UQ research provides insight into child protection

Inappropriate intervention in child protection cases has left many parents, especially mothers, feeling bewildered, confused and distrustful of the system, new UQ research suggests.

The research, conducted by Associate Professor Heather Douglas and Dr Tamara Walsh from UQ’s TC Beirne School of Law, has found that parents experiencing poverty and domestic violence are often targeted for intervention by child protection departments but that child protection workers do not have the skills or resources to support families.

As a result, some children may be unnecessarily removed from their parents.

Dr Walsh said while children should be protected, it may no longer be perceived necessary to remove children if families were appropriately resourced and their issues properly understood.

“Child protection workers and parents’ advocates must work together to displace the mistrust and uncertainty that is preventing more collaborative and open practices,” she said.

“It is the child’s interests that will ultimately suffer if there continues to be a lack of communication.

“Research demonstrates that factors such as low income, homelessness, and domestic violence are associated with poor outcomes for children, however, if the work of child protection authorities is to have any protective effect, child safety officers must work collaboratively with parents and children. Much more asking, rather than telling, needs to occur.”

The report, titled “Mothers and the child protection system,” to be launched tomorrow (July 9) at The University of Queensland, was based on group discussions with lawyers and community workers who assist parents in their interactions with the child protection system.

The report highlights an apparent shift within Australia’s child protection departments from a family-centred to a child-centred focus.

Dr Douglas said for parents to participate in the child protection process it was clear they must be properly informed about the nature of the process in relation to both their responsibilities and entitlements.

“The focus group participants indicated that, in some situations, information is not given to parents, or that it is not given in a way that the relevant parent understands it,” she said.

“Once children are removed from their care, some parents have no idea what’s going on with their children or what they need to do in order to see them again.

“Formal information-giving protocols are required to reduce the level of mistrust and uncertainty experienced by parents.”

Media: Dr Heather Douglas (07 3365 6605; h.douglas@law.uq.edu.au), Dr Tamara Walsh (07 3365 6192; t.walsh@law.uq.edu.au) or Eliza Plant at UQ Communications (07 3365 2619)

**Please note both authors will only be available via email outside normal business hours.