Overhearing a parent verbally abuse their child can be confronting, but child safety workers say people can respond to ensure everyone involved remains safe. Belinda Edwards and Karen McGrath have almost 50 years of frontline experience with the Queensland Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs. They say child safety officers take reports of verbal abuse seriously and when people contact the department about something they’ve witnessed or heard, it can trigger support to help a struggling family. “Most of the time people need support,” Ms McGrath said. Listeners share troubling experiences An ABC Radio Brisbane listener from the city’s western suburbs, who wished to remain anonymous, said they were hanging washing out in their backyard when they overheard this exchange between a neighbour and his crying toddler: “You’re slow, and you’re crying and you’re an idiot. What’s wrong with you? What’s wrong with your brain? You’re a brain-dead idiot.” The listener was shocked by the parent’s words, but confused about what to do next. Several other listeners shared similar stories, but couldn’t reach a consensus about the right way to handle the situation. “In hospital after my child’s birth, I sat in a lounge and witnessed a man’s cruel teasing of his two-year-old son. He said his mother had… Read full this story
- Parents who abuse children to face tougher sentences if they try to blame each other
- Mothers who fled abusive partners after one was kicked in the stomach while pregnant and the other was threatened with a cricket bat discuss spending Christmas living in a refuge
- 5 Things Loving Parents Would Never Say
- 'Emotionless' R.Kelly has bail set at $1M after court hears explicit details of alleged sexual abuse against three underage girls, as the star's lawyer says he won't try to run because 'contrary to the song, he doesn't like to fly'
- Virginia teachers charged with assaulting six non-verbal children
- Why parents kill their children: Experts reveal what drives mothers to murder their infants and how kids can be used as 'pawns'
- Hollywood Must Stop Enabling R. Kelly and Treating His Abuse as a Punch Line
- Liam Fee and Baby P tragedies show why we must never turn a blind eye to child abuse
- Ave Maria Short Film Review: Vanita Omung Kumar Showcases Important Issue of Child Sexual Abuse
- Vegan parents who eat only raw fruit and vegetables are charged with MURDER for the starvation death of their 18-month-old son who was found weighing only 17lbs
You've seen or overheard a parent verbally abusing their child. What should you do next? have 414 words, post on www.abc.net.au at May 10, 2022. This is cached page on Gatofuns. If you want remove this page, please contact us.