Allocation tells us who is responsible. Contact tells us whether a meeting happened.
What does this measure?
DCP reports all children in care had a primary caseworker allocated at 30 June 2026. The 52.5% contact figure covers that month only. It does not tell us why a meeting did not occur, whether other contact happened, or whether a child was safe.
Two major inquiries. Different scopes. Tap a year to understand what it examined.
Children in State Care Commission of Inquiry
Mullighan2008
Allegations of sexual abuse and death from criminal conduct
A guide to the report
What it examined
Historical harm. The State’s response.
The inquiry heard accounts spanning decades. Available records established that 242 people were in State care at the time of their alleged abuse.
242people
→
826allegations
Those people made 826 allegations covering the 1940s–2004. One person could report more than one allegation. The inquiry did not determine criminal or civil liability.
Mullighan recommended at least monthly face-to-face contact.
2016
Nyland repeated the expectation of monthly visits.
2026
DCP reports 52.5% had face-to-face contact in June.
The 2022 Trust in Culture review explored why recording a recommendation as implemented can differ from everyday practice. Contact frequency also involves professional judgement. Read pp. 55–56 ↗
New care-concern referrals and children involved, as reported
Year
Referrals
Children
2023–24
162
280
2024–25
130
222
Carried-over matters are excluded. The same child may appear in different years. Do not add the child counts.
Read the chart carefully
A lower count. Are children safer?
These figures alone cannot answer that.
01
They count referrals
What reaches oversight depends on reporting and which concerns enter this process.
02
They cover different lives
People and referrals are different units. Annual counts may overlap.
03
They leave questions open
We need to know what happened next—and what children experienced.
Can we compare this with Mullighan?
Not as a trend in abuse. Mullighan’s 242 people described historical experiences across decades. The Guardian’s 222 children and young people were involved in new referrals received in one year. They are different populations, time periods and measures.
These are our proposed priorities. Choose a question to explore.
Our proposed inquiry question
Can children speak and be heard?
01A safe way to speak
→
02Independent support
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03A response they understand
Examine how children’s views shape decisions. Enable safe participation by care leavers, families and carers, with culturally safe pathways developed with Aboriginal communities.
Why ask? In 138 annual reviews audited by the Guardian, 38 children attended. This was a targeted sample, not a statewide rate; absence does not prove their views were not sought elsewhere. 2024–25 report, pp. 31–33 ↗
Our proposed inquiry question
What happened after the report?
01The concern is raised
→
02Decisions are made
→
03The outcome is checked
Trace responses to alleged harm: who knew, what they did, what support was offered and whether the child became safer.
Why ask? Mullighan’s recommendation 20 sought police and Guardian notification and continuing oversight of sexual abuse allegations. Today’s referral counts raise questions about responses and outcomes. Mullighan recommendation 20 ↗
Our proposed inquiry question
Did reform change a child’s day?
01What was promised
→
02What was delivered
→
03What children experienced
Test earlier reforms against children’s safety, stability, relationships and everyday experiences.
Why ask? The Trust in Culture review used monthly caseworker contact to explore the difference between an implemented recommendation and practice. Review, pp. 55–56 ↗
Our proposed inquiry question
Who will act? By when?
01A named responsibility
→
02A public deadline
→
03An independent check
Call for clear responsibility, public progress reports and independent scrutiny of the outcomes of any new recommendations.
Our position: A new inquiry should connect findings to action people can follow. These are campaign proposals, not announced terms of reference.
The next step is yours
Ask your MP to act.
Ask them to support a new Royal Commission into child protection in South Australia—and to explain what they will do next.