Child neglect leading cause of Adelaide family interventions

One in three kids are reported to SA child protection authorities, the minister says, as new figures reveal the main reason social workers step in.

Neglect is by far the most common reason child protection authorities become involved with South Australian families, new figures reveal.

Frontline workers are entering homes every day where fridges are empty, rooms are cold and children have no toys to play with.

And they say mental health and drug and alcohol issues are the main factors which contribute to the neglect of children.

The death of six-year-old Munno Para girl Charlie – her mother Crystal Nowland has been at the centre of a police investigation this week into the cause of her death – has sparked debate about the level of support available to struggling families.

Ms Nowland maintains Charlie was always adequately fed and cared for, but she did not know her daughter had coeliac disease until after her death. Neighbours also spoke strongly in support of Ms Nowland.

Crystal Nowland mother of deceased six year old girl Charlie, pictured with supportive friends Meegan Cox and Reannett Bini. Picture: Tom Huntley

Figures released to The Advertiser by the Child Protection Department show two-thirds of cases have neglect or emotional abuse as the main reason for notification.

“Neglect can present in multiple forms (and) staff are trained to identify abuse and neglect when working with vulnerable families in the community,” deputy chief executive Fiona Ward said.

Centacare helps 400 families each year through its Intensive Family Services Restore program and deputy director Leanne Haddad said serious neglect was a concern in at least 70 per cent of those cases.

“It’s more common than people think,” Ms Haddad said.

“We have some suburbs in the north and south, and pockets in the west, where it isn’t uncommon to have families living in impoverished homes that can lead to serious neglect.

“Poverty is at the core of it, not having the funds to have the basics in the household … hygiene, bedding, food.

Charlie, 6. Picture: Supplied

Charlie, 6. Picture: Supplied

“It can range from hoarding to sparsely furnished homes, they’re often cold, there’s not a lot in the fridge, there’s not a lot of toys or books in these homes, the children don’t have school uniforms.

“They’re eating take out, two minute noodles, bread and vegemite. The chances of them getting the fresh fruit and veg or the three meals a day are low.”

While these environments were concerning, Ms Haddad said removal of children was always a last resort. Instead, she said early support could turn things around.

The state government funds the Restore program and Ms Haddad said it had made more money available in the first six months of this year to help Centacare cover the costs of food, school supplies or medical appointments for children.

“We’ve had a lot of success in keeping families together,” she said.

However, the “demand for these types of services far outweighs supply”.

Minister for Child Protection Katrine Hildyard. Picture NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier.

Some families also did not have access to the internet or understand how to apply for support, and could only join programs like Restore if they were referred by a government agency.

Child Protection Minister Katrine Hildyard said latest research showed one in three children “have some sort of notification (to child protection authorities) at some point in their lives”.

“There is that absolutely shocking, unacceptable volume of families who are struggling. There are many families that I worry about,” she said.

“As I’ve learned about what (Charlie’s) family was going through I feel deeply saddened. I am going to do everything in my power to improve the system.”