Staying connected with my child

The system often makes it harder to stay connected with your child, and for them to be connected to their family, culture and Country.

The system often makes it harder to stay connected with your child, and for them to be connected to their family, culture and Country.

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.

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This information covers the ways you can connect meaningfully, the importance of family time, and how it can include culture more.

How do I can stay in contact with my child?

The main way you will see your child is through family time visits, sometimes called ‘contact visits’. It's important to establish a family time visit schedule with your child and their carer as early as possible.

What to do if family time isn’t being followed

Even though there’s no formal enforcement process, carers still have legal and ethical responsibilities to follow contact arrangements that are in the child’s care plan and Court orders.

Can I increase family time?

If your child is transitioning towards restoration, consider how to gradually increase family time in preparation for a child going home.

My child’s connection to culture

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children stay connected, or begin connecting, to their culture, family, Country, language and overall identity.

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.