A young Australian mum has lodged a legal appeal to prevent her daughter’s foster parents taking the baby abroad.
She is terrified that she will never see her daughter again if the couple emigrates with the child.
The 18-month-old has been in the foster care of a couple aged in their late 50’s and recently they applied to the Children’s Court for permanent custody. It’s believed they intend to move abroad with the little girl.
The Melbourne mum is absolutely distraught at the thought of her daughter being taken to another country, according to The Herald Sun.
“Once she is out of the country, she is gone. She is not coming back. I want to be a mother to her. I have not been given that chance,” she said.
The couple’s intentions were flagged when they lodged passport applications on March 31.
It’s believed that one of the foster parents who isn’t a permanent resident of Australia has been offered a job overseas.
The other partner is also believed to be on a visa and has recently stepped down from the board of a local association because of the impending move abroad.
The Department of Health and Human Services has proposed a plan for the foster parents to return to Australia four times a year to facilitate contact with the girl’s birth family. But once the child has left the country, they would have no power to enforce this.
The case has been called “extraordinary” by family law lawyers and said it could allow overseas couples to bypass adoption rules. However, there are no charges of wrongdoing being brought against the foster parents.
Nathan Motton, a spokesperson for the Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos, said no comment could be made because the case was before the courts.
Department of Health and Human Services representative David Stockman also said it was a matter for the courts.
“Child-protection practitioners, along with other professionals, provide advice to the Children’s Court to inform the court’s decision-making about issues, including permanency,’’ he said.
So far, the foster parents have declined to comment on the case.
This is a very sad situation, we hope the two families can come to a compromise that will be in the best interests of the little girl.
