Family member of boy under child protective services speaks out

To give up a nephew to child safety was one of the hardest decisions this Cairns woman has ever made, but she didn’t expect to be cut out of his life as it spirals toward a life of crime. LOOK INSIDE THE SYSTEM

GIVING up her nephew to child safety was one of the hardest decisions this Cairns woman ever made, but she didn’t expect to be cut out of his life as it spirals toward criminality.

The woman throughout the article will be called Ms X to not identify the child under care. Ms X said her nephew has been under the care of child safety for seven years after she decided that was the best option for him.

Ms X said when she first agreed to this care she expected more involvement.

“When child investigation and child services were engaged with all this at the very start because I’ve never been in this position before, I was very clear we would have a say in the families who looked after our nephew,” Ms X said.

“We would also have a say in which school he went to and we would get participation and engagement in his future. None of that happened.

“It was my decision. I’m his aunt. I did not make that decision lightly. It was the toughest decision and I’ve lived with it.”

Ms X said child safety should be doing more for the kids under their care. iStock image.

Ms X said the root of the problem was with foster families.

“I think the way that foster families are recruited needs to change and I feel there needs to be more emotional and psychological investigation or background checking before they are brought on board,” she said.

“Right now it seems bums on seats are their priority. I feel the treatment that some foster families treat the relatives or family of the children they are caring for is unacceptable

“I feel Child Protection doesn’t do anything to nip this in the bud until it’s the point of no return.”

Ms X said she has witnessed her nephew go down a slippery slope and has asked Child Safety for help but has seen nothing.

“I feel that we have been petitioning for several years now that our nephew gets professional help from a psychologist or psychiatrist, only to be told he's only seeing a counsellor,” she said.

“His behaviour has escalated to almost a criminal act.

Ms X said she had seen her nephew go down an almost criminal slope.

“I feel money and budget is a big thing in Child Protection. They only do the least amount possible for children based on cost.”

Ms X said there should be better plans in place.

“There is no risk mitigation in their process or strategies, they don’t address anything until it happens,” she said.

“They are all process driven. I think a bit more humanity needs to be involved in this.

“I want to highlight the fact that child services needs to step up their game and step up with the program.”

Ms X said it had been devastating to not know what was happening to her nephew.

“We want him to know he is loved and we want the very best for him. How do we do that when we don’t know much?”

A Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs spokesman said they were committed to keeping the children connected to their family.

Ms X said it had been devastating to not know what was happening to her nephew.

“To ensure children and young people remain connected with their family, family members are often encouraged to actively participate in case planning,” the spokesman said.

“The health and wellbeing of children is our highest priority. We provide a range of services for children and young people.

“The department funds Evolve Therapeutic Services to meet the needs of young people with mental health and complex behaviours.”

The spokesman said there was a recruitment process for foster carers.

“The assessment process includes targeted questionnaires, interviews and information gathering regarding emotional and psychological wellbeing.”

Originally published as Family member of boy under child protective services speaks out