Abstract

The concept of child welfare ‘paramountcy’ has developed within alegal framework of ‘extreme caution’ (Cobley, 1995:16); high judicial regard for thetraditional notion of family sanctity has ensured that intervention remains ‘difficult’ evenin cases involving urgent child protection (Lyon, 2003:639). The provision of ‘reluctantbut necessary’ family support (Finch, 1989:7) reflects long-held social fears ofjeopardising the family unit’s privileged status; similarly, the values ‘traditionally placedon …the sanctity of the home’ (Allen, 2003:10) continue to subtly inform a culture ofparental ‘ownership’ over children.