Performance at a glance
The department is committed to implementing a range of strategies, programs and initiatives to achieve our objectives in line with our purpose, vision and strategic goals.
Highlights from the 2024-25 year include:
- supported the government’s intervention and engagement to secure the future of the Whyalla steelworks and support the Whyalla community
- supported former High Court Chief Justice, Robert French AC, to deliver an examination of children’s access to social media and worked with the Commonwealth Government on a national approach to a legislated minimum social media age; this included hosting a multi-jurisdiction Social Media Summit
- negotiated the best possible outcomes for South Australia and supported the Premier in intergovernmental forums, including through National Cabinet and the Council for the Australian Federation, on key issues including health, disability reform, education, housing, ending gender-based violence and antisemitism; and continued to implement the Adelaide City Deal
- supported consultation and development of the passing of the State Development, Coordination and Facilitation Act in Parliament in May 2025
- led a comprehensive review of South Australia’s Emergency Management Act 2004 and supported the introduction of the Emergency Management (Miscellaneous) Amendment Bill 2025 into Parliament.
- developed and delivered strategically aligned international programs for the Premier, Governor, Government of South Australia officials, key international stakeholders, and diplomatic and official visitors to South Australia, to promote the state and further develop bi-lateral cooperation
- attracted major events to the state through the Major Events Attraction Committee, delivered on a strong pipeline of business events and utilised key events to drive investment outcomes and showcase the government's key priorities
- developed and publicly released South Australia’s Innovation Places Leadership Framework 2024-2034 to connect South Australia’s innovation places, drive business attraction, grow a skilled workforce and leverage investment; and delivered the updated Lot Fourteen Master Plan 2024 to guide continued delivery of the Lot Fourteen innovation and cultural district in line with the strategic vision and objectives set out in the Lot Fourteen Strategic Plan 2022-2026
- in partnership with the Commonwealth Government, coordinated the joint effort between state government agencies to deliver on South Australia’s role in the AUKUS submarine program
- finalised construction of Barossa Park (Lyndoch Recreation Park Redevelopment) to host 2025 AFL Gather Round matches and for community use and events
- continued to provide support to our communities to keep their languages alive among younger generations through additional investment in community language schools in South Australia
- provided leadership and advice on the development, monitoring and reporting of initiatives to enhance culturally and linguistically diverse employment in the public sector
- scaled up the Multicultural South Australia Ambassador Program to activate the South Australian Multicultural Charter and to embed its principles within the workforce and business practices of South Australia's government departments and leading organisations
- developed and launched A Place to Create, the 10-year cultural policy for South Australia, including the initial two-year delivery plan (A Place to Create 2025-2027 Delivery Plan)
- through the Music Development Office and the Arts and Culture Grants Program, supported the development of the arts, culture and creative industries sector through the provision of grant funding to individuals, groups, and organisations
- continued to implement the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Strategy for South Australia, including through new actions to support First Nations artists, arts workers and organisations set out in the A Place to Create 2025-2027 Delivery Plan
- progressed design and procurement for the Adelaide Festival Centre fire compliance works and Western Plaza upgrade (construction to commence 2025-26)
- progressed construction of the state-owned cultural institutions storage facility
- established the Arts Investment Fund to drive targeted investment in strategic initiatives across South Australia’s arts, culture and creative industries
- provided grants through the Autism Works in the Community Grants Program to promote autism inclusion and support
- delivered the first Autism Works Employment Summit, attended by 500 delegates, and launched the South Australian Public Sector Neurodivergent Employee Network
- partnered with South Australian universities to boost disability and inclusion learnings in teaching degrees and commenced a pilot to deliver free autism assessments for up to 100 public school students
- established the South Australian Autism Assessment and Diagnosis Advisory Group to address barriers to an autism assessment and commenced the South Australian Inklings Pilot Program to support young children showing early developmental and social differences.
