00:02It's the worst job, it's the hardest job, but we have to do it.
00:06The ABC can't identify these foster parents or use their real names.
00:10But for the last seven months, Rebecca and Michael were looking after baby Mia,
00:15who came into their care at just three weeks old.
00:18She had injuries, so she was still having a lot of appointments, physios, MRIs.
00:24After a few weeks in their care, Mia flourished.
00:27And what was she like?
00:28She was just the happiest little baby.
00:31Everyone says it right, but she just glowed.
00:33While living with Rebecca and Michael, Mia also spent time with her biological parents
00:38for four-hour supervised visits five days a week.
00:42During that period, court hearings about Mia's future were continually delayed,
00:47waiting for a police report on those original injuries.
00:50The report was inconclusive.
00:53A magistrate here in Ballarat wanted to return Mia to her biological parents.
00:58The private provider, Child and Family Services and the Department of Family Fairness and Housing told the court that they
01:05were uncomfortable with this.
01:06With the court ordering a third party to assess the suitability of her parents taking care of her.
01:12The early parenting centre Tweddle was assigned, conducting two 10-day residential parenting courses.
01:19The ABC understands both parents were approved.
01:22They're life-changing decisions that they're putting in a position to make.
01:27I think we need to spend time to unpack it without judgement.
01:31Three days after she was returned, emergency services were called.
01:35They found Mia unresponsive and took her to hospital.
01:39She was transferred to Melbourne but died two days later.
01:43Michael and Rebecca found out she was in hospital just two hours before she died.
01:48We could have been sitting there holding her and talking to her and holding her hand and giving her kisses
01:54for two whole days.
01:56Former Children's Commissioner Anne Hollins says the incident is yet more evidence the foster care system in Australia is failing.
02:04The key missing bit is that the safety, the rights and the wellbeing of children is not a national priority.
02:11It's heartbreaking because why even call it child protection if that's not even what you're doing?
