South Australia’s head of child protection has stepped down after a year in which her department has been exposed for failures in protecting the state’s young people from abuse.
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains the names of people who have died.
Premier Peter Malinauskas says Department for Child Protection chief executive Cathy Taylor has resigned effective from April 28.
Ms Taylor has been in the role since 2016.
A review released in November recommended structural changes to the Department for Child Protection and the Department for Human Services.
Another review released on the same day found that the welfare of about 500 children in the state should be checked as quickly as possible.
The review was prompted by the deaths of a seven-year-old boy, Makai, and a six-year-old girl, Charlie, in separate incidents in Adelaide’s north earlier in 2022.
On Tuesday, the government revealed checks had been carried out on about 92 per cent of the children identified as being in high-risk “settings”.
It was also revealed 60 children who had been removed from their parents or reported to authorities as at-risk had died over the past four years.
However, Ms Taylor said the number of children dying in state care had decreased since figures began being recorded 17 years ago.
She said most of the deaths were not from child neglect.
Earlier in the year, a coronial inquest found the deaths of Amber Rose Rigney, 6, and Korey Lee Mitchell, 5, at Hillier in 2016 could have been prevented if child protection authorities took a more “vigorous role” in securing their safety.
Earlier this week, the children’s grandfather Steven Egbert called for Ms Taylor to be sacked.
Mr Egbert described the Department of Child Protection as “extremely stubborn”.
“We can’t just keep making these same mistakes over and over again, unless they can accept the mistakes that have been made I just can’t see any progression being made,” he said.
In a statement, Ms Taylor said leading the department had been “one of the most rewarding periods” of her career.
“There needs to be a balance in celebrating the good work done by child protection staff as it can be incredibly difficult work,” she said.
“I know the transition to a new CE [chief executive] will build on the strengths of the department and its workforce, and I know the workforce will continue to do everything they can to ensure children and young people are safe, supported and have opportunities to thrive,” she said.
“Addressing the over-representation of Aboriginal children in the child protection system must remain the focus of all governments in Australia.”
Mr Malinauskas thanked Ms Taylor for her service and said a “global recruitment process” will begin to fill her position.
“My government has a strong commitment to ensuring the child protection system has the resources it needs to keep our children safe,” he said.
“This includes implementing recommendations made by Mal Hyde and Kate Alexander, allocating an extra $155.6 million to the department, and providing a $7.5 million funding boost in child protection grants to non-government organisations to support children and young people in care and their carers.”