The department is committed to listening and responding to your concerns.

Information: If you live in residential care, refer to the process for making a complaint for children in care.

How to make a complaint

Step 1

Discuss your complaint with your caseworker at your local DCP office. Our aim is to resolve issues at the local level. A conversation with your caseworker can help clarify your concerns.

Step 2

If you have tried to resolve your concerns but are dissatisfied with the outcome, speak with the Supervisor or Office Manager at your local DCP office.

Step 3

If your complaint cannot be resolved, contact the Complaints and Feedback Management Unit by either:

  • completing the online complaints form (external site)
    Choose Child protection from the 'My complaint or feedback is about' menu.
  • phoning the Complaints and Feedback Management Unit on 1800 003 305
  • printing and completing the complaints form, then sending it to:

    Complaints and Feedback Management Unit
    Department for Child Protection
    GPO Box 1072
    Adelaide SA 5001

Complaints about contact arrangements

If you don't agree with your contact arrangements (PDF, 234.9 KB), you can:

  • Speak with your caseworker first - they will try and resolve your concerns with you, or
  • Raise your concerns with the DCP Office Manager.

If you are still unhappy with the arrangements, you have the right to apply to the Contact Arrangements Review Panel.

The panel provides an opportunity for contact arrangements to be reviewed.

To apply for a review by the panel, phone 1800 003 305.

Disclosing public interest information

The Public Interest Disclosure Act 2018 (PID Act) commenced on July 1, 2019, replacing the Whistleblowers Protection Act 1993 (WP Act).

The public interest disclosure procedure  (PDF, 352.9 KB)sets out the process for:

  • any person who wants to make an appropriate disclosure of public interest information concerning a DCP employee or DCP
  • any employee of DCP in dealing with any such appropriate disclosure.

To make a disclosure, email DCPPublicInterestDisclosure@sa.gov.au.

What to do if you are not satisfied with our response

If you are unhappy with the outcome after following the process above, you have the right to refer matters to the Ombudsman.

Ombudsman SA

Phone: 1800 182 150
Email: ombudsman@ombudsman.sa.gov.au
Website: www.ombudsman.sa.gov.au (external site)

Office of the Guardian for Children and Young People

If you are a child or young person under the guardianship of the Chief Executive, you can also contact the Guardian's office.

Phone: 8226 8570 or 1800 275 664
Email: gcyp@gcyp.sa.gov.au
Website: www.gcyp.sa.gov.au (external site)

DCP Complaints and Feedback Policy and Procedure

DCP Complaints Feedback Management Policy (PDF 814KB)

DCP Complaints Feedback Management Procedure (PDF 1MB)

Contact

Complaints and Feedback Management Unit

Department for Child Protection
GPO Box 1072
Adelaide SA 5001

Phone: 1800 003 305