The South Australian government has announced the new boss of the state's heavily scrutinised child protection department.
Public servant Jackie Bray said she was "absolutely delighted and privileged to take up this role".
"All complex systems like the child protection system always have to look for opportunities of where we can make significant change," she said.
"And I, like you in the community, have seen the numerous rounds of reviews and reports around the child protection system and it is my challenge to undertake those reform opportunities and implement those fully in the system."
Ms Bray has led the Office for the Early Years at the Department for Education since October 2021, and prior to that she was the deputy chief executive at the Department for Correctional Services.
Ms Bray said she had experience in reform and change, and she wanted to work with the department's "dedicated workforce" as well as the community to understand the challenges and barriers facing the child protection system.
She said her immediate focus was the "over-representation of Aboriginal children in the child protection system", better collaboration of the multiple agencies and services involved in child protection, and the culture and transparency of the department.
"I stand for accountability, I think it's clear that accountability is something that needs to happen and I'm non-negotiable about transparency," she said.
Ms Bray said she would be visiting children under her care within the first couple of weeks of starting the role.
Acting Premier Susan Close said 60 people applied for the chief executive role, including one overseas applicant, and six were interviewed.
Dr Close said Ms Bray would come in with a "fresh set of eyes to have a look at the challenges we all know exist in this very important part of public policy".
Dr Close said Ms Bray would start her role next month and would be on a five-year contract.
Ms Bray will replace outgoing chief executive Cathy Taylor, whose last day was April 28.
The commissioner for public sector employment, Erma Ranieri, has been acting in the role since then.
Dr Close said Ms Taylor "brought a lot of strength when she took over" and Ms Bray will bring "another approach to also support that department".
Dr Close said the department currently has an annual budget of about $700 million.
"So we shouldn't assume resources are the biggest challenge for the department, and we'll let Jackie get in place and see what she's looking and whether there are additional responses required," she said.
Child Protection Minister Katrine Hildyard said Ms Bray comes to the department "with a wealth of experience both here and overseas", and "experience in seeing child protection in many different angles".
Ms Hildyard said a "cross-government effort" would be required to tackle the issues facing the child protection sector.
"We know that now one in three South Australian children are notified to the Department for Child Protection at some point in the course of their childhood," she said.
"We are absolutely determined to drive reform that begins to improve children and young people's lives and begins to strengthen families and communities."
Child protection advocate Belinda Valentine, whose granddaughter Chloe died in 2012, said the new chief executive must become a champion for children.
Ms Valentine said improvements could be made, but only if the department enlisted the help of the community.
"Not every child can be saved unfortunately, we can't have a social worker in every home of vulnerable children and that's too much to ask for any system," she said.
"But we do have the community around those children, it's about really engaging and listening and strengthening the community around the children."
