Jika Departemen ingin berbicara dengan Anda tentang anak-anak Anda, artinya mereka telah menerima laporan bahwa anak-anak Anda mungkin berada dalam risiko bahaya.

Departemen:

• may send a caseworker to your house to talk to you or they may ask you to go to their office

• may get a caseworker to talk to your children at school. They don’t need your permission to speak with your children

• can also get information about your family from your doctor, hospital, police, teachers or family members – they don’t need your permission to do this.

The Department won’t automatically remove your children from your care just because there’s domestic and family violence. Children are only usually removed as a last option.

After the Department investigates a report, they may decide everything is okay. Sometimes they may want to work with your family so your children stay in your care while steps are taken to improve their safety.

It’s important to try to work with the Department, even if you don’t agree with the reasons they are getting involved with your family. See tips for working with the Department.