\u201cThe problems besetting Families SA and the child protection system proved to be far greater than anyone had initially envisaged,\u201d Royal Commissioner Margaret Nyland wrote in her 850-page report released on Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe greatest challenge was trying to find a way to fix a system in disarray.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the outset of this Commission it was obvious that workers undertaking the difficult business of child protection felt undervalued, under-resourced and overwhelmed by a system which lacked the capacity to respond appropriately to children in need of care and protection.<\/p>\n
\u201cRegrettably, there is no quick fix,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n
Premier Jay Weatherill has allocated $200 million to implement changes suggested Ms Nyland and says his government accepts \u201cfull responsibility for the failings of the state\u2019s child protection system\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe failed to protect the children left in the care of Shannon McCoole,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe failed in our responsibility to keep these and other children safe from harm.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am sorry for failing in this most fundamental duty to the children in our care.\u201d<\/p>\n
When the grandmother of Chloe Valentine, Belinda Valentine, joined David and Will on Monday\u2019s FIVEAA breakfast show, she said she hoped the commission\u2019s findings would trigger \u201cfundamental change\u201d in child protection in SA.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we really need is some positive, productive, long-term change for the most vulnerable kids in our state.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot just a new name, a new brand and business as usual,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n