Welcome

Office of the Guardian for Children and Young People

Hi there!
This is a place you can

Get Help

Here you’ll find out how we, or other organisations, can help you.

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We help children and young people who are living in kinship care, foster care, residential care or who are held in youth detention in South Australia.

Our Advocates will stand up for children and young people’s rights and help them be heard when they’re facing problems in care or detention. 

We do this by speaking to their social worker, department workers, or the Minister.

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If your life or someone else’s life is in immediate danger, call 000.

If you’re needing urgent after-hours support from your department for child protection social worker, call 13 16 11.

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What is an Advocate?

An Advocate is someone who listens to you, and makes sure your voice is heard.

They stand up for your rights. These are protections that should be followed by the people who look after you so you can grow up happy, healthy and safe.

They are things like safety, seeing your family and friends, going to school, having fun, doing things you love or being connected with your culture or following your religion. 

You can find more about these rights in care here, or in youth detention here.

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Kids call us when:

They're worried about where they live or the people they live with.
They're worried they're missing too much school.
They want to see family or friends.
They didn't agree with a decision made about them by a social worker or carer.
They’re about to turn 18 and are worried about the future like where they will live or supports services that can help them.

Leave a message so we can contact you

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Complaints

You can make a complaint about the Department for Child Protection via their website

You can make a complaint about the Kurlana Tapa Youth Justice Centre by contacting them directly on 8169 1444.

You can make a complaint about any government agencies or employee by contacting the SA Ombudsman.

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Support in other states

If you are in care or youth detention, but not living in South Australia, there are similar offices like ours that you can contact.

Australian Capital Territory

Children and Young People Commissioner

Phone: 02 6205 2222

Queensland

Queensland Family & Child Commission

Phone: 07 3900 6000

New South Wales

Office of the Advocate for Children and Young People

Phone: 02 9248 0970

Northern Territory

Office of The Children’s Commissioner

Phone: 08 8999 6076

Tasmania

Child Advocate – children in care

Phone: 1800 549 725

Victoria

Commission for Children and Young People

Phone: 1300 782 978

Western Australia

Advocate for Children in Care 

Phone: 1800 460 696

I have the right to be safe and well cared for.

As a child and young person in care, you have special rights. These are rules that should be followed so you can grow up happy, healthy and achieving your dreams.

If you feel that your rights are not being met, and you are not being listened to, we can help.