The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in Victoria has been at the center of a number of concerning issues regarding the welfare of vulnerable children and victims of violence. Numerous families have been needlessly suffering due to what can only be described as fundamental and systemic failures within this government department. It has become increasingly clear that a full investigation through a royal commission is essential to identify the root causes of these problems and implement necessary reforms.

Every day, children and victims of violence in Victoria are left struggling within a system that seems to pursue them rather than protect them. This is particularly alarming when children, already victims of abuse, are frequently being ripped from safe environments, misunderstood, and misjudged under current processes. Instead of receiving support, many are labeled and victimized further, exacerbating their trauma.

In many cases, parents who are desperately seeking help and protection for their children from abusive situations have found themselves accused and maligned rather than being supported as allies against violence. This unacceptable turn of events leaves too many children to suffer daily, their cries for help lost in an overwhelming bureaucracy.

Statistics and reports from grassroots organizations supporting victims of abuse highlight the immense scale of this tragic oversight. According to the latest child welfare reports, numerous children under DHHS care have been subjected to further harm due to mismanagement and policy failures. This is not just an administrative error; it is a moral crisis demanding urgent attention at the highest levels.

A royal commission is a powerful public inquiry that can examine the systemic failures within DHHS Victoria. Such a commission can assess past incident records, evaluate policy implementation, and listen to testimony directly from affected individuals—parents, children, and advocate organizations. By doing so, it will shine a light on the dark corners of this department, ensuring that no child feels abandoned by the very system meant to protect them.

We believe that every child in Victoria deserves not just basic protection, but a nurturing and safe environment where they can thrive without fear of exploitation or neglect. Now is the time for the Victorian Government to take decisive action, hold DHHS accountable, and restore confidence in its ability to serve and protect our most vulnerable community members.

Please sign this petition to call for a royal commission into DHHS Victoria. Stand with those who have suffered, and let's ensure no more children fall through the cracks of a broken system.