Insight (1995)

Removing Kids (2012x3)

: 06, 2012

Young people speak out about what should happen when they’re in abusive families. They say that they weren’t listened to. So this week they’re front and centre. Insight talks to young people who’ve been through the care system about when is the right time to be removed from abusive families, what they need from the system, and whether their parents should be given more chances to change their ways. Some child protection experts say children are left in unsafe homes for too long because the system is wrongly geared towards the rights of the parents. Others say a tougher approach would unfairly punish lower socio-economic families, and that parents should be given more chances and support to improve their behaviour. Since 2007, the number of children in care has increased by over a third. Children are often in care for many years, with different placements, different families and different schools, and almost no children are forcibly adopted out. This week the kids themselves have their say, as well as a father who had his two toddlers removed – but managed to get them back after turning his life around.