The Child and Family Support System (CFSS) has been on a significant journey to reshape and reform child and family support services in South Australia. We have built a strong system that supports children and families earlier, more intensively and more effectively.
The origin of CFSS
The 2016 Nyland Report recommended expanding prevention and early intervention services to help families safely care for their children. In response, the Child and Family Support System (CFSS) was established in 2019, bringing government family preservation services into the Department of Human Services to create a more consistent and evidence-informed approach. A statewide co-design process involving nearly 1,000 people—including service users, Aboriginal leaders, providers, researchers and people with lived experience—helped shape the shared goals and development of the new system.
The future of CFSS
The CFSS continues to be guided by research evidence to ensure our system is proactive, preventative and improves outcomes for children and families experiencing complex problems and disadvantage. Find out more about our research and what we are learning.
Our healing approach
Children, families and services are working together to build a system that supports healing and prevents further harm.
Lived Experience Network
The Lived Experience Network helps guide how the CFSS can better support families to keep children safe and well at home.