How Could You? Hall of Shame-Australia-Abandoned foster child case

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Melbourne, Australia, “casual” employees of the Victorian Department of Human Services abandoned a 9-year-old boy who was in their care at a recreational facility near a lake at night. Police found him wandering on the streets alone. The workers were allegedly told by their supervisor that “it was too dangerous for one of them to stay with him. ” These workers have been fired.

The Minister for Community services ridiculously states, “Well what we clearly have is a case of terrible decision making. A young boy has been left at a recreational facility instead of being taken home after he ran away at home time.”

When child welfare workers abandon a child, it is “clearly” just a “terrible decision”, but for anyone else it is clearly a crime. Yes, now I get it.

“The police reportedly called DHS on the night to collect the boy but were told by a child protection employee that their shift had ended.

Police are investigating the incident as is DHS and now the State Government.”

Hey, when your shift ends, how can you be asked to account for kids?
Taking cues from Florida DCF , I see.

The Opposition’s spokesman says, ” Well the investigation, we’ve really got an ongoing, we’ve got a judicial investigation which you know started in, which is going to be sort of reporting in November.

But the real issue here in many ways is resources. And you know the Government has not allocated one extra cent or one extra child protection officer.

And at the end of the day they are very vocal about the various issues they identified in the system.

But they still haven’t actually been able to explain to the Victorian public how they’re going to get the extra officers and the support required to improve the systems because there hasn’t been one cent allocated to that in their campaign or since they’ve come into government.

ALISON CALDWELL: Former Supreme Court justice Philip Cummins is conducting an inquiry into Victoria’s child protection system. His report is due in November.”

Carers abandon boy in park at night

[Australian Broadcasting Company 3/31/11 by Alison Caldwell]

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