What there is to know...

This is a bit of a mess. Asking for a very close friend, so will be a bit sketchy.

Friend had an abusive childhood. She walked away years ago & has never looked back. There were more children born of the father's second relationship. One is an adult, one is not. Even though these children know of her, & know who she is they've never been involved.

Friend ran into the younger one a week ago. She'd left home.


Fast forward to today & some very serious stuff has gone down.


She's just found out that the police/DoCS are looking for a legal guardian for the child (16). Friend has 3 children of her own. She's the only family that may take the child & is trying to decide what to do.

But she can not have contact with the child's parents. Is this possible? Can she remain an anonymous carer? What financial assistance would she be entitled too? (Sole parent, child over 16) What is involved in saying yes? Living arrangements etc? (3brm home) If she said yes, how long would it take?