More than 220 children allegedly abused in SA state care as Guardian warns of failures
Almost half of children allegedly sexually abused or exploited in state care last year were living in government-run homes under paid staff supervision, a damning new report reveals.
More than 220 children were allegedly sexually abused or exploited while living in state care last financial year, including babies too young to speak and teens harmed by peers or “opportunistic adults”.
Almost half the cases involved children who had been removed from unsafe parents and placed in state-run homes, under the watch of paid staff.
In about 40 cases children had allegedly been sexually abused by their primary caregiver.
The shocking revelations have prompted a chilling warning from Guardian for children in state care Shona Reid that “gaps in the screening, training and supervision” of child protection workers or foster carers are allowing people with “concerning histories” to care for vulnerable children.
In other cases “warning signs” about a carer or worker’s behaviour “were not acted on early enough”, Ms Reid says in her latest annual report.
When an allegation is made that a child in state care has been sexually abused or exploited the Department for Child Protection (DCP) notifies the independent Guardian’s office.
In 2024-25 Ms Reid was notified of 130 cases, involving a total 222 children.
Almost a third were young children, including infants “who cannot yet speak”.
In a quarter of cases the children involved already had a significant history of reports about their welfare.
There were 40 cases deemed “serious”, 25 deemed “moderate”, 28 deemed “minor” and 118 where DCP assessed that “no action” was needed.
However, Ms Reid’s report stresses this “does not necessarily reflect the seriousness of the allegations” but, rather, the type of response deemed “appropriate at the time the allegations are raised”.
Of the 130 cases raised last financial year, about 60 occurred in state-run homes where multiple young people live with paid workers.
Ms Reid said in some cases outside adults had exploited older teenagers which “raises questions about supervision” by workers.
In these homes there was often “high staff turnover, use of casual or agency staff and instances of staff moving between different care providers even after allegations have been made”, Ms Reid said.
She has made a series of recommendations, including a centralised tracking system or “reportable conduct scheme” to monitor all allegations, outcomes and carers involved across the system.
Anyone working with children in SA must pass a Working With Children Check, which is monitored in real-time.
There are almost 4900 children and teens living in state care – including more than 700 housed in state-run homes, about 1600 with foster carers and about 2400 with extended family.
“When the state assumes the role of parent it has an absolute duty to protect those (children’s) rights,” Ms Reid said.
The number of allegations reported to the Guardian last financial year is up from 122 in 2023-24, including 28 serious cases.
A DCP spokeswoman said reports could “relate to a wide range of sexualised behaviours” and only a “small number” of reports “once investigated, are substantiated”.
Any allegation that is “potentially criminal in nature is referred to SA Police”.
“The department ... takes seriously all care concerns and has a thorough process of investigating,” the spokeswoman said.
“Children who have previously experienced repeated family violence and trauma are highly vulnerable to child sexual exploitation, harmful sexual behaviours and relationships with peers characterised by violence.”
More Coverage
Originally published as More than 220 children allegedly abused in SA state care as Guardian warns of failures
