The Know Your Rights Cards are a QATSICPP initiative which are designed to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and raise community awareness of the rights of those families who are involved in the child protection system in Queensland.
QATSICPP’s aim in developing this resource is to increase the knowledge of families, children and young people to be aware of their rights when they are navigating this complex system and to provide an opportunity for them to exercise these rights at the very earliest available opportunity, should they choose.
Knowing your rights when dealing with Child Safety empowers families in ensuring they are fully-informed, that the values of self-determination are respected and upheld, and that there is meaningful participation in decision making that affects the lives of their children and young people. This resource can aid families, children and young people in having difficult conversations with Child Safety and to ask for assistance in accessing their rights if required.
The wallet-sized cards can be used by service providers, members of the community as well as Child Safety to provide support to a family, child or young person who may not be aware of their rights when dealing with Child Safety. They provide a quick reference guide in relation to some of their options.
The Know Your Rights cards provide state-wide details about how to contact the following services for assistance or further information:
- Family Participation Program;
- Family Wellbeing Service; and
- Legal Service Providers.
The cards also include information about the right to have an Independent Entity/Person to support families, children and young people in their engagement with Child Safety to ensure that discussions are centred around the children and/or young people, as well as the culture and the strengths of each individual family.
QATSICPP encourages the wide dissemination of this resource in order to influence positive change through building strength, capability and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
To assist with the promotion of these messages, QATSICPP have also developed this resource into an A4 poster and this can be accessed here. For the printable trifold version please access here.
