I am a parent who has experienced firsthand the devastating implications of the current system in place for child protection in Victoria, Australia. It has deeply affected my family, causing psychological damage to my children that will impact them for their lifetime. The existing system lacks transparency and accountability, which has resulted in my children being unjustly removed from my care.

This heart-wrenching experience could have been significantly different, perhaps even avoided, if child protection workers were required to wear body cameras during their interactions with clients. Body cameras could provide an objective account of interactions, protecting not just the rights of the children and their families, but also providing a means for practitioners to demonstrate appropriate conduct.

Official data on how widespread such mishandling cases may be is hard to come by, but complaints against child protective services suggest that our experience is not an isolated incident. Moreover, a 2017 report from the Commission for Children and Young People in Victoria revealed that children in the state's care experience 'abuse at rates far above those of the general child population' (Centre of Research Excellence in Child Wellbeing, 2017). This unsettling revelation is a stark call for reform.

Body cameras have been proven to decrease instances of police misconduct and increase transparency in law enforcement. Their use in child protection services could similarly provide benefits. By making body cameras mandatory for child protection workers in Victoria, we can advocate for the right to transparency, accountability, and the well-intentioned essence of the child protection services: to genuinely protect our children.

It is time for change. Stand with us to require Child Protection services in Victoria, Australia, to implement mandatory body camera usage for a safer, more transparent, and accountable child protection system. Sign this petition to protect the children and hold child protection services accountable.