Mount Gambier support worker shines a spotlight on severe resource crisis affecting vulnerable South East kids

One of the state’s largest regions is struggling to find homes for vulnerable children and underage mums as a support worker shines a spotlight on the lack of resources.

Severe under-resourcing across the Limestone Coast is leaving vulnerable and at-risk children behind with fears young mums could be separated from their children by child protection officers.

It comes after a support worker revealed the disparity between metropolitan and regional services at the Country Cabinet Community Forum in Mount Gambier last week.

Jaala Ashworth highlighted a lack of “carers, agencies and housing for children that have been put into guardianship orders”.

Ms Ashworth said it had led to underage mothers being separated from their newborns.

A newborn infant shortly after birth. Picture: File

“Like many things, the city is better funded than the country,” she said.

In metro regions, Ms Ashworth said there was housing available for underage mothers who do not have a safe environment to raise their babies.

Support worker Jaala Ashworth says child protection services in the Limestone Coast are severely under-resourced. Picture: Arj Ganesan

“If we get a pregnant teen, if they don’t have the parents to help them with it, then the baby will be removed from the mother,” she said.

Children can be taken if a teen’s family structure is not healthy, if there is evidence of substance abuse or if housing is inadequate.

Child Protection Minister Katrine Hildyard. Picture: Emma Brasier

Child Protection Minister Katrine Hildyard has pledged to listen to the carers and support workers.

“It is crucial that the voices of children and young people, their families, carers and those who work to support them are heard and acted upon,” Ms Hildyard said.

“In the recent State Budget, we announced an additional $128.9m for child protection services, some of which will support the Limestone Coast.

“I held several forums with these groups, to deeply listen to their needs and the specific issues of importance to the Limestone Coast community.”

Ms Ashworth said the lack of available houses in the region also meant children who were placed under guardianship had to “hop around” before finding long-term safe housing.

Given the rental crisis gripping Mount Gambier, Ms Ashworth said government intervention was needed to specifically buy or build houses for vulnerable children.

“We’ve got such a shortage of houses, that even when a child has been flagged as needing to be removed, there’s nowhere to go (for the child and parent) — there’s a waiting period or limbo,” she said.

Ms Ashworth said child protection officers were dedicated and committed, but also “overloaded with too many cases to manage”.

“They (the government) need to invest more into the local people here,” she said.

“It’s certainly not for lack of work locally. It’s just literally a lack of resources.”