Government data has revealed nearly 50 people have been charged with sexual offences against children in state care in the past two years, prompting SA's child protection watchdog to call on the government to respond more quickly when it suspects a child is at risk of sexual abuse.
South Australia's Guardian for Children says the state government needs to respond more quickly when it suspects a child in state care is at risk of sexual abuse.
The state's Guardian for Children and Young People, Shona Reid, said she was "not convinced" that the Department for Child Protection and other agencies were "paying enough attention when children are telling them that they're scared, or worried, or feeling particularly vulnerable"."That is one of the most fundamental parts that when they're removed from their parents and the state takes responsibility for their care, that they can grow up safely.
In response Minister for Child Protection Katrine Hildyard accused the opposition of playing "petty politics" and said similar incidents and attacks happened when the Liberals were in power. "There is a segment of our community that are very skilled at exploiting the vulnerability of children and young people in care and we need to better skill ourselves in being able to identify them," she said.
SA Government Child Protection Sexual Offences Department For Child Protection Minister Abuse State Care Shona Reid
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