A Mount Isa foster care couple believe the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services is neglecting two foster children recently in its care.
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The carers, who cannot be named due to the risk of identifying the children, said it was concerning that two foster children were returned to a parent in a small community in the Gulf of Carpentaria, where they continue to be exposed to neglect and health risks.
The couple provided several periods of crisis and respite care for the children since they became foster carers several years ago.
The two children suffered from severe medical conditions, which could have been avoided, the female carer said.
She said the situation was mostly concerning because the children were once again exposed to the same conditions they were in when they were placed into crisis care.
The male carer said the two children were the more extreme cases of neglect they had seen.
He said the couple expressed concerns about the welfare of the children but that they were being stonewalled by the department since 2011 even though they had been praised as high-quality carers.
The department representatives have refused to address the couple's concerns about their wellbeing, due to confidentiality clauses in the Child Protection Act 1999, he said.
The male carer said he was concerned the children were being neglected because the department was reluctant to remove them from their indigenous culture.
He pointed out the Child Protection Act 1999, which states that Aboriginal children should be allowed to develop and maintain a connection with the child's family, culture, traditions, language and community should be prioritised to protect the children before their heritage.
''It's not about the stolen generation, it's about children's rights,'' he said.
''The unique point of the story is that the extended family view us as `family' and we are able to provide safety for the children in addition to maintaining cultural connections,'' he said.
Extended family spoke of concerns to the couple that the children were exposed to drug use, health risks, and lack of supervision. An extended family member said she was concerned with the wellbeing of the children.
One of the children was hospitalised this week, the family member said.
She said she supported the foster carers' concern for the children.
''I think they are doing a great job, it is very sad to see the children come back,'' the family member said.
A Department of Communities spokeswoman said she could not provide details about the children but that there were complex issues involving Queensland police.
Freedom of Information laws would not allow the Department of Communities to give The North West Star specific details about the children, the spokeswoman said.
The North West Star was threatened with legal action if it identified the children in the article.
The foster carers are under state government review, which will decide the suitability of their position.
They believe the review is unjustly motivated by their concerns about two neglected children formerly under the charge of the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services.
The male carer said the Department of Communities gave reasons behind the review; including the involvement of police to return children to their parent earlier this year.
The female carer said the couple intended to return the children but the children's guardian preferred to use police.
''We believe the review is designed to remove or suspend us from being foster carers using impressive sounding examples that become weak when viewed in the light of the primary principle in the Child Protection Act 1999, in that the child's best interests are paramount, with the added fact that one of the examples used for the review is completely false,'' she said.
She said it was the first time she knew of where a review was being completed without previous matters of concern being recorded against the carers.
''We don't feel due process has been followed, and the support agencies we were referred to including Pathways and Foster Care Queensland have been ineffective in questioning the grounds of the review,'' she said.
A letter written by the department lists the reasons why the foster couple are under review by the Department of Communities.
It states that as approved foster carers they are not meeting the standards required under the authority or another condition of the authority.
Reasons include failing to work in partnership with the department, failing to support the case planning objects for children in their care, the inability to follow directions given by the department.
The letter was written to the couple in April.
Three examples of these reasons were provided in the letter.
This included the need for police to be involved in taking the children from the couple so they can be returned to their parent, and for being quoted in the media without the permission of the department.
State member for Mount Isa Rob Katter last week submitted a letter to Minister for Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services Tracy Davis, addressing his concerns for the welfare of the children and the treatment of the foster couple.
''I have read an account of the events surrounding these two children over the past two years and it is of great concern and I believe requires immediate attention,'' Mr Katter said.
He said he held the couple in ''the highest regard as members of the community''.
''It would appear to me, from the evidence provided, that the majority of the children's family believe it is in their best interest that they are under the care of their foster parents,'' he said.
''I am well aware of the intention to keep children with their natural family and culture, however this can never be at such high risk to the children's health.''
The minister's office was contacted for comment but the matter was referred to the department.