Support and knowledge if your child has been removed by the NSW Department of Communities and Justice.
(DCJ, once DoCS or FACS).
All information has been informed by the Bring Them Home, Keep Them Home (BTHKTH) research, which centers the voices and experiences of Aboriginal parents and families navigating the NSW child protection system. The families have given us permission to share their experiences.
This information covers what you can do if your child is removed, the children’s court process, the assessments and plans that should be done after removal, different types of placements, and the perspectives that influence the way the system makes decisions.
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.
