Representatives from government and non-government agencies, Aboriginal-led organisations, universities, peak and oversight bodies, as well as carers and young people, explored ideas to elevate child protection as a career of choice and best meet the changing needs of the sector going forward.

The conversations held as part of the summit will be formalised through the development of a Workforce Strategy for the broader child protection sector.

Workforce development is one of the most critical challenges facing the broader human services sector, which includes child protection, disability, ageing and health.

Development of a national approach to building a skilled and sustainable child and family services workforce was recently agreed, as part of Safe and Supported, the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children.

Drawing on the national framework, the major shift to Aboriginal-led services for Aboriginal children and families will be a fundamental factor in the thinking about the future of the South Australian child protection workforce.

Quotes attributable to Katrine Hildyard, Minister for Child Protection

Children and their families are facing increasingly complex and deeply interconnected issues.

To give children and young people the best chance of growing up safe, loved, cared for and empowered to physically, mentally and emotionally thrive, the delivery of child protection services must contemplate this complexity and be strong, skilled, culturally safe and accountable.

Our child protection system needs to work closely with universities and training sectors to develop a pipeline of multi-disciplinary workers, with skills tailored to the needs of children and families.

I am grateful to the many summit attendees whose diverse perspectives will be crucial as we work to develop the child protection workforce for the future.

Quotes attributable to Debra Buckskin, SA Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation Network co-convenor and Senior Advisor Aboriginal Services, Baptist Care SA

Wherever our children lay their head they must be surrounded by culture and protected by community and ancestors.

A united workforce across the sector can only strengthen the outcomes for our children and young people.