One thing I have noticed, especially when something is not "in the best interest of the child" is that the issue has to be pushed and pushed hard to be heard.

Irrefutable proof is always a good thing.

Also throwing terms that DoCS use back at them is a good move... Terms such as "in the best interest of the child" or "contribute to the child's emotional well being" or "consistent with child abuse".

One thing I have noticed is that more parents need to learn how to "talk the talk".

The ability to talk the talk is a good way to subtly manipulate DoCS to a parent's advantage.

Every contact that a parent has with a DoCS worker, whether it's with a CSO a CSSO or whomever, notes are being made. They are noting down the parent's attitude, demeanor, behaviour, everything.

Above all, one basic rule of thumb with DoCS is a parent's "ability and willingness to change" and their "ability to maintain sustainable change".

If parents use the same terms and phrases that DoCS workers use, not only do they show DoCS workers that they are concerned solely about what is in the best interest of their child, but they give the DoCS worker the impression that everything that the CSO has done has been "embraced" by the parent.

It strokes the ego of the DoCS worker (they're doing their job and it's working!!) and is an advantage in the case.