Activity details
The Department for Child Protection (DCP) is delivering a whole-of-system response to the issue of over-representation of Aboriginal children in the child protection system, which includes aligning and implementing reform activity across key agendas. This will occur through the development of a jurisdictional plan, overseen by the Child Protection Sub Committee (under the South Australian Partnership on Closing the Gap) which is co-chaired by DCP and the South Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation Network (SAACCON).
As work progresses, the significant intersections between Closing the Gap Targets 12 and 13 will be considered as to how these systems can better work together to reduce siloing and keep Aboriginal families safe and together.
Implementation progress update
The Child Protection Sub Committee was established in March 2025 with governance agreements characterised by shared decision-making principles and equal membership of government and Aboriginal leadership. The Child Protection Sub Committee will drive reforms across several priority areas, including strengthening Aboriginal leadership in decision making and service delivery in the child protection and family support system and building workforce capacity. It will also cover ensuring investment in early, targeted and culturally safe supports for Aboriginal children and families which reduce the need for statutory intervention, and strengthening data transparency to support accountability and policy effectiveness.
The Child Protection Sub Committee has agreed that the jurisdictional plan will sequence and prioritise commitments for achieving Target 12, capture deliverables and timeframes, and identify achievable and collaborative priorities.
More information
- Learn about the National Plan to End Violence against women and children 2022-2032.
- Read the First Action Plan 2023-2027.
- Browse the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan update.