Investigators: Melissa O'Donnell, Fiona Stanley
External collaborators: Rhonda Marriott (Murdoch University), Stephanie Taplin (Australian Catholic University)
Removing a baby from their parents is the highest level of intervention used by the child protection system, and one which some mothers experience on the multiple occasions. There is limited knowledge about its incidence and impacts, nor whether there are particular over-represented groups (e.g. Aboriginal mothers and babies) who would respond to targeted interventions.
This study aims to increase knowledge about the nature, extent and impact of removals, repeat removals and entries of new babies into the care system, and to identify appropriate early intervention and prevention strategies, thereby preventing the need for babies to spend their childhood in care.