Every legal problem is different. This is especially the case when it comes to legal problems about children, as what is best for every child is unique.
You should get legal advice about what may help you get your children back in your situation. There are no guarantees, it will depend on what is best for your children. But here are some practical tips about things that could help.
If there are any contact arrangements in place for you to speak to or spend time with your children, it’s important to follow those arrangements. This may include times when it makes you very sad to spend time with your children, or to say goodbye to them after you see them.
Keep a diary or journal. Write down the dates and times when you are meant to speak to or spend time with your children.
If you can’t go, let your caseworker and your children’s carer know and tell them why you can’t make it.
Make sure you go to your meetings and work with any support services or programs that have been recommended to you.
Write down the contact details for any services you work with and your appointment dates in your diary.
Try to attend all your sessions and keep notes.
Keep a record of all courses you attend. Keep any certificates you are given.
Stay away from the person who was violent towards you and get a Domestic Violence Order for your protection.
Do a parenting program, for referrals, you can contact the Family Relationship Advice Line on 1800 050 321.
Learn as much as possible about how domestic and family violence affects children.
Find out if you’re eligible for support through a victims compensation scheme.
Each State and Territory have their own victims compensation scheme and different laws about what support they offer, time limits and who is eligible.
Try to stay in contact with you caseworker from the Department. Let them know what steps you are taking to get back on track, and ask them if there’s anything else you can do to help your case.
Show a lawyer your Care Orders and any other paperwork you have.
If you need a copy of your orders, you can ask for copies from your lawyer or from the Children’s Court or Youth Court where the orders were made.
- Community Services – Going to court and working to reunite families: What’s involved and what can I do?
- Community Services – What happens with my child when they are in care and what can I do to have them come home?
- Magistrates Court ACT – Childrens Court
- Family and Community Services – Stages of court proceedings
- Legal Aid NSW – Going to the Children’s Court – available in English, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Dinka, Kirundi, Swahili, Tamil and Vietnamese
- Legal Aid NSW – The Children’s Court made a decision I am unhappy about: what can I do? – available in English, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Dari/Farsi, Dinka, Kirundi, Swahili, Thai and Vietnamese
- Legal Aid NSW – Things have changed and I want my kids back. What can I do? available in English, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Dari/Farsi, Dinka, Kirundi, Swahili, Thai, Tamil and Vietnamese
- Legal Aid NSW – What happens when my kids are in care? – available in English, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Dari/Farsi, Dinka, Kirundi, Swahili, Thai, Tamil and Vietnamese
- NT Law Handbook – Child Welfare
- NT Legal Aid Commission – Child protection matters
- Legal Aid Qld – Child protection duty lawyer
- Legal Aid Qld – Child protection legal information
- Qld Law Handbook – Child Protection
- South West Brisbane CLC – Information kit on child protection for parents
Video
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service – Knowing your rights, Child Protection
- Legal Services Commission of SA – Child Protection
- SA Law Handbook – Care and Protection Orders
- Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania – Child Protection Brochure
- Magistrates Court of Tasmania – Children’s Court
- Department of Communities Tasmania – Rights of Parents of Children in out of home care
- Department of Communities Tasmania – Family Group Conference
- Department of Communities Tasmania – Brochures on Child Protection
- Child Protection Manual – Contact for parents – available in Arabic, Mandarin, Turkish, Vietnamese, Burmese, Cantonese, Dari and Dinka
- Child Protection Manual – Orders available in in Arabic, Mandarin, Turkish, Vietnamese, Burmese, Cantonese, Dari and Dinka
- Child Protection Manual – Review of a child protection decision – available in Arabic, Mandarin, Turkish, Vietnamese, Burmese, Cantonese, Dari and Dinka
- Department of Health and Human Services – Child Protection Orders
- The Law Handbook – Child Protection
- Victoria Legal Aid – Going to court for a child protection case
- Children’s Court of WA – Protection proceedings
- Department of Communities, Child Protection and family support – What does it mean?
- Legal Aid WA – Going to court for a child protection case
- Legal Aid WA – Preparing for a final hearing in a protection and care matter in the Children’s Court of WA
- Legal Aid WA – Representing yourself at a final hearing for a protection and care matter in the Children’s Court of WA
- Community Services – Going to court and working to reunite families: What’s involved and what can I do?
- Community Services – What happens with my child when they are in care and what can I do to have them come home?
- Magistrates Court ACT – Childrens Court
Stay away from the person who was violent towards you and get a Domestic Violence Order for your protection.
Do a parenting program, for referrals, you can contact the Family Relationship Advice Line on 1800 050 321.
Learn as much as possible about how domestic and family violence affects children.
Find out if you’re eligible for support through a victims compensation scheme.
Each State and Territory have their own victims compensation scheme and different laws about what support they offer, time limits and who is eligible.
- Family and Community Services – Stages of court proceedings
- Legal Aid NSW – Going to the Children’s Court – available in English, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Dinka, Kirundi, Swahili, Tamil and Vietnamese
- Legal Aid NSW – The Children’s Court made a decision I am unhappy about: what can I do? – available in English, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Dari/Farsi, Dinka, Kirundi, Swahili, Thai and Vietnamese
- Legal Aid NSW – Things have changed and I want my kids back. What can I do? available in English, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Dari/Farsi, Dinka, Kirundi, Swahili, Thai, Tamil and Vietnamese
- Legal Aid NSW – What happens when my kids are in care? – available in English, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Dari/Farsi, Dinka, Kirundi, Swahili, Thai, Tamil and Vietnamese
- NT Law Handbook – Child Welfare
- NT Legal Aid Commission – Child protection matters
- Legal Aid Qld – Child protection duty lawyer
- Legal Aid Qld – Child protection legal information
- Qld Law Handbook – Child Protection
- South West Brisbane CLC – Information kit on child protection for parents
Video
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service – Knowing your rights, Child Protection
- Legal Services Commission of SA – Child Protection
- SA Law Handbook – Care and Protection Orders
- Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania – Child Protection Brochure
- Magistrates Court of Tasmania – Children’s Court
- Department of Communities Tasmania – Rights of Parents of Children in out of home care
- Department of Communities Tasmania – Family Group Conference
- Department of Communities Tasmania – Brochures on Child Protection
- Child Protection Manual – Contact for parents – available in Arabic, Mandarin, Turkish, Vietnamese, Burmese, Cantonese, Dari and Dinka
- Child Protection Manual – Orders available in in Arabic, Mandarin, Turkish, Vietnamese, Burmese, Cantonese, Dari and Dinka
- Child Protection Manual – Review of a child protection decision – available in Arabic, Mandarin, Turkish, Vietnamese, Burmese, Cantonese, Dari and Dinka
- Department of Health and Human Services – Child Protection Orders
- The Law Handbook – Child Protection
- Victoria Legal Aid – Going to court for a child protection case
- Children’s Court of WA – Protection proceedings
- Department of Communities, Child Protection and family support – What does it mean?
- Legal Aid WA – Going to court for a child protection case
- Legal Aid WA – Preparing for a final hearing in a protection and care matter in the Children’s Court of WA
- Legal Aid WA – Representing yourself at a final hearing for a protection and care matter in the Children’s Court of WA