Family member left in the dark after Education Department failed to check spam

The Education Department didn’t answer a man’s worried email about his nephew for months – because he used a Hotmail address.

Multiple people have had their emails left unanswered for months after the state Education Department failed to check its spam folder.

The department revealed it had received six emails relating to five South Australian children and one interstate child in March 2022, but they were left unanswered due to landing in the wrong inbox.

One local man, who did not want his name used, told The Advertiser he sent an email to the department on March 1 regarding his nephew’s school attendance but never received a response until June 30.

“I was concerned he was not attending school and asked them to investigate,” he said.

“Shockingly I received an email today (June 30) advising me they just got my email due to a computer glitch.”

The department told the man system changes had resulted in emails sent from Hotmail accounts being directed to its spam folder.

The man said he was worried other messages, which may have pertained to serious incidents, had also been “junk boxed”.

“I am disgusted that a department responsible for the welfare of children does not check a junk inbox for reports,” he said.

The department said the issues raised in the six emails varied in seriousness. One was regarding a custody order and requested legal advice.

All the emails came from Hotmail accounts and have now been acted upon by the department.

The department said the junk mail issue had been resolved.

Originally published as Family member left in the dark after Education Department failed to check spam