There are insufficient appropriate facilities in which to place children who are in state care. SouthAustralia spends 35.4 percent less than the national average per child on out-of-home care yet has the
highest per capita number of children in alternative care for a five year period or more. Most
residential care facilities have been closed, and the quality of those remaining open is inadequate and
overcrowded.
Families SA spent $270,000 per child—over $16 million in total in 2007-08—to care for a small
number of children in motel type accommodation. This is unsatisfactory. Specifically dedicated
accommodation facilities should be established to provide emergency accommodation for children at
risk. The apparent antipathy of Families SA toward residential care facilities is misguided.
