Edition 24 - June 2022: Charter of Rights for Parents
In this edition:
- It's live! The Charter of Rights for Parents is LIVE!
- You are not alone
- Children unite the parents and the system
- Hope amidst scepticism
- Commitment and partnership
- Questions about the Charter
- Rights of parents do not & will not diminish the rights of workers or carers
- Parent teas
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It's Live!
The Charter of Rights for Parents is LIVE!
Yes, we’ve always had rights. But a formal and specific Charter of Rights for Parents involved with the child protection system in Queensland was launched on 1 June 2022 at the Global Day of Parents Forum. It was developed through collaboration with parents, the Department, the Human Rights Commission, and the Family Inclusion Networks. The Charter came together quite quickly as there was a readiness for change and all parties were on the same page. This is monumental!
Why? Because the Charter provides a framework for
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departmental workers to comply with
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parents to be aware of our rights and to speak up for ourselves and our children
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workers and parents to build partnerships
All in the interest of better outcomes for children and families.
The Department have said -
“It provides our staff with the opportunity to turbocharge their work around partnering with parents and doing that much more effectively.”
Click here to view the Charter of Rights for parents involved in the child protection system in Queensland. Please have a read and let us know what you think. You are part of this process as it is a living document and will be revised and evaluated over the first year.
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You are not alone
"The experience of asking for support cost my family two years of our lives, and so much more trauma than we began with. My family has been together again for the last three months.
If you had asked me back then if I’d encourage other STRONG mums and dads who are JUST fighting for their kids whether to go and seek support from the services that you’ve offered, I would have hidden my tears while I shook my head.
Now however upon viewing the Charter, I am so thankful for the comfort of being able to turn to other struggling parents and say ‘Yes, it is ok to ask for support. It is available to you. And your family’s rights WILL be protected. There is hope. You are not alone. And in THIS village, you matter!"
-- Parent B.
"I reflected on the last two years and I think about how the Charter could have changed how the department treated me, and how my case was handled.
My circumstances were never about me not willing to be a protective parent, it was a matter of not being able to do that in the moment. But surrendering my son did not surrender my worries, my fears, my love or my fight to keep my child safe. My fight to reunite and protect my family now gives me my voice back – to stand up for what is not right."
-- Parent S.
(Thanks to parents for these excerpts from the talks given at the Global Day of Parents Forum.)
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Children unite the parents and the system
"There are many voices in the child safety system…There are so many voices and every one of them needs to be honoured, acknowledged, and heard," said Minister Leanne Linard as she launched the Charter. "And then the hard work happens about how we make that work. Many of those voices have different views. But always what unites us, parents and the system, is that it is about the children. And it’s about what is in the best interests of young Queenslanders. They are the ones that we must always be focused on and that we seek to get outcomes for...
This Charter is the first of its kind in Queensland and puts in writing that parents are recognised and respected in your role. And we will continue to listen, as we move forward, to the rights of all those in the system. And I look forward to continuing the important work that we do together."
--The Honorable Leanne Linard MP, Minister for Children and Youth Justice and Minister for Multicultural Affairs
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Hope amidst scepticism
"You have every reason to be sceptical," said Scott McDougall, Queensland's Human Rights Commissioner. "There are some limitations in terms of [the Human Rights Act’s] enforceability. But I’m always hopeful. The Human Rights Act is enforceable in some ways. What we do need is for the courts in Queensland and the lawyers in Queensland to step up and give the Human Rights Act some steel. When that happens, then Charters like this will be far stronger."
--Scott McDougall, Commissioner, Queensland Human Rights Commission
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Commitment and partnership
The Deputy Director-General added her promise, "[The Charter] is an expression of our commitment to you and our commitment to our partnership with you and our commitment to change and to respect and to implement the human rights of parents in the child protection system. Our role in government is to bring the Human Rights Act to life and the Charter really does that in a way that really expresses what you should expect from us."
--Kate Connors, Deputy Director-General Strategy, Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs
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Questions about the Charter
The below list of questions came from the in-person and virtual audience both during and since the launch on the Global Day of Parents.
- How do I get a copy of the Charter?
- Will every parent be given a copy of the Charter?
- Under Recognition, it states (2) having your voice heard...what, practically, does this mean and eventuate into? Is it tangibly considered or just humoured?
- Whose responsibility is it to make sure parents receive and understand the Charter in a timely manner?
- How will the Charter be implemented?
- Who is accountable for making sure the Charter is upheld?
- How will the Charter make the system more humane?
- Will the Charter safeguard protective parents and their children against DFV perpetrators?
- Can the Charter be used to address historical breaches by the Department?
- How do I sign the Charter?
Please continue to send in your questions or concerns relating to the Parent Charter.
Micah Projects has committed to printing 1,000 copies of the Charter and the Department has also indicated it will share in its distribution. The above questions will be answered through a joint process similar to how the Charter was developed, in collaboration.
As Minister Leanne Linard indicated in her speech:
"We know it’s a crucial step and I know from today there’ll be lots of questions that will flow, about what does it mean? How does it work? What happens when it doesn’t work? And that’s OK. We’ll work through that together. That’s how this works. And we’ll get it right and we’ll get it wrong and we’ll get it wrong and we’ll get it right again. But the conversation formally starts when you have something that acknowledges and honours that parents have a voice and should have a voice and rights in the system."
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Rights of parents do not & will not diminish the rights of workers or carers
Several parents shared their thoughts on the Charter during the forum. One parent spoke to how the Charter can be used to benefit workers and carers as well as parents:
"We’ve heard a lot today about how this Charter will support and benefit parents. I just want to add to that, and just really introduce and reinforce the concept that, enforcing and upholding the rights of parents does not and will not diminish the rights of workers or carers; nor is that the desire of any member of FIN or QPAC...It's been my personal experience that children in care do better when all the stakeholders surrounding them are given a voice, are treated with equal and mutual respect, and are allowed to feel safe carrying out their particular role in that child’s life. I think it can be argued that, historically, parents of children in care have not been given equitable access to these entitlements."
-- Parent L.
Another parent highlighted how the Charter needs to continue to be fluid and developed for future generations.
"The Parent Charter journey will continue to assist, continue to develop, even after our children, my children, are no longer involved in care – for the next generation, and the one after. Hoping and praying that their lives will be a little more secure in the knowledge that this Charter will help them understand what mission is ahead for themselves and their children, with a little more clarity and confidence."
-- Parent C.
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Have a cuppa with other parents
The good news is that there are parent groups in a few parts of Queensland. And we have great faith that more are emerging. We are all run differently and separately.... but we're all about empowering parents and families for their children.
Brisbane
(run by FIN, SEQ)
Our catch-ups are completely confidential and casual.
If you're in Southeast Qld – here are the Southeast Qld dates.
- Northside -- Thursday afternoons
Next one -- Thursday 21 July 2022
12.30pm–2pm, Northside Connect (Nundah Neighbourhood Centre), 14 Station Street, Nundah QLD 4012
- Southside -- Tuesday mornings
Next one -- Tuesday 23 August 2022
9.30am–11am, Wellspring Children and Families Hub 28 Malcolm Street, Hawthorne QLD 4171
Ipswich Tea Time
(run by parent volunteers)
Join us to chat with other parents about how they navigated the child protection system. Hear how they gained support, and became more empowered advocates for themselves and their children. We aim to provide a culturally safe, comfortable environment where all parents will be supported to share their experience. Your voice can shape the positive change that is happening within department. Children are welcome!
- Where: The Club – Incommunity - 59 Limestone St, Ipswich
- When: Fridays 24 June, 29 July, 26 August, 16 September, 28 October, 18 November and 16 December 2022 from 1pm-2.30pm. Children are welcome!
- Email: willing_and_abel@outlook.com
Toowoomba Tea Time
(run by parent volunteers)
Join us to chat with other parents about how they navigated the child protection system. Hear how they gained support, and became more empowered advocates for themselves and their children. We aim to provide a culturally safe, comfortable environment where all parents will be supported to share their experience. Your voice can shape the positive change that is happening within department.
- Where: Toowoomba Community Baptist Church, 100 Glenvale Rd, Toowoomba
- When: Fridays 24 June, 29 July, 26 August, 16 September, 28 October, 18 November and 16 December 2022 from 9am-10.30am. Children are welcome!
- Email: willing_and_abel@outlook.com
Townsville
(run by FIN,Tsv)
- Townsville parents have support groups on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month - 10:30am-12:30pm
- Next one - Tuesday 5 July - at 85 Albany Rd., Pimlico
- Run by FIN Townsville (0402 254 984). More here.
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We hold morning or afternoon teas ('tea time' catchups) with parents to share their experiences with other parents who have walked along the same path.
See full details above :)
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