Child protection

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    For free legal help:

    Legal Aid Queensland 
    Phone1300 65 11 88 (for the cost of a local call from a landline in Australia)
    www.legalaid.qld.gov.au

    Community Legal Centres Queensland 
    Phone 07 3392 0092 
    www.communitylegalqld.org.au

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    Parentline 
    Phone 1300 30 1300 
    www.parentline.com.au

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    Activity sheets for this story:

    Video transcript

    Title: Child protection and parenting

    Meena: I’m going to work now.
    Children: But mum it’s the school holidays! We want to go to the movies.
    Meena: I know but I have to go to work.
    Meena: I’ll be home at 4 o’clock. There’s your lunch in the fridge. Be good, and DON’T go out or open the door to anyone. I’ll call you from work.
    Children: Bye mummy.
    Meena: Meena! Mareem! What’s happened?
    Susan: Hi Meena, don’t worry the children are at my place. I saw them playing on the street.
    Meena: Oh no!
    Susan: It’s ok. I took them to my place. They’re watching TV.
    Meena: Oh sorry. I told them to stay inside – I will have to beat them to teach them to listen.
    Susan: I don’t think that’s a good idea.
    Susan: They’re too young to understand Meena. If you hurt them, someone will report you to the police and child protection.
    Meena: But they’re my children, it’s not the government’s business—or anyone else’s!
    Susan: Child protection’s job is to protect children. They will come if they think children are in serious danger.
    Meena: OK, OK, I won’t beat them, but what can I do? I have to work. There’s no one to stay with them. They must obey me and stay at home.
    Susan: Well that’s another problem: the children are too young to stay alone. Child protection will look at that too.
    Meena: What can I do? I have to work.
    Susan: Well, I can look after them sometimes. Have you thought about child care? Can anyone else help you?
    Meena: Thanks Susan, it’s so hard here in Australia. You know I’ve got no family here.
    Susan : Can you call some of your friends? Look, come in for a cup of tea and we can talk about it.

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    Last updated 18 June 2020

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