was the Child Protection Case Management System unavailable last week and, if so, can the minister outline for how long, how many staff could not access the system and the actions the minister is taking in response?

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD (Reynell—Minister for Child Protection, Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:30): I thank the member for the question. What I can say is that users of the Connected Client Case Management System (C3MS) in Child Protection has experienced some functionality issues. I have been advised that the department is working really hard with the external vendor on the issues and that remedial action has been undertaken to improve system performance, including memory upgrades, server checks and data migrations.

I can also say that the department has really strong business continuity processes in place to work around any disruptions to the system and that important and new information is recorded in really secure ways. I take this opportunity to thank the incredibly dedicated Department for Child Protection staff who are working really hard, as they always do, to ensure that records are up to date, and also to ensure that the safety of children and young people remains a priority.

What I can also say is that our government is developing a very detailed business case for an improved case management system for Child Protection. That work is progressing as it should be. What I can also say is that, sadly, those opposite, despite being highly attuned to these issues, highly aware of these issues—in fact, despite those opposite actually speaking in this house about those issues with the system—unfortunately no work on a business case was undertaken, no work to begin to remedy those issues was undertaken—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Morialta!

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: In contrast—

The Hon. B.I. Boyer interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Wright!

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: —I am getting—

The Hon. J.A.W. Gardner interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Morialta!

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: —on with the job, as is the department. We are getting on with the job—

Ms Pratt interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Frome!

The Hon. K.A. HILDYARD: —of developing that business case for system improvement, and that development is progressing really well. Obviously, we need that to be a very deep look at the system. That work is continuing and we will continue to progress it, as we should.