Victoria Legal Aid

Child protection and parenting – what's the law?

This video provides basic legal information about child protection and parenting for people new to Australia. It is the part of a series of videos about the law for people who have recently arrived in Australia.

See more videos about the law.

Transcript

Text: Child Protection and Parenting

[An image of a suburban house appears on screen.]

[Vision changes to an image of a young mother, Meena, talking with her two young daughters in a kitchen.]

Meena: I’m going to work now.

[Vision changes to an image of the older daughter looking pleadingly at her mother.]

Older daughter: But mum it’s the school holidays! We want to go to the movies.

[Vision changes to an image of Meena squatting down and explaining the situation to her daughters.]

Meena: I know but I have to go to work. I’ll be home at 4 o’clock.

[Vision changes to an image of Meena pointing at a clock.]

Meena: There’s your lunch in the fridge.

[Vision changes to an image of the two daughters standing with the fridge door open.]

Meena: Be good, and don’t go out or open the door to anyone. I’ll call you from work.

[Vision changes to a split-screen image of Meena talking on the phone with her daughters.]

Older daughter: Bye mummy.

[Vision fades to black.]

[An image shows of Meena approaching the open front door of her house.]

Meena: Meena! Mareem! What’s happened?

[A doorbell rings and an image shows of a middle-aged woman, Susan, standing at the front door.]

Susan: Hi Meena, don’t worry the children are at my place. I saw them playing on the street.

[Vision changes to an image of a pink bicycle and pink scooter lying on the road.]

[Vision changes to an image of Meena looking worried.]

Meena: Oh no!

[Vision changes to an image of Susan reassuring Meena.]

Susan: It’s ok. I took them to my place. They’re watching TV.

[Vision changes to an image of the two daughters sitting in front of a television.]

Meena: Oh sorry. I told them to stay inside—I will have to beat them to teach them to listen.

[Vision changes to an image of Meena standing in the kitchen, her hand raised against her eldest daughter.]

Susan: I don’t think that’s a good idea.

[Vision changes to an image of Susan looking surprised.]

Susan: They’re too young to understand, Meena. If you hurt them, someone will report you to the police and child protection.

[Vision changes to an image of Meena standing in the kitchen, her hand raised against her eldest daughter. A bright red circle with a diagonal line strikes through the scene.]

[Vision changes to an image of Meena looking incredulously at Susan.]

Meena: But they’re my children, it’s not the government’s business—or anyone else’s!

[Vision changes to an image of Susan explaining the situation to Meena.]

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.

[Vision changes to an image of Meena looking frustrated.]

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.

[Vision changes to an image of a calendar with each day of the week marked by a photo of the two daughters accompanied by a different adult minder.]

Susan: Can you call some of your friends? Look, come in for a cup of tea and we can talk about it.

[Vision changes to an image of Susan looking warmly at Meena.]

Disclaimer: The material in this print-out relates to the law as it applies in the state of Victoria. It is intended as a general guide only. Readers should not act on the basis of any material in this print-out without getting legal advice about their own particular situations. Victoria Legal Aid disclaims any liability howsoever caused to any person in respect of any action taken in reliance on the contents of the publication.

We help Victorians with their legal problems and represent those who need it most. Find legal answers, chat with us online, or call us. You can speak to us in English or ask for an interpreter. You can also find more legal information at www.legalaid.vic.gov.au

Reviewed 10 March 2022

In this section