Children and parents with disability

Key insight - the CFSS needs a special focus on supporting children and young people with disability and parents/carers with disability.

Around 1 in 10 families referred to the CFSS Pathways Service in 2023 – 2024 had current concerns related to a parent or caregiver’s disability/chronic condition impacting their parenting capacity.  Compared to other referrals, these families are:

• 140% more likely to also have issues related transport
• 110% more likely to have both caregivers unemployed and thereby experiencing financial disadvantage
• 80% more likely to have concerns about adequate access to antenatal care
• 70% more likely to have a parent / caregiver with their own out of home care history
• 65% more likely to have current concerns around social isolation and lack of family supports.¹

“Young people with disabilities require support to develop independent living skills. The complexity of navigating the NDIS is a major barrier, requiring specialised knowledge to access services. Some young people are not receiving this support until coming into contact with child protection or youth justice, rather than much earlier through child and family supports.” CFSS Co-planning Workshop, 2024

Reference list

1. CFSS Data (2025), Analysed by EIRD, CFS, DHS, SA Government.