The funding includes $109 million over five years to cover the cost of caring for children not in family-based settings.

It will also provide $107 million for a suite of new support measures, including investments in early intervention to reduce demand on the child protection system, better support for families, additional support for foster and kinship carers and to respond to recent child protection reviews.

Carer payments will increase by $50 a fortnight from July 1.

Treasurer Stephen Mullighan said child protection was a top priority and warranted significant investment to support children, young people and their families.

“We recognise the incredible efforts undertaken by family-based carers, and the costs associated with caring for children and young people who have experienced trauma and abuse,” he said.

SA’s Department of Child Protection has endured months of criticism over how it handled a number of cases of abuse and neglect, particularly those involving the death of a seven-year-old boy in February last year and a six-year-old girl in July.

The agency was also criticised in 2020 when it was revealed two 13-year-old girls in state care had become pregnant, one to a convicted paedophile.

Two recent reviews made more than 30 recommendations for changes including a call for immediate checks on hundreds of children living in high-risk settings and the establishment of a  child protection expert group to ensure the authorities understood and prioritised cases of neglect.

Child Protection Minister Katrine Hildyard said the government’s extensive protection and family support measures had children at the centre with a focus on supporting and strengthening families and carers to provide the best chance for young people to grow up safe and strong.

The state budget will be handed down on June 15.

-AAP