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A visit with your child can be as short as one hour. It may take place at a park or playground, library, relative’s home or the Community Services Centre. Visits can be supervised or unsupervised.
If your home is assessed as safe, visits may happen in your home. This can include an overnight visit if it is safe. You have the right to ask for more time with your child, change the place you meet and ask for overnight stays.
If you are breastfeeding your baby, it can be especially hard to be apart from them. Your body will need to adjust to not breastfeeding as often. Be kind to yourself and reach out for extra support from friends, family or a support worker.
You can get free advice from the Australian Breastfeeding Association online or by calling 1800 686 268.
Every family’s circumstances are different. The caseworker will be guided by your baby’s GP or paediatrician, and by talking to you and your baby’s carer about what is best.
You may be able to have extra visits with your baby to continue breastfeeding, or you may be able to pump breastmilk to give to your baby’s carer.
The court may decide your visits with your child must be supervised. Ask the caseworker why your visits are being supervised and what you need to do to have unsupervised visits. If you are working with DCJ towards bringing your child home, you should feel supported to spend time alone with your child.
If your visit is supervised, the person supervising can be your child’s caseworker or another approved person from another agency, sometimes called a contact worker. They will document the visit to demonstrate how the visit went as the court may request these updates. Family members or other support people may apply to DCJ to be authorised supervisors for the time you spend with your child.
You should be treated with respect during visits and have the opportunity to spend meaningful time with your child. You have the right to ask for another supervisor if you feel like the supervisor is poorly impacting on the time with your child.
A supervised visit can be hard. You may feel self-conscious and feel like you have to overthink everything you do. If you are worried that you are not able to be yourself or feel things that happen during your time together are misinterpreted by the person supervising, speak up. Talk to the caseworker, the caseworker’s manager or someone you trust.
Organising supervised visits can be stressful. How well they go and how comfortable your child and you feel has a lot to do with the relationships between you, the child’s carer and the caseworker. If you don’t think these relationships are good, or have worries about them, speak to the caseworker, the caseworker’s manager or your lawyer.
You can have a family member or friend apply to be an authorised supervisor. This can make the visit more comfortable and natural for both you and your child.
These visits may be emotional. If you can do your best to stay calm during your time together, this will help your child to stay calm and feel safe too. If you struggle with this, it is only natural. Speak to the caseworker or contact worker about how to get help to manage this.
When the court hears that your time with your child is going well, it may change the decision for supervised visits based on your child’s best interests and plans for restoration. The caseworker should let you know how you can work towards unsupervised time with your child or how it could be made more natural, for example, by having someone from your child’s family approved to supervise.
It can help to set a reminder on your phone about your visit. It is also helpful to arrange your transport so you arrive on time. Spending time together can feel strange for you and your child. Talking to the caseworker or a supportive person about your feelings can help you get ready.
You can also speak with your child about the visit. You may be able to call, text or write a letter letting them know you love them, miss them and can’t wait to see them. If you can’t speak to your child beforehand, ask the caseworker how your child is being supported by others to get ready for your time together.
Ask the caseworker or your child’s carer about what your child has been enjoying lately – what book they are enjoying, or what food they like to eat or may need during your time together such as a healthy snack. Ask if your child has been learning something new that they would like to share with you during a visit.
You can help lower the stress or worries of a visit by letting your child make decisions such as what will happen and if they want someone special and safe there, like a grandparent or a sibling. If you are spending time with your child in an office and it is not comfortable or fun for your child, ask the caseworker if you can have the visit somewhere else.
It is also important to prepare for the practical elements of a visit. Ask if your child’s meal time will happen during your visit. Make sure you have any clothing, nappies or sleeping arrangements prepared if the visit is in your home.
You might want to bring family photographs to look at, have a book to read, colour in a picture, do a craft activity, play cards or bring your child’s favourite food to eat.
You may choose an activity like going to the park or an indoor playground, or something you know your child will enjoy.
Even if you have lots of questions to ask because you have missed your child, they can still get bored by just talking. Doing an activity while chatting will help your child relax and share more about what has been happening at school and in their life.
It is normal to cry, be nervous or get upset at a visit. Try to see things from your child’s point of view. Children look up to their parents and often feel the emotions their parent is feeling. If you are very sad, your child may feel sad too.
Make the most of your time together by going in with the goal of making a nice memory for your child. If you or your child get upset or things don’t go as planned, don’t worry. You can always work at making each visit meaningful for your child and your relationship.
Before a visit your child's carer should:
You, the carer and the caseworker need to work together to make family visits the best they can be for your child. Before a visit your child’s carer should:
ensure your child is ready and has the things they need for the visit
be open to talking to you, your child and the caseworker about how the child feels before the visit or after a previous visit.
You must all work together to help your child with any stress or sadness that happens around visit time.
Be consistent and always turn up. Let your child know when they will see you next. Ask your child what they may like to do next time you see them.
05 Jul 2024