How to and can I report to DOCS?

[Shanaynay]

Hi everyone,

Unfortunately I live near a family and there concerns are for their two little girls, aged 4 and 2. :(

I either walk or drive past their house everyday.

This is what I do know:

* The state of the outside of the house is disgusting. THe front yard is littered with newspapers, cigarette butts, beer bottles and clothes
* I often hear screaming, yelling, and crying coming from both the girls and/or the mother and ?father? - the bloke that lives there anyhow
* This bloke that lives there must be an alcoholic, every single time I walk by, even at 9am, he is drinking beer
* There are other feral-looking adults in and out of the house ALL day
* Walking past today, I heard this: "I'll kill you, kill the kids, then I'll kill myself" - screamed at the top of her lungs, and lots of swear words in between those words :eek:

This is what other neighbours told me today:

* The mother is a stripper and never there - and frequently gets complete strangers to go into her house and look after her kids

* Constant screaming, yelling, and swearing at the girls by the mother and the bloke.

* The two little girls were outside in the middle of the road the other night both crying at 1:30am, and said they were upset because their mum was hurting herself.

* She told another neighbour she didn't want her kids and offered her $100 a week of her Centrelink payments if she owuld have her live with them. Apparently she won't send them into foster care etc... because she doesn't want to lose money :eek:


I really feel something needs to be done about this situation - these little girls are only 4 and 2 years old.

I am unsure how to report to DOCS, or if I can, seeing as much of this is not waht I saw myself, but waht other people told me? Is this good enough for DOCS or will they just dismiss this?

It truly is horrible :crying:

Advice please...

[kiwibird27]

You can report and stay completely annonymous, they will then investigate and take it further if there are found to be other people with concerns too. Doc's never dismiss anything - In fact they ,may already have a file on the family!!! Just give them a call, they are really helpful!!! It will help you to feel better too that u have helped those little girls any way u can!!!

[the_queen]

I would report that. Particularly the bit about them being outside at 1:30am and what they said about mum hurting herself.
If nothing else, it will bring this family to the attention of the authorities. Hopefully these poor little girls can be rescued from what sounds like a horrible existence.

You're a good person. You care about the welfare of these children. Ask the other neighbours to report what they've seen and heard too.

[MrsMiggins]

I don't have any experience with DoCS, but you can & should report that.

Check out their website here (http://www.community.nsw.gov.au/index_a.htm) for info on how to report it.

ETA: OK, Here (http://www.community.nsw.gov.au/html/child_protect/how_report.htm) is a better link.

DoCS may even be able to contact the neighbours who've spoken to you?? I would suggest you let those other neighbours know that you have reported it & encourage them to do likewise.

Further edit: In the majority of cases, the children would not be removed from the home unless they were in immediate danger. Coincidental timing actually, as only this afternoon I was reading an article about the types of child abuse and what happens when it's reported. There were a few case studies used as examples and it was very interesting to see how the lives of the whole family could be turned around by counselling.

[subaruforestermum]

I would report it too, at least then it can be investigated thoroughly, and they will even ask neighbours about them too...but then its up to the neighbours if they want to get involved or not.......

Those kids need someone like to to step up and be their voice, they cant help themselves and need someone to have the gutts to do it, rather than sit back and wait until its too late and something bad (even worse than their situation now) happens.......

[MrsMiggins]

Here is a great quote from the DoCS website (see my previous post)


I am not sure whether the child or young person has been abused or not, but I am worried. Should I make a report?
You can make a report to DoCS if you suspect that a child or young person is at risk of harm. This means you have current concerns for the safety, welfare or wellbeing for a child or young person.You don’t have to be certain, you only need to make sure your concerns are well founded and based on information you know or have from a reliable source.

This seems to be your situation exactly.

[Miss_Vicki]

couldnt u jsut keep complianing to the cops as well?

[Shanaynay]

Thankyou for the support. I was unsure of whether I would b ok to report seeing as some of it I didn't see myself, but it seems that's ok, as I suspect abuse, as per the quote from Mrs Miggins.

I did speak to two other sets of neighbours about it - one lot said it's none of their business and what goes on in other peoples homes is only their business :eek: (yet they were happy to stand there for 20 mins and tell me everything they saw :rolleyes: )
and the other set of neighbours don't want to get involved because they have had troubles with those neighbours in the past and are afraid of creating more trouble. So it seems it is up to me. *sigh*

Thinking about those poor two little girls has had me in tears much of the evening :crying:

Jaz'sMum - I'm not sure about calling the plice - does anyone have a recommendation?

[Shanaynay]

Oh, thankyou for that link Mrs Miggins. They take calls 24 hours a day! I'll be calling in the morning after I find out what house number they are - do I need any other details do you think? All I know is the kids names....

[mythreelittlemonkeys]

I think all you need is the address and the childrens names... and surname...the police wont do anything unless coincedental timing and they see vilolence towards children...
Personally I would call DOCS and lodge the fear...then it is in their hands...and you know you done the best you can to try and help those little innocent girls...

[Shanaynay]

I just called. The woman ws really nice and really helpful - asked questions about absolutely everything and hopefully something will be done. I felt so nervous calling, I odn't know why - when she asked me was there anything I wanted to add I said I understood that DOCS took far too many complaints that they could handle, but I really hoped something would be done about this case. I actually cried :o when I told her that I have to hear all the yelling and stuff everyday and it makes me really upset. One of the girls is my DD's age... I can't even imagine my DD having to live like that.... :crying:
I did ask also they don't tell them my name and address, I can olnly imagine what might happen to me then :eek:

[Cupcake]

Good for you!!
It is better to be safe than sorry.
Lets hope they will do something soon.

[MrsMiggins]

Thanks for the update phineas!

I think I would have cried as well - anything like this makes me well up since I had my baby!

[bronny-jane]

* The state of the outside of the house is disgusting. THe front yard is littered with newspapers, cigarette butts, beer bottles and clothes
* I often hear screaming, yelling, and crying coming from both the girls and/or the mother and ?father? - the bloke that lives there anyhow
* This bloke that lives there must be an alcoholic, every single time I walk by, even at 9am, he is drinking beer



:eek: my front yard looks bad at the moment, i dont have time to get into any yard work....and dh wont lift a finger.......

have you offered to baby sit? might help the kids

[pookiesossige]

You have done the right thing :yes: . I don't think that calling the police would be a waste of time (yours and there's) because when they are called to a house to break up a fight/domestic violence situation, and there are children in the house, they are mandated to then contact DoCS. If they already had reports of this sort of thing going on from a concerned neighbour ie. yourself, then that can't be a bad thing, I guess, and it makes it obvious that the behaviour has been continuing for some time.

I'm so glad that someone is there to stick up for those kids- you are a good person for what you are doing :yes: :hugs:

[Kaylamum]

I would call docs so many kids are growing up with irresponsible parents who are just out to collect the money from the government. if none of your neighbours are interested in helping i woulden't suggest it to them anymore as they might tell the family that it was you

[Shanaynay]

Thankyou everyone :o I feel like I really have done the right thing now.

Bronnyjane - I see where you are coming from with offering to look after the kids etc... but I really don't want to get involved with these people at all. I have my own children to worry about too and neighbours have had trouble with this family while looking after thir kids before, I really don't want to put my two girls in that sort of situation....

.....and Kaylamum, I know, I'm not going to tell anyone of the neighbours I reported the family, also I requested DOCS not tell them my name and address etc...

I just hope something gets done :crying: I'm not sure what, but I jsut don't want to see these little girls live like this :(

[Jinglebells]

phineas I just wanted to say good on ya chicky :thumbsup: so many just ignore what goes on around them and does nothing about it, i'm so glad you called DOC's :fingerscrossed: they will do somthing, thoes poor kids don't deserve a life like that, i'm so glad you've made the decision to call them

[Shanaynay]

Thanks Wondermum :)
Sadly I don't think anything has happened yet as there is still alot of abuse happening very loudly and the place hasn't been cleaned up etc... :(
Those poor little girls :no: it breaks my heart :crying:

[*Chels*]

All I can say Phinaes is good on you for reporting it!!
I really feel for those kids-that used to be me-praying for someone to rescue me.Youve done a great thing-you are saving their lives!

[Shanaynay]

Awww Chels :hugs:
*sniff* :crying:

[*~alegna~*]

wow Zoe thats full on! you did the absolute right thing....:hugs:

[mum2bubba]

Report them, you don't have to tell them who you are. My house gets messy from time to time :o but saying things like "I'll kill you" or whatever needs to be reported.

[mum33]

it was good of you to report it. mum works for docs. what they will do is they'll go to the house first and interview them and assess the situation, then decide if action needs to be taken.

i know people abuse docs and say they dont do anthing but they do as much as they can with the funding they have. docs is also seriously understaffed so it may take a few days for them to come out and they will only take action if the kids are in real danger. sad but thats the way it is.

[skmiddle]

Hi Phinaes

I work for an organisation that contracts to DOCS to provide intervention and care to children who are removed from their families. Unfortunately I see these kids alll the time. Two of them live with me and my family right now...

You may call DOCS any time. Technically you can call anonymously but they will still ask you for a name and try their hardest to get one. It is there job, and for a number of reasons, including angry natural parents/family/friends etc who want to cause problems for families..this does happen a lot too. You are also a mandatory reporter if you work in child related employment - that is if you work in any profession that required you sign a WWC (Working with children check).

Giving as much specific information as you can will help greatly, including times of incidents etc. I would advise first that you take some notes about what is going on that YOU know from your own observations. DOCS will not be interested in so and so telling you about the mother etc.

Just for a couple of days you should write down the time you hear them scream/look terrible/unsupervised etc. Have this ready when you call. I know this seems intrusive but it is better as DOCS have a lot of calls to attend to and may not always pay a visit on the first risk of harm notification they recieve about a family.

They are also unlikely to remove kids on the first visit. Mum will need to demonstrate that she is a capable mother and they will interview her a few times. Even if children are removed, they are not removed permanently as this is a lengthy process and the department has a policy to maintain families in every opportunity.

You can call the police, but they will more than likely simply refer it to DOCS. It may also cause more problems for the children, as if the mother is paranoid she may think (and rightly so) that her neighbours are dobbing her in and just move...dragging the kids with her. You would not believe how many kids we have cared for that have lived in more than 10 different homes, and they are only 10+ years old. One of our kids had lived in every state in Australia except Tasmaina! He was 11 when he came to us.

Also...Have you ever spoken to this woman? She may not be the neglectful stripper she's assumed to be. I know you may have seen enough to be convinced that she's not a good mum, but on the off chance it is always a good idea to check first. Say hi to her kids when they are outside and get an idea if they are afraid of their mum or just their situation. Wave to mum one day and give her a smile. See how she responds. There could me more going on and mum might just need a whole lot of help to get her and her kids through it.

It's easy to assume the worst and often this can be the case. But we have heard and met so many kids with awful awful case historys and thought "What the hell was your mother DOING!?" then we have met mum, only to realise that some things just snowball and if someone had stepped in an tried to help before things got really bad....the kids would still be with their loving mummy...and mummy would still be loving.

Just realised that I cant give the number on here, but PM me for numbers to call for DOCS. If you are worried about making a report initially there are also people you can talk to who will direct you about what to do.

Thank you for looking out for kids who need looking out for. I strongly believe that children are our best bet for a beautiful future.:angel:

Kell

[Mamaduke]

I did speak to two other sets of neighbours about it - one lot said it's none of their business and what goes on in other peoples homes is only their business :eek: (yet they were happy to stand there for 20 mins and tell me everything they saw :rolleyes: )
and the other set of neighbours don't want to get involved because they have had troubles with those neighbours in the past and are afraid of creating more trouble.
I never use this word in this context but...
JESUS!!!! Whatever happened to 'it takes a village...' - what lilly-livered s.h.i.t.s of neighbours you have!
If you see the children out at all hours or when you hear yelling, screaming, fighting etc call the police and let them know that there are 2 small children in the home...stuff the mother/father or any other jerk that may be inhabiting the place at the time...if the parent knows that the police are going to come around she may start behaving herself so as not to bring unwanted attention on herself.
I don't agree with the 'softly softly' approach towards the mother...this is a woman who was willing to let her children live elsewhere as long as she still got her pension...she deserves nothing from us as a community - those children are being let down by every single person that can make a difference in their lives...it seems (from the post from skmiddle) that we as a society, bend over backwards to not offend or upset the parent, while innocent children suffer - what is wrong with that picture!!!:no:

[Shanaynay]

Yes, definately. They all just stand back and let it happen. Mind you, I live in quite a bad area and some of the other famillies aren't really the sort of family I'd want to be in either :gloomy:

skmiddle - thanks for all your advice. I have called DOCS, and the woman was very helpful and you're right, you need to have dates and times, etc...!
I'm the last person to judge a mum, I've had my moments when I must look like I need reporting :eek: but I've had concerns for about 6 months now and those little girls definately need some intervention there. I haven't offered to help the mum (I don't even know which one she is as there are quite a few girls in and out all day), I know that sounds wrong, but DH suspects these people are drug dealers :eek: and I just want to stay away. Other neighbours have had trouble with them and I have my own two little girls to think about so I just want to keep my distance :o

[Mummy'N'Bubby]

I only read the first part of your thread... Thats terrible.. I would call childrens welfare/services.
They will come out and check out the place and if it is disgusting and have proof by what they see they will step up and do something..
For petes sake do something.. Those little girls dont have a loud enough voice to say something and if it isnt stopped they (the girls) will think it is ok to live like this... Even call the police.. Just give them the address as to where these filth mungbeans live and they will investigate...

[skmiddle]

I agree that the kids are being let down by the person who should most likely care. It's great that you reported it Phinaes and hopefully the girls will get some help.

Mamaduke I wasn't suggesting the softly approach, I have seen first hand what this kind of neglect and abuse does to kids and it makes me ill that people could do that to their own flesh. I was simply suggesting (Given that I only know what Phinaes wrote) that in any circumstance it is always handy to check out as much as you can. If there has been neglect, drugs, abuse, whatever, then the woman should be held accountable to her children and society. There is never a reason to hurt your children, hence why parents should be able to access the help they need to parent their kids.

When you make a report, the officer receiving the report will always ask how well you know the family you are reporting, a good reason to say hello or give the kids a smile just to make sure and to help provide more info when you make the call.

ie...I said hi to one of the kids and they : winced and ran away screaming / Ran up to me and hugged me for dear life and they dont know me from a bar of soap. There are identifiable behaviors that officers are aware of which indicate abuse. If you have just had that one contact with the family you can get so much more about what's going on...sometimes.

However, it was just a suggestion.



We have lived with and rehabilitated (as much as they can be...) traumatised children and worked with their families to rebuild their relationships with their kids for seven years. It doesn't mean I agree with allowing abusive parents have contact with their children or accept any excuse for their behavior, it's just part of the job to remain as unbias as possible...or be consumed with anger at some people who dare call themselves 'Parents.'

If things haven't improved since you called Phinaes, I would give it until the next screaming match or suspicious looking drug drop and call the cops...catch em in the act. There has already been one notification now, action is closer to being taken.

Good luck x you did a great thing.

Kell x:thumbsup:

[au01]

I did speak to two other sets of neighbours about it - one lot said it's none of their business and what goes on in other peoples homes is only their business :eek: (yet they were happy to stand there for 20 mins and tell me everything they saw :rolleyes: )
and the other set of neighbours don't want to get involved because they have had troubles with those neighbours in the past and are afraid of creating more trouble. So it seems it is up to me. *sigh*


Well IMHO I think if the parents aren't looking after the kids then it IS out right to report it.Someone has to look out for those little girls.
What happens if it isn't reported and something terrible did happen that could have been prevented?
Sounds like those poor girls would be better off in foster care.growing up like that will just mess with their heads....I'd hate to see the inside of their house.
I have rang DOCS before and the lady was lovely and they did take me seriouly unfortunatley they people involved moved out before DOCS came to investigate. :no:

[2prettygirls]

I agree in calling DOCS, those poor little girls makes me so sad to read stories like that, what makes parents want to be so nasty to innocent children is beyond me. So phineas whats been happening lately is there any help on the way for these little girls or does their christmas look bleak and sad?

[My4True Angels]

hey i think you done a great thing for those kids by calling DOCS. I have called Docs on a single mother before and all you have to remember is never feel guilty even if the kids get taken from the parents.
In my case the mother was a druggo....which i hold nothing agaisnt ppl like that as i was on drugs at one time......but i do hold it against a parent if they take drugs in front of their child...leave drugs around for the child to take, deal infront of the kids and dont feed their child, prostitute infront of their child plus much more neglet the mother had the children taken from her and went to jail. she was a friend of mine and i had warned her to back down and start looking after her kids properly unless i was gonna call DOCS she laughed at me said they were her kids and she would do what she likes with them so after a week or two and she didnt stop or look after the kis better i called DOCS and i still dont have any regrets.

[neeny]

Hi

I am not a police officer but work for Qld Police and know that they will investigate if contacted and may pass your comments on to the child abuse unit. MOre than likely they would take it up with DOCS.

If there are plenty of people coming and going that is a sign of drug dealing and/or prostitution. Take note of rego plates and let police know via crimestoppers (you remain anon) they WONT ignore it!

Sadly there are many parents out there who are happy to take their kids on board just for money ( a friend of ours - her ex hubby takes the kids every 2nd w/end so he doesn't have to pay so much child support).

We recently had a family live near us and she gambled, drank and was a suspected marijuanna user (possibly dealer) as she was breastfeeding and her 6 month old often looked spaced out. She often asked neighbours for money, was threatened with eviction three times and was finally evicted. I don't think she hurt her kids as such but they were always hungry and sometimes not at school (she has 4). Her car was reposessed and electricity nearly cut off.

Keep an eye out and don't for a minute think you're being too nosey - the children need someone to watch over them if their own mother can't do it you are that angel!

[sarz82]

department of human services are use less, they wont do anything, according to them if the kids arnt physicaly abbused they dont care, my friends aunt makes her 8yr old steal so she can buy her drugs, they dont care.
u can try but dont get your hopes up.
i was a foster carer for 6 months i know the family where she come from and they sent her home to them even though her mum was still on drugs, she is 5 now and i still see her to keep an eye out. dhs pay the mums daycare fees for her 6 kids, they give her $100 week for food and took 100s of dollars of stuff over at xmas. they dont take complants seriously unless you have seen abuse.
sarsha

[Shanaynay]

Seeing as this thread has come back up I think I will give an update.

I spoke to a neighbour on New Year's Eve after I saw the house empty with the door kicked in and all the lights on.

Apparently two weeks ago both the little girls were removed from the care of their mother and put into the care of their grandmother (the fathers mother). Apparently she is a really nice and decent lady so hopefully the two little girls had a happy Christmas :fingerscrossed:

Then a few days ago, the landlords of the house went into the house when the mum and dad/partner weren't home, chucked all their stuff out, and changed the locks. They told neighbours they were sick of the constant police call-outs to their property!
They did know that the little girls had been removed, hopefully they wouldn't have just kicked them out if they knew they had kids with them :eek:

I'm sad... I guess it's good those little girls are out of there... but now what will happen... what if the grandmother doesn't want to bring them up... it's so sad imagining what their lives might turn out like :crying: I hope they are ok :(

[AM]

What a sad story!
Hopefully the 2 little girls are somewhere safe and secure now.

[jessgray]

can a owner do that just turf your stuff out without notice?:eek:
i hope the girls had a good christmas:tree:

[Shanaynay]

Jessgray - I wouldn't think so :eek: But seeing as all the reports to the police about the tenants... the tenants wouldn't really have had a leg to stand on.....