The journal’s purpose is for you to have your own evidence to go up against what the system creates as their evidence. They can also be used as a truth telling tool for you and your family. It is your choice if you share them with anyone, including lawyers, services, or DCJ.
Use this journal to stay one step ahead of DCJ, to make sense of playing the child protection game, support in a family meeting, and to record evidence of DCJ’s assessments and plans.
Use this journal to stay one step ahead of DCJ, to make sense of playing the child protection game, support in a family meeting, and to record evidence of DCJ’s assessments and plans.
Use this journal to document what DCJ have or have not done when removal happened, harm from services or the government, DCJ’s plans, and reflect and make sense of how decisions were made with court documents.
Use this journal to document strengths or struggles with common things like drugs and alcohol, domestic and family violence, and social and emotional wellbeing. This journal is also a way to write down who you are and who your family and community is.
The purpose of these guides are for you to have access to the most important information when you most need it.
These guides, just like this website, includes the experience and advice of Aboriginal families who have been through the NSW child protection system and were part of the Bring Them Home, Keep Them Home (BTHKTH) research at the University of New South Wales. The families have given us permission to share their experiences.
Please note, these are family experiences of what they found works for them that is shared. This does not constitute AbSec advice or views. AbSec recommends seeking independent legal advice wherever possible to assist you in your own circumstances.
Important information to know at any point in the system, especially if you think your child could be removed.
Lawyers, advocates and complaints: Support and contacts if your family is involved with the NSW child protection system.
Support and knowledge if your child has been removed by the NSW Department of Communities and Justice.
Videos that explain what your rights are and why it’s needed, other parents journeys, and what is most important to know at each stage in the system.
AbSec and our partners acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout NSW and their continuing connections to land, waters, and communities. We also acknowledge the lands on which these stories were told, the lands of the Dharawal, Yuin and Wonnarua people.
We acknowledge the Elders, leaders and advocates that have led the way and continue to fight for our children. We also acknowledge the Stolen Generations who never came home and the ongoing impact of government policy and practice on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and families.
This website shares the experiences and advice of Aboriginal families involved in the NSW child protection system who participated in the Bring Them Home, Keep Them Home research at UNSW. We acknowledge and thank the families who generously gave permission to share their stories.
These experiences reflect what worked for those families and do not constitute advice or views of AbSec. AbSec recommends seeking independent legal advice for your own circumstances.
