AUSTRALIA
ABC News
By Daniel Keane
South Australia’s outgoing guardian for children has challenged the royal commission into the child protection system to be ambitious in its recommendations, saying previous overhauls have only tackled “low-hanging fruit”.
Pam Simmons will leave the job next month after more than 10 years in the role.
Since June 2004, she has been a strong voice for children in state care.
The current royal commission is being headed by former Supreme Court justice Margaret Nyland and was prompted by the crimes of former Families SA carer Shannon Grant McCoole.
It is due to hand down its findings next year.
It follows other major inquiries scrutinising the state’s child protection mechanisms including the inquest into the 2012 death of Chloe Valentine, and the Debelle Inquiry, which released its findings in 2013.
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