$3.3m investment strengthens family-based care in South Australia

The Malinauskas Government has announced an additional $3.3 million to expand two programs that support family-based care for children and young people, helping to divert them from residential placements and strengthen connections to kin and community.

The Finding Families and Additionally Approved Carers programs are receiving fresh investment through the South Australian State Budget, extending the reach of social workers and support teams working to place children in safe, stable family environments.

According to a statement released on 10 July 2025, the Finding Families program focuses on connecting children with extended family members through targeted outreach and engagement. Since its inception, the program has supported 115 children into stable placements, including 39 Aboriginal children. Of those placed, 81 are aged 10 years or younger.

The pilot, which began as a 12-month initiative, has now been extended for another year to allow for continued evaluation and exploration of sustainable family-based models.

The Additionally Approved Carers program, which supports kinship carers in extending care to unrelated children, has also grown significantly. Since January 2024, it has provided over 6,000 nights of care – an increase from around 4,000 just four months ago.

The program identifies existing kinship carers with the capacity and willingness to provide emergency, respite or short-term care, particularly in cases where children might otherwise enter residential settings. It has also helped foster informal communities of carers who support each other through shared respite arrangements.

The $3.3 million budget allocation was accompanied by further investments, including $2 million for six new staff to support the state’s Child Abuse Report Line, and $14.9 million for the KidSafe Connect digital transformation project.

South Australian Minister for Child Protection Katrine Hildyard said the new investment is designed to support innovation in family-based care.

“Children and young people dealing with really complex issues deserve for us to constantly explore and evaluate new ways to help them safely live in family environments.

“When it comes to the protection of the children who most need us, we know there is more to do but this investment, and our ongoing reform, are, pleasingly, beginning to show promising results.”

Ms Hildyard also expressed gratitude to carers for their commitment and generosity, adding:

“I am very grateful to the carers who open their homes and hearts and selflessly dedicate themselves to supporting young people and giving them opportunities to thrive now and into the future.”

Read the full media statement here.