An annual review of a child’s circumstances is required by law when a child is under the long-term guardianship of the Minister for Education and Child Development. It is a ‘pause’ in the day to day business of parenting a child who is in care. It is a time for reflecting on the goals and ambitions, achievements and challenges for each child or young person. It is sometimes the one time in a year when the many adults in a child’s life can confer on whether they can ‘parent’ better.
The Office of the Guardian for Children and Young People attends some of the reviews as part of its monitoring function and to advocate for improved outcomes. It is an external audit process that provides feedback to the child protection agency on the circumstances for children and the quality of the casework service.
In 2012-13 the Office audited 174 reviews at 16 Families SA offices, or 8.4 per cent[1] of the reviews which were to be conducted in that year.
Read the Audit of Annual Reviews Report 2012-13
or the summary infographic.
1As of June 2012 there were 2 072 children and young people under long-term guardianship orders, (data provided by Families SA).
