2025 State Budget

State Budget Update
Connecting Foster & Kinship Carers SA (CF&KC-SA) attended the State Budget lock-in at the Adelaide Convention Centre last Thursday 5th June. It was reported the state government would target funding into the child protection system, approximately $64.7 million for the 2025/26 FY alone. The government will continue to fund Finding Families and the Additionally Approved Care Program, in addition to more FTE for the CARL service.

We at the peak body are deeply concerned, and disappointed, there was no commitment to increased carer support payments—the top systemic issue raised by carers across South Australia.

With 3 in 4 carers reporting that current payments do not cover the full cost of care, we are renewing our call for meaningful reform to carer remuneration—including cost-of-living indexation and policy development grounded in carers’ direct experiences and their retention.

“New programs and commitments are important, but they cannot succeed without retaining and properly supporting the carers who are already providing safe, stable, and loving homes for South Australian children and young people.”
– Fiona Endacott, CEO CF&KC-SA

The future of family-based care in SA relies on respecting, supporting, and working in genuine partnership with foster and kinship carers.

CF&KC-SA will continue to advocate for the thousands of dedicated foster and kinship carers across the state—because retention matters.

A detailed summary will be provided to our membership shortly.

Access the SA 2025/26 Budget papers here:
https://www.statebudget.sa.gov.au/budget-papers

Click here to access our media release following the budget announcement.