DOCS FAILS TO ACT

My daughter is a drug abuser. She is also the mother of two small children
(one and seven). Since November last year I have been desperately trying to
get help for her and the children through DOCS. I have contacted DOCS at
least 40 times, had an hour-long interview, and documented all my concerns.

The children are physically and emotionally abused and the school-aged
child often misses school. The school has also been in contact with DOCS.

Various men have moved in and out of the house, satisfying my daughter's
various addictions and adding to the children's confusion. The neighbours
have contacted DOCS a number of times.

DOCS' response is always: "The mother does not present in a condition that
appears to warrant removing the children," and "DOCS do not attribute the
same level of concern to the situation as the school does."

The DOCS emergency after-hours number often rings out unanswered: a serious
problem for a child's emergency number.

DOCS appears to be there to support the abuser. I believe that if my
daughter understood she was going to lose the children she would make an
effort to stop using drugs and care for the children. DOCS must make make a
decision: is it there for the kids or the addict?

Name withheld, Sydney.