Are We Getting Better at This?

Abstract

In this chapter, Musgrove and Michell use the state of South Australia as a case study for assessing the current state of out of home care, and foster care specifically. The chapter argues that despite formal apologies to care leavers, and formal inquiries into the abuse of foster children in both the past and present, child protection is still plagued by problems. It traces the state’s retreat from traditional foster care in favour of kinship care and models of permanent care, engaging with the views of current carers on the desirability and viability of changes. To conclude, the chapter looks at outcomes, particularly with respect to education, recognising the value of the small but growing number of targeted supports for care leavers to attend university.