In recent weeks, the Guardian for Children and Young People, Shona Reid has been travelling regionally to connect with children and young people in care, carers, and service providers across the north of South Australia.
“Having grown up in country areas for most of my childhood and primarily in the north of SA, I am very committed to ensuring that my oversight for children in care and detention settings is inclusive, and accurately reflects the challenges and benefits of living and growing in regional areas,” Shona said.
With fluoro puff painting, Nunga Oog hide and seek, plenty of food tasting and a cup of marshmallows (with a little bit of milo), the time with our gracious hosts at Aboriginal Family Support Services was well spent. The opportunity to connect with children and young people provides us with great insight into their experiences, and enables us to hear about what makes their time in care happy – and also what makes their time in care a challenge.
“Understanding what works and what doesn’t work about a child’s experiences in care are equally important for both individual and system advocacy. Especially when this narrative is driven and explained from the lived experience of children themselves.” said Shona
Image descriptions: Left – Georgia Murdoch and Shona Reid Fluro Painting at AFSS; Middle – Shona Reid with Michelle Haseldine and Katherine Micka from AFSS Ceduna; Right – Shona Reid with her cup of marshmallows with a little bit of milo
Ceduna Department for Child Protection (DCP) hosted the Guardian and Senior Advocate, Georgia Murdoch. This provided an important opportunity to share the work of our office, and answer questions from child protection staff about our oversight function.
Image description: Left – Georgia Murdoch at Ceduna DCP; Right – Afternoon tea with Ceduna DCP office
Whyalla and Port August were also visited in recent weeks, with an opportunity to meet and greet again with DCP staff at both locations – not only to share our work, but also hear about challenges regional child protection and out-of-home care services have. Themes relating to timely access
to therapeutic services were highlighted, along with retention and attraction of staff.
“I am constantly humbled by the ‘above and beyond’ ethos I see in carers, department staff and agency staff in country areas. Their commitment – not only to children and young people, but also to maintaining the ‘village’ despite resource challenges – is inspiring,” Shona said.
Image description: Morning tea with Whyalla DCP office
A special thanks to Centacare in Whyalla and Uniting Country SA in Port Augusta for providing an opportunity to connect one-on-one with
children and young people and their carers. These opportunities are so valuable in having currency and rich information about matters that affect them. Shona had the opportunity to talk about specific care matters, and also hear about the achievements of carers – some of whom who had been caring for nearly 40 years!
Image description: Afternoon tea with the team at Uniting Country SA
Whilst in the regional areas, the Guardian also put on her ‘Training Centre Visitor’ hat and took the opportunity with Senior Advocate,
Travis Thomas, to visit Police Cells in both Whyalla and Port Augusta. Often children and young people in youth detention talk about their time in Police Cells, and it is important for the Training Centre Visitor to connect with and understand the physical nature and processes that sit around children and young people entering those environments.
“I really appreciate both Whyalla and Port Augusta SAPOL taking me through the cells and talking with me about their concerns for children and young people within their local communities. The intersections between youth justice and child protection are significant and it is essential that my office can move between and within these sectors to provide effective and thorough oversight,” Shona said.
Shortly, Shona and members of her team will travel to Port Lincoln, Riverland and the South East before setting more time to connect again
with metro stakeholders and friends.
“I grew up in mid north and country South Australia, my heart is always in the country and I wanted to connect with regional communities in my first year as Guardian. I firmly believe that regional communities have a lot of offer children and young people. The concept ‘it takes a village’ is something I have personally experienced and continue to see as I travel. I thank my gracious country hosts for welcoming me and my colleagues!”
