Families SA to be separated from Education Department on recommendation of Nyland Royal Commission

CHILD protection agency Families SA will be split from the Education Department and run by a new chief executive in a shake-up which will see education boss Tony Harrison take up a new role.

• RESHUFFLE: Major shake-up of State Government chief executives
• INACTIVE: Royal Commission hears carers reported sexualised behaviour by two girls
• DEVIANT: Chance ‘wasted’ to catch Families SA paedophile Shannon McCoole
• McCOOLE: Families SA paedophile testifies to the Royal Commission

CHILD protection agency Families SA will be split from the Education Department and run by a new chief executive with “established credibility” in the field.

Royal Commissioner Margaret Nyland released an interim recommendation this morning, calling on the State Government to create a new child protection department and recruit a chief executive with “established credibility” in the sector.

Premier Jay Weatherill immediately accepted the recommendation and revealed an international recruitment process has begun.

He has also announced a major reshuffle of State Government chief executives, which has seen education boss Tony Harrison moved to take charge of the Communities and Social Inclusion department.

Today, Mr Weatherill conceded that merging Families SA with the wider Education Department had not improved outcomes for children.

“It was my idea, I put it in place and it hasn’t worked,” he said.

Premier Jay Weatherill speaks to the media today. Pic: Tricia Watkinson.

He said the announcement would force a ministerial reshuffle in the longer term to appoint a dedicated Child Protection Minister.

However, that person could hold other portfolios, he said.

Mr Weatherill reiterated that there would be more money in next month’s state Budget for child protection services but would not say how much.

He said the recommendations by Ms Nyland were the “best hope for a new start” for the sector.

The Liberal Opposition has long called for the agency to be split from the department but Mr Weatherill has stridently opposed the separation.

Former Supreme Court Justice Nyland is due to hand down her full final report into reform of the state’s child protection system on August 5.

In a statement she said she had released this interim recommendation “to enable to South Australian Government to take immediate steps to process the changes required to make this happen”.

Former Education Department CEO Tony Harrison has been moved to Communities and Social Inclusion.

“This is not just a change of departmental location but rather a committed, serious and profound shift in leadership and culture,” she said.

Mr Weatherill said that, at the time of establishing the Royal Commission, he was “more than happy for the question of departmental structures to be explored”.

“Implementing this recommendation ahead of receiving the final report will allow us to have the

agency better placed to deliver on the important reforms that will be required,” he said.

Opposition Leader Steven Marshall said the new Child Protection Minister should not be distracted by having responsibility for multiple other portfolios.

He also warned the new chief executive position must not be “a job for a Labor mate”.

Mr Marshall said it had been “a profound mistake” to merge Families SA with the Education Department in the first place.

“Commissioner Nyland’s findings that child protection is in crisis in South Australia confirm the magnitude of this error,” he said.

The union representing the Families SA agency staff said the establishment of a new department was the first of many steps to fix the “flawed’’ child protection system.

Public Service Association general secretary Nev Kitchin said the agency had been “bereft of real leadership’’ as it lurched from “crisis to crisis’’.

While welcoming the agency overhaul, Mr Kitchin called on the Government to “ensure the mistakes of its predecessor are not repeated’’.

Following the announcement, Mr Weatherill met with Belinda Valentine, the grandmother of Chloe Valentine, 4, who died in 2012 in the care of her neglectful mother and her then partner.

Child Protection Royal Comissioner Margaret Nyland.

Ms Valentine has been an outspoken advocate for child welfare since.

She welcomed Ms Nyland’s recommendation, saying she hoped it would focus “tunnel vision” on improving child protection.

Ms Valentine said the meeting at Parliament House was “productive” and she had urged Mr Weatherill to implement the changes as quickly as possible.

“I think they’ve been working behind the scenes. Let’s really focus on moving forward,” she said.

State president of the Australian Education Union, Howard Spreadbury, said the AEU had been calling for the separation of the two departments “for some time”.

“We’re very pleased with this outcome,” Mr Spreadbury said.

“Virtually from the get go our members in schools were expressing the view education was becoming a secondary consideration of the department.

“The new chief executive (Rick Persse) seems to have a varied and experienced background and we look forward to working with him.”

SA primary principals association (SAPPA) president, Pam Kent, welcomed the recommendation of the Royal Commission to split DECD from Families SA.

“While we acknowledge the intent behind the original shift of combining them we really believe the DECD is a massive department that needs very strong focus,” she said.

“And given the focus of those terribly sad and horrible child abuse cases that just hasn’t been the case.”

SA secondary principals association president Peter Mader said his organisation “commended” the Government’s response to Justice Nyland’s interim recommendations.

“The Premier has made the most out of very difficult circumstances,” he said.

“Educators will now have a department more focused on building the skill and knowledge base of the state’s children and young people, and improving their wellbeing so as to optimise that learning.”

Sources inside DECD said Mr Harrison had made it known he was “invested” in continuing his role within the department

AnglicareSA CEO Peter Sandeman welcomed the split, saying a new CEO dedicated to protecting vulnerable children would ensure child protection received the full attention it required.

“The previous structure did not fully support this role and today’s announcement shows a commitment to improving a system that had to be changed,” he said.

Under the Premier’s shake-up of chief executives today, the Attorney-General’s department chief executive Rick Persse has been appointed head of the troubled Department for Education and Child Development, which was overseeing Families SA.

Jos Mazel has moved from Communities and Social Inclusion to head up the Government’s new French engagement strategy.

The current Attorney-General’s department deputy Caroline Mealor steps up to acting chief.

MORE TO COME