An abusive mother who was the “face” of a foster care agency has won a payout after the child welfare authority disclosed details of her history to her employer.

The Department of Family and Community Services must compensate the woman $4539 after she was fired from her position at the agency over fears for children in its care and the organisation’s reputation.

The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal found FaCS breached the mother’s privacy by alerting her employer of claims the father had sexually abused their daughters; that the woman failed to undergo drug and alcohol testing; and that she prioritised her needs over her children’s.

The mother, who was made anonymous in the judgment, held a “key role” in the organisation and was largely responsible for the recruitment of care staff.

She came to the attention of FaCS during Family Court proceedings in which she and her husband claimed the other had abused their children in different ways.