Statutes Amendment (Children in Care) Bill 2023 (SA)

South Australia Statutes Amendment (Children in Care) Bill 2023 A Bill For An Act to amend the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 and the Education and Children's Services Act 2019.

Contents Part 1—Preliminary 1 Short title Part 2—Amendment of Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 2 Insertion of section 15A 15A Minister to report on educational attainment of children and young people in care Part 3—Amendment of Education and Children's Services Act 2019 3 Insertion of Part 3A Part 3A—Ministerial cooperation in relation to education of children in residential facilities 15A Annual meeting with Minister responsible for Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 15B Ministerial Report

The Parliament of South Australia enacts as follows: Part 1—Preliminary 1—Short title This Act may be cited as the Statutes Amendment (Children in Care) Act 2023.

Part 2—Amendment of Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 2—Insertion of section 15A After section 15 insert: 15A—Minister to report on educational attainment of children and young people in care (1) The Minister must, not later than 31 March in each year, cause a report to be prepared and provided to the Minister setting out— (a) statistical data detailing the educational attainments of each child or young person in care during the preceding school year; and (b) aggregated statistical data comparing the educational attainments of children and young people in care with the educational attainments of children and young people in the State generally; and (c) any emerging trends or recurring themes in relation to the educational attainments of children and young people in care; and (d) any other information required by the regulations for the purposes of this paragraph. (2) However, a report under this section must not directly or indirectly disclose the identity of a child or young person in care. (3) The Minister must, as soon as is reasonably practicable after receiving a report under this section, cause a copy of the report to be published on a website determined by the Minister. (4) The Minister must, within 6 sitting days after receiving a report under this section, cause a copy of the report to be laid before each House of Parliament. (5) The requirements of this section are in addition to any other reporting obligations of the Minister. (6) This section will be taken not to apply in relation to the 2023 school year. (7) In this section— educational attainments means— (a) awarding of the South Australian Certificate of Education (within the meaning of the SACE Board of South Australia Act 1983); or (b) completion of studies that lead to awarding of the South Australian Certificate of Education; or (c) participation in an approved learning program (within the meaning of the Education and Children's Services Act 2019); or (d) awarding or achievement of, or participation in, any other educational program prescribed by the regulations, and includes a failure to achieve such an award, or to complete or participate in such a program.