Why is it that zero care is given if you’re children are in your custody the majority of the time. Why is it my pdaughter can have access to her fathers drugs and bring them back home to get rid of them and the police and child safety won’t do anything because I’m a responsible parent!? That to take it further I’d have to cough up money I don’t have to take it through the family court. It’s not just the drugs, it’s knowing another family member is driving our children whilst drinking, but don’t tell your mum or she’ll never let you see me again. Ha. Right because apparently I can’t do anything anyway. Apparently it’s just a wait and see if the children get seriously hurt or worse...
16 Replies
Have you called department child safety? Surely its their responsibility to make sure hes a fit parent, not yours.
Yes I’ve spoken to them. A lot over the years. They won’t do anything because they are in my care the majority of the time. Frustrating!!OP
Yes very frustrating. I cant even believe it actually. It's not your choice to put them in his care or not.
Personally I would be calling the police and reporting every. Single. Incident.
I work at child safety, and I am confused as to why you say they won’t do anything because they are in your care majority of the time? Do you have court orders, custody of the children?
This is why court is a main course of action when dealing with children who aren’t subject to child abuse.
Intervention through child safety occurs when child are experiencing or at risk of experiencing significant sexual or physical abuse and do not have a parent willing or able to protect them.
You are the parent willing and able to protect them, so if this is not happening at your children’s fathers, take him to court, get proof, police reports etc and if you can’t afford this apply for legal aid
Child safety assess and investigate child abuse reports, and if deemed the children are not at harm due to having that parent willing and able to protect them, the law doesn’t allow them to do much more, the next step is family court with the proof you have gathered to try and get some safer grounds whilst seeino their father
Also if you can’t afford court, provide this to legal aid to get assistance
It cost me nothing when I showed I couldn’t afford costs, didn’t even pay to submit affidavits etc
But when they're at their fathers, there is no parent there willing and able to step up. Don't child safety have the power to remove them from him and give them to the mother only?
Well, even though I work in the system I have gone through veryyyy similar experiences and unfortunately without substantial evidence it needs to go through court.
If there is a child concern report made to the regional intake service (the people you call to make a concern report) it gets flagged with child safety and they go out and investigate.
Unfortunately without evidence they won’t do anything. If the mother has concerns however the children are not currently subjected to physical or sexual abuse, child safety will not get involved.
This is where family court becomes involved...
My ex is a methamphetamine user who went to jail for domestic violence he committed to my daughter and I. I went to family court and he has access to her after having months of supervised visits which was ordered by the courts along with regular drug testing... child safety will not remove a child due to reports of drug us with children because the children have not been subjected to that harm.
Sure the system is unfair and totally frustrating however it’s how it works and not child safety’s fault, they have strict legislations to work by that was not made up by us.
I’m just very frustrated. I don’t blame child safety. With them being 17hrs away when they are with him and if they are put at risk I won’t no. Until they return home. OP
I think your suppose to be responsible and DO NOT send them to a home full of drugs and people driving them around drunk. And tell dad to get his act together before having the kids in his care again. Offer him supervised time with the kids in a public place.
It’s not that easy unfortunately as the proof required for that is kids vs their word... and my ex knows how the system works. I’ve been through 12 months back and forth when we did our consent orders years ago. Had doctors report etc and it wasn’t enough. I don’t qualify for legal aid and can’t afford to start a process that could turn into thousands of dollars. I just have to make sure my children are educated enough to make that call if they feel unsafe. They take a mobile with them. He lives 17 hrs away. Yes it’s not child safeties fault. I’m just frustrated. OP
Sounds like you are doing all you can to keep your kids safe, given the circumstances. Your story is heart breaking, I can’t imagine the worry you must feel. When your kids reach a certain age, I think around 12 isn’t, can’t they refuse visits?
. Are the consent orders legitimate federal court documents or something you both signed at mediation?
Because if you said, no they are not going. These are the reasons why, what would the repercussion be?
I think you should get free legal advise or even pay a lawyer to send him a letter stating the children won't be returning to him until there is proof he is clean and safe for them to be in his care.
Regardless of him knowing the system. Regardless of the finacial cost. The kids are being put into the care of a drug addict, being driven around by drunk people. They are 17 hours away from a responsible parent.
Ive been through this!
If there are no court orders, you're legally allowed to prevent the kids from seeing him.. and if you send the children to his knowing theres illegal activities going on, then you are at risk of losing you're children to child safety too as you're putting the children into an unsafe situation.
You are legally allowed to stop him seeing them due to an unsafe home and then he had to take you to court.
If you take him to court, you have to pay. If he takes you to court, you're eligable for legal aid (if financially eligable for it)
Good luck mumma bear! You've got this!! xxx
Yes cps is are a joke and couldn't organise a fuck in a brothel. My 2 kids were taken off me more than a year ago based on lies there is nothing remotely truthful about what they have i was in hospital for severe medical grounds and they live with my olds who deserve nothing short of a bullet they and cps are liers they want of my kids permanently and have been refused. I'm pregnant again and they won't touch or look at this 1 sideways will leave the country if i have to. Haven't seen them for 6 months because they have no idea what they're doing their lawyer is suspicious of what they've been told about me. I give up if they focused on issues like kids being beaten and raped ams seriousissues they'd get somewhere. They say I'm a credit to my kids upbringing how the fuck does that make any sense if I'm such an unfit parent? The only joke is them and the way they have any control of anything involving the welfare of kids.
Been there done this. My ex and his GF had 5 kids in the care of child safety and my 2 children were attending visits every second weekend and half holidays plus one night in the off week. My kids come home filthy, rope burn around my daughters neck, my 18month old at the time came home with 6 bite marks in a line in his arm plus chaff marks under his arms. I ultimately decided to withhold contact (even though we had court ordered contact) and approached child safety for support and assistance. I was literally told I was in a catch 22 situation and if I sent them I would be held accountable under the QLD criminal code for failing to protect my children (if harm came to them) or I could be held in contempt of court for contravention of family court orders. What followed suit was an 18month court battle with the family court and no backing from child safety. My kids were forced on visits but the harm was never enough for child safety to intervene for their protection. To the point that I was listed as a parent which my children were at risk of ‘emotional harm’ from. Why? Because I was trying to protect them from real harm but it was portrayed in the files as a vandictive ex. Until one day harm was established to another 2 children in their care and they were removed. Never got an I’m sorry you were right they were being abused and I had to beg child safety for a letter to state my kids were at risk so I could take the case back to court and get sole parental responsibility and supervision ordered. I feel your pain and your hurt it’s not a nice situation. And you’re right it’s always a case of sit and wait and see what happens. My advise gather as much evidence as you can and represent yourself in court. Can’t say I have much faith in the systems designed to protect our children but as a parent all you can do is be the best parent you’ll can
Wow! Been through similar with family court, trying to protect your children and seen as unfriendly parent. It's a complete joke.
You are so very fortunate you finally got to keep them safe.
The whole system is a joke. CPS do nothing, family court will still allow access because the meaningful relationship with the other parent is given more weight than the child's safety. It's not meant to be this way.
I feel for you, it's a horrible situation to be in. If you with hold access, you need substantial evidence. If you're seen as gathering evidence, it's also sometimes used against you as being an unfriendly parent.
I'd be talking to women's legal service and seeing if they have any advice. Legal aid is quick difficult to get these days. Good luck 🍀