Data provided to InDaily shows 30 out of a total 170 social worker positions are vacant within the Department for Human Services’ (DHS) child and family support services division.

Over the past two years, that section of the department has experienced an average social worker turnover rate of about 20 per cent.

The department attributes the high vacancy and churn rate to a “severe” nationwide allied health worker shortage linked to an ageing population and changing community needs.

It is now appealing for more skilled social workers to apply to fill vacancies within the department, despite noting the “complex and challenging” nature of the work.

Child and family support social workers work on the frontline providing early intervention support to families to prevent their children from entering the child protection system.

They help families experiencing intergenerational trauma, drug and alcohol misuse, domestic violence and mental health problems to ensure children can safely remain in their care.

“We know the current national labour market is exceptionally challenging, with a severe shortage of all allied health professionals across many sectors and agencies, including social workers,” a Department for Human Services spokesperson said.

“We’re working with SA universities to ensure a pipeline of graduates with specific skill sets for working with clients on the frontline and we’re committed to ensuring there is a strong and sustainable workforce to support families.”

Centacare SA deputy director Leanne Haddad, whose organisation also runs support services for at-risk families, said the industry as a whole had experienced difficulties recruiting social workers, with demand for staff far outstripping supply.

“For us, retention hasn’t been an issue, but recruitment has certainly been affected for new positions,” she said.

“We’ve noticed that there is a trend for staff vacancies in some services, particularly in the social services (and) child protection roles and that’s because government and non-government are competing for the same staff.

“In areas where there might not be high staff retention it could be that there’s not enough focus on those areas, or it could be staff working in really high-risk situations and they make a decision not to do that anymore.”

High-profile tragedies earlier this year including the deaths of six-year-old Munno Para girl Charlie and seven-year-old Craigmore boy Makai have shone a spotlight on the state’s social workers.

What is highly publicised is when things go wrong, so it’s not seen as an attractive profession

In both cases, SA Police said the children’s families were known to multiple government agencies, including the Departments for Human Services and Child Protection, with a review led by former Police Commissioner Mal Hyde now underway to determine to what extent the government had contact with the families.

Haddad, who previously worked as a social worker for the Department for Child Protection, said tragedies such as Makai and Charlie’s deaths directly impact the supply of staff.

“I think it does cause existing staff to consider whether they want to stay in a profession, or some may move to other professions that are less risk,” she said.

“It (social work) is probably one of the most rewarding professions but it’s not highly publicised.

“What is highly publicised is when things go wrong, so it’s not seen as an attractive profession.

“But the reality is for people in it – they’re dedicated and doing much needed work.”

The National Skills Commission estimates that growth in the number of social workers across Australia will rise by more than 23 per cent in the next five years – from 40,000 currently to 49,300 in 2026.