This video story provides legal information about child protection.
It is the part of a series of videos about the law for people who have recently arrived in Australia.
Child Protection Student Kit - 208KB PDF File (2 pages)
Child Protection Teacher Kit - 185KB PDF File (2 pages)
Transcript of Video
Meena has two young girls, Meena and Mareem.
Meena: I’m going to work now.
Children: But mum it’s the school holidays! We want to go to the movies.
Meena: I know but I have to go to work. I’ll be home at 4 o’clock. There’s your lunch in the fridge. Be good, and DON’T go out or open the door to anyone. I’ll call you from work.
Children: Bye mummy.
Meena returns home later that day. She enters the house but can't see her two girls.
Meena: Meena! Mareem! What’s happened?
The door chime rings and Susan, Meena's neighbour, is at the door.
Susan: Hi Meena, don’t worry. The children are at my place. I saw them playing on the street.
Meena: Oh no!
Susan: It’s ok. I took them to my place. They’re watching TV.
Meena: Oh sorry. I told them to stay inside – I will have to beat them to teach them to listen.
Susan: I don’t think that’s a good idea. They’re too young to understand, Meena. If you hurt them, someone will report you to the police and child protection.
Meena: But they’re my children, it’s not the government’s business—or anyone else’s!
Susan: Child protection’s job is to protect children. They will come if they think children are in serious danger.
Meena: OK, OK, I won’t beat them, but what can I do? I have to work. There’s no one to stay with them. They must obey me and stay at home.
Susan: Well that’s another problem: the children are too young to stay alone. Child protection will look at that too.
Meena: What can I do? I have to work.
Susan: Well, I can look after them sometimes. Have you thought about child care? Can anyone else help you?
Meena: Thanks Susan, it’s so hard here in Australia. You know I’ve got no family here.
Susan: Can you call some of your friends? Look, come in for a cup of tea and we can talk about it.