The Department for Families and Communities (DFC) is now the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI). Families SA, including the child protection and family support functions, is now part of the new Department for Education and Child Development. Youth Justice remains with DCSI and the Department now includes Multicultural SA, Northern Connections, Office for the Southern Suburbs, Office for Volunteers, Office for Women, Office for Youth and Social Inclusion. Contact details for these offices are available on the Contacts page.

The department is currently reviewing its online information and updates are in progress. Departmental information can still be found using the search function on this site. For more information about South Australian government services please visit www.sa.gov.au.

Parents whose children are in care

Last Updated Jul 2011

For information about why and how your child might have come into care, and the kinds of authorities and orders that may apply, see the section How children come into care.

For information about what to do if a child protection case involving you and your child is going to the Youth Court, see Birth parents and the Youth Court.

Your rights and responsibilities as birth parents

You have the right to be informed about where your child is placed and how your child is being cared for. The only time this won’t happen is if it is not in the best interests of your child to do so. If this is the case, you will be told this and be able to talk about the decision with your child’s social worker.

Our staff and alternative care service providers will work together to ensure that children and young people who need to spend time in alternative care, maintain contact with their family.

Who to talk to in Families SA

You will need to speak with your child’s social worker in the first instance. It is important that you and your child’s social worker can work together to solve any problems.