For Child Protection
Parents with Intellectual Disability Have Rights
Parents with intellectual disability have the right to:
- Be a Parent
- Have the same rights as all parents
- Have programs made to meet their needs, this could include extra time and support
- Have information given to them in Plain English or in a way they can best understand
- Speak up for themselves
- Be listened to
- Get help
- Have a support person with them at all meetings
- Ask for support and get support
- Have the right kind of support for their individual needs
- Have support to go to access visits with their children
- Advocacy
- Ask for advocacy
- Ask child protection what they think the problem is
- Ask child protection to come back or call back when the parent has support with them
- Ask child protection for copies of all documents
- Ask child protection questions
- Get truthful answers
- Get legal support
- Get help to connect to the NDIS
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There is now a Charter of Rights for Parents and Carers with Disability involved with Child Protection in Victoria
Child protection practitioners must follow this charter.
This Charter is in the Victorian Child Protection Manual.
This is a link to the Charter for Parents in Victoria
This is a link to the Easy Read Information Booklet about the Charter for Parents in Victoria
3212 Easy Read Version -Charter Of Rights For Parents And Carers With Disabilities Involved With Child Protection In Victoria
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Resources made for workers
Hand in Hand Report
This report was created with parents from across Victoria supported by various services
https://daru.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Hand-in-Hand-Parents-meeting-final.pdf
How to create a Plain English document
Are you working with a family that needs information in easy English?
Please click the link this resource
Working-with-People-who-use-Plain-English.pdf
Working with Parents with an Intellectual Disability
This resource is created to support organisations working with people with intellectual disability
https://www.parentingrc.org.au/programs/healthy-start/
Raising Children
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Support for parents with intellectual disability
Child protection practitioners should support parents to link into the supports they need to be the best parent possible, below are some helpful links.
NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme)
Does the parent you are working with have an NDIS plan?
An NDIS plan can help them with goals
One of their goals can be – to be the best parent they can be
Here is a link to the National Disability Insurance Scheme
Public Transport Victoria
MYKI register
Register a MYKI card, so child protection can put money on the myki card to help with travel to access visits
https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/myki/register-your-myki/
Public Transport Victoria Travel Access Pass
Parents might be eligible for free public transport in Victoria
Click link below
https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/tickets/myki/concessions-and-free-travel/access-travel-pass/
Companion Card
Parents might be entitled to get the companion card.
The companion card can get cover a support worker into places for free- including public transport
Click link below
https://www.companioncard.vic.gov.au/
Disability Gateway
The Disability Gateway helps people with disability, their families and carers find the information, services and support they need in Australia.
https://www.disabilitygateway.gov.au/