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Australia branded ‘child-stealing capital of the Western world’

Australian children are removed from their families more often than anywhere in the Western world, nearly twice as often as in the US and almost three times the rate in New Zealand, a parlia­mentary inquiry into child welfare has heard.

There is also “a culture of removal and a culture of victim blaming”.

Mary Moore, convener of the volunteer Alliance for Family Preservation and Restoration, told the NSW parliamentary committee yesterday that children were being taken into care based on the opinion of case workers where no harm had occurred “but because they have concerns the child might suffer harm in the future, and they’re then in care until age 18”.

Woman jailed for brutally assaulting foster child after appearing in Parkes District Court

A 31-year-old Parkes woman was sentenced to seven years’ jail today in Parkes District Court after assaulting a five-year-old foster child in her care.

Brooke Roberts of Middleton Street, appeared before Judge Stephen Hanley on the charge of reckless grievous bodily harm, an offence that carries a maximum sentence of ten years.

Minister Bhullar says inquiry into deaths of kids in government care not needed

Manmeet Bhullar says no enquiry is needed. Manmeet Bhullar, who will take over the portfolio when the newly shuffled cabinet is sworn in next week, said Wednesday December 18 2013 he doesn't see the need to hold an independent public inquiry into the matter, as demanded by all three opposition parties. Great concerns the 33-year-old Bhullar, who is moving from the Service Alberta portfolio, lacks the experience to shepherd Human Services, which handles child and youth issues, social programs and homelessness. 

No inquiry means we do not think these children's lives matter, so much so that we can not even be bothered to look into their deaths. There are no words to describe how disgusted I am.

Parents stunned by news of inquiry into baby’s death while in care

Paul Jean holds his daughter, Dani Isabella Jean, shortly before she died on May 4, 2013. She was found tangled in her foster mother's bed sheets. EDMONTON - Paul Jean believed for more than a year that his six-week-old daughter had died in foster care from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

LA County parents get $800K settlement after county officials remove their children without a warrant

LA County agrees to pay $800,000 to parents of kids who were removed from home. LA County agrees to pay $800,000 to parents of kids who were removed from home.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday agreed to pay $800,000 to the parents of two children taken from their home by a Sheriff’s deputy and social workers.

I'm innocent': Perth mother separated from children for crime she didn't commit

Mother fighting to get children back after wrongful conviction.

A Perth mother is fighting to regain custody of her four children, after she was wrongfully convicted of a serious assault against one of them.  The 28-year-old, who can’t be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to assaulting her 16 month old daughter in 2010.

She claims that despite her innocence, her lawyer advised her to confess to the crime.  “I was told if I didn't, I would probably never see my kids again and that I would probably go to jail for a very long time,” she said.

“I didn’t know what to do, I was 20.”

Thousands of Canadian children falsely removed over two decades due to flawed drug testing system “Motherisk“

‘Motherisk' hair testing was flawed, and improperly administered all across Canada over twenty years. The results were devastating. Families broken up, children seized and irrevocably adopted out.

Motherisk case shows cracks in child welfare as Ontario turns its back on the many victims.

Motherisk hair testing tragedy timeline:

Hunter New England FACS office fails to meet Children's Guardian accreditation standards for out of home care

Six months: Hunter New England FACS office has an extended deadline to meet Children's Guardian accreditation standards or it will be stripped of its authority to oversee children in out of home care.

Six months: Hunter New England FACS office has an extended deadline to meet Children's Guardian accreditation standards or it will be stripped of its authority to oversee children in out of home care.THE Hunter’s Family and Community Services (FACS) office could be stripped of its authority to oversee out of home care for at-risk children after failing to meet accreditation requirements.

The Hunter New England FACS district has been given a “six month lifeline” to meet the Office of Children’s Guardian standards or have its accreditation withdrawn.

More foster children adopted after government reforms, Pru Goward says

For Meredith and Elliott Gordon, life has dramatically changed since welcoming their daughter, Kathleen, into the family.

The West Ryde couple first met their daughter when she was eight months old and came into their care as a foster child.

Last November, after caring for her for two years, they adopted Kathleen – a process that would have taken longer if it was not for reforms the NSW government introduced last year to encourage foster parents to adopt the children in their care.

NT girl placed in care 50 times in six years was denied school and medical treatment

A Northern Territory woman who was placed into child protection more than 50 times over six years has told a royal commission she feels let down by the system.

A Northern Territory girl was placed in child protection more than 50 times over six years, during which she missed years of school, went to the dentist just once and wasn't treated for scabies, the royal commission has been told.

Amber alert mother issues call to arms to stand up against Queensland health system

Jacinda "Cini" Walker has called on supporters to stand up against the Queensland health system during a Facebook live video update on Saturday.

Cini Walker, the mother of four-year-old Chase Walker-Steven who was at the centre of an Amber Alert on Friday, has issued a call to arms for her supporters to stand up against the Queensland health system.

Children who ended up in wheelchairs after their mother 'fabricated' their illnesses were neglected by social services, family judge rules

  • A family court judge ruled that two children were neglected by social services
  • Judge Vera Mayer said one of the social workers showed 'alarming ineptitude'
  • The children were not identified but the court heard Barnet Council was involved

Two children who ended up in wheelchairs after their mother 'fabricated' their illnesses were neglected by social services bosses, a family court judge has said.

Judge Vera Mayer said a social worker who worked on the case for six years had demonstrated 'alarming ineptitude'.