Analysis of a 2016-2017 Report indicates that South Australia spent 65 per cent of its out-of-home care funding on residential care, according to this article from In Daily. Additionally, the report noted that South Australia's per child expenditure for children in out of home care is 91% more than the national average.
"Guardian for Children and Young People Penny Wright told InDaily she was concerned the State Government spent the majority of its out-of-home care child protection funding on costly and less suitable residential care." Analysis of the report showed that use of residential care for children is on the rise, especially for Aboriginal children.