Submissions Library

This submission details a family’s experience of failures and injustice within the child protection system.

Lily Woodward’s submisison describes the abuse and challenges she faced as a child in the child protection system and her subsequent experiences of having her own children removed.

Christina Secombe is a Wotjobaluk woman.

This submission outlines traumatic experiences Christina faced growing up and the impact it had on her later life.

Anita Mobourne is a Wamba Wamba, Yorta Yorta, and Gunditjmara and Wotjobaluk woman.

This submission is a transcript of Anita talking about her family’s experiences, her working life and the importance of connection, culture and identity.

Denise Sweet is a Bundjalung Gumbaynggirr woman currently on Wergaia country.

This submission is a transcript of Denise Sweet recounting her family’s experiences of injustice since colonisation.

This submission is from a a Barkindji/ Yorta Yorta/ Wiradjuri/ Mutti Mutti woman.

It details her experience in the foster care system, which led to trauma, drugs and alcohol, and their subsequent positive experince and sobriety through Bunjilwarra.

This submission is about the author’s experience as a child in out of home care and their interactions with DHS as they grew up. It also their describes their subsequent treatment by DHS as a parent.

Wonyarna Christopher Lee Edwards is a Gunai Kurnai man.

This submission describes Wonyarna’s experience in custody in both adult and youth justice facilities, including the impact of three months spent in solitary confinement. Wonyarna writes about being removed from his mother aged nine and spending his childhood in out of home care. He also describes the importance of painting to connect to his culture and ancestors through art.

This submission outlines a first-hand experience of kinship care and the ways in which the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing is “ill equipped to deal with Indigenous families.”

Aunty Di Kerr is an Elder of the Wurundjeri people.

This submission describes Aunty Di’s story, including the importance of ceremony and her role in reviving coming of age and naming ceremonies. It also details Aunty Di’s experience as a foster carer, her work with kids in out of home care, and with Link Up.