Get legal advice as early as possible.

Have a support person with you to help you in your interactions with the Department. This can be a worker, a friend or anyone you trust. It is OK to have a support person with you and it is also OK for you to ask for this person to speak on your behalf if you are feeling very upset. When someone talks on your behalf they are often called an advocate. This means they may ask for services and outcomes that you feel you need and that are good for your kids.

Keep records of all your communications and interactions with the Department. This includes phone calls, emails., letters and meetings. Use a journal to record verbal conversations and ask all decisions to be given to you in writing.

Ask for contact with your child as soon as possible.

Provide any information that you feel the foster carer of your child needs to know. If your child is being cared for by someone you know they may still need information that only you have about your child. If you are not able to contact them ask the Department to pass this information on to them.

If you don’t know who is caring for your child ask the Department to arrange a meeting with them so you can start to get to know one another. They may not agree to this but it is still worth asking. Good relationships between foster carers and parents lead to better outcomes for kids.

Ask about decision making processes and how you are to be involved.

Come to all appointments and meetings on time.

If you are having a really stressful day and worry that you might not be able to speak to the Department in a helpful way, write down what you would like to say and phone later when you are feeling clearer and calmer.