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Contacts

Families SA

Last Updated May 2011

Level 7, 108 North Terrace
Adelaide SA 5000
General enquiries: 8124 4185
Customer information: 8226 6735
Customer service helpline: 8226 6930 or 1800 003 305
Foster carers helpline: 1300 134 043
Email: customer.families@dfc.sa.gov.au
This email address should not be used to report child abuse and neglect.  To report child abuse and neglect, ring the Child Abuse Report Line on 131 478.  This is a 24 hour service.  For more information see Protecting children.

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Home » Families and young people » Children in care
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.

 

How children come into care

Last Updated Jul 2011

In cases where serious abuse or neglect has occurred, or parents/caregivers cannot guarantee the safety of their child, it may not be possible for children to return to their parents and long-term foster care may be needed until they turn 18 years of age.

In some instances a parent will choose for their child to be taken into care for a short period of time while issues in the home are addressed.

The decision to remove a child or young person from his or her home environment is not an easy one. Families SA must have sufficient evidence to satisfy the Youth Court that it is in the best interests of the child. It is the Youth Court who makes the decision.

Find out more about what happens if you or a child in your care has been reported about a child protection matter.

To find out about the formal mechanisms to take a child into care see Types of orders and authorities.
For more information about what happens when a case involving you and your child is taken to the Youth Court see Birth parents and the Youth Court. To find out more about the Youth court you can visit the Youth Court page on the Courts website (this will take you away from the DFC site).