Families SA

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (15:32): I rise to put on the public record, at the request of one of my constituents, a matter of concern they have about Families SA. I will read in this letter sent to me:

Dear Robert

The Child Protection Act defines bullying as 'the repeated verbal, physical or social behaviour that is harmful and involves the misuse of power by an individual or group towards one or more persons'.

During the past 12 months since my foster childrens case has been transferred from the Riverland Families SA office to the Murraylands Families SA office I have had to endure micromanagement, criticism and bullying including the following statements:

'You do nothing for these children'

'Well I have raised 3 children'

'You only do this for the money'

And:

'These are our children and we can come here and take them anytime we like'…

'You don't support family contact'

The letter continues:

Prior to the transfer of my file I was told by the previous caseworker, manager and States Paediatrician that I was providing an outstanding standard of care to the children and that 'Families SA supports this placement'.

The following provisions (including and not limited to) have been changed, removed or denied since transferring from Riverland to Murraylands office:

School holiday weekly respite provisions removed

School fees and out of pocket incidentals revoked

Refusal to supply findings/report into 2mth psychological assessment

Denial of a one-off request to change fortnightly respite

When I last dropped the children for the fortnightly respite the carrier said to me she had been phoned by the office and told:

'It must be a massive hassle Rachel dropping children off after dinner'

'Did you know that Rachel gets paid whilst the children are in respite care—I suppose it doesn't matter because it's only a small amount'.

She then goes on to say:

I have learned through my discussions with [another informant] that [Families SA's] latest 'concern' is as follows: 'Families SA has real concerns regarding the provision of care for the children at the centre of this matter and has taken appropriate steps in what has been a highly challenging process of negotiation.'

I have not received any information about these 'real concerns' and can only assume that this is another bullying tactic from Families SA…I...have a scheduled home visit with the girls allocated caseworker and NGO support service this Thursday where I look forward to discussing the girls needs and strengths including:

The great physical, emotional and mental health and wellbeing of the girls during the school holidays and since resuming the school term…

The new skills the girls have mastered including;…bike riding, knitting…netball…chalk drawings and…painted canvases…

Annual dentist appointment…

Excellence Award presented at assembly for good behaviour, helpfulness and [excellence]…

Improvements in social skills and life skills and increase in peer relationships and recent attendance at multiple birthday parties.

When can I expect to receive an outline of the alleged 'real concerns' about my 'provision of care'???

My legal representation continues to advise me that Im entitled to a copy of the psychological report and that this request, (and my expectation for due process and my rights under freedom of information) don't entitle the department to label me 'highly challenging'. As I have stated multiple times in multiple emails: Im happy to discuss the contents of the report after I have received a copy of it and had reasonable time to consider its contents.

I have not received [an] apology from Families SA for the above allegations, treatment and bullying; neither has an apology been offered for the departmental email I was (mistakenly) linked into on July 15^th 2014.

…I have no criminal history, substance abuse issues, mental health issues…or…emotional/physical/financial issues of significance.

I have attached a copy of the childrens weekly timetable and a copy of the 'Charter of Rights for Children and Young People in Care from the Office of the Guardians website. I think you will discover, as you 'cross-reference' one document against the other, that the 'provision of care' for the girls is outstanding.

I request you read and distribute the contents of this letter in Parliament.

Yours faithfully

Rachel Titley.

I finish with this: I have personally met with this constituent and I have discussed the matters with her time and time again. I believe she is an absolutely dedicated and well-respected person and foster carer, as well as having her own children. I think this is another classic example of Families SA taking offence to someone with capacity to challenge them about the wellbeing of these children, and again this demonstrates the problems we are now facing with Families SA in South Australia.