A WOMAN who killed her baby and critically injured the girl’s twin sister has the backing of the Department of Human Services in her bid to gain access to the surviving child.

And the department has issued the father an ultimatum that if he does not agree to a plan that allows the mother contact, it will seek to extend its supervision order over the surviving girl, “Alex”, now two-and-a-half, and her brother, 4, for a further year.

A three-day court hearing from November 5 will examine whether the order should end.

That decision will consider whether the parents have been able to work together on a “co-ordinated therapeutic plan”, which involves reintroducing the mother to the surviving girl and her elder brother.

“Alex” was so horrifically injured in the attack by her mother that she now has cerebral palsy, can’t walk or talk, and is in a wheelchair.

Her identity has been suppressed by the courts, to protect the mother and the children - against the wishes of the girl’s family.

EDITORIAL: GIVE A NAME TO THIS CHILD

Community Services Minister Mary Wooldridge, who two months ago said she did not support access for the mother, stood by that on Tuesday night.

“DHS is not and will not seek to vary the court order prohibiting access to the children by the mother through either the court process or the therapeutic plan,’’ Ms Wooldridge said.

But Alex’s paternal uncle told the Herald Sun he did not know why Ms Wooldridge would say that.

“I would say to the minister, I’m sorry, but you are wrong,” he said.

“Read the court reports and understand what the department is asking the court to do.

“It’s there in black and white. The department is asking for access to the children for the mother, the maternal grandmother and the maternal uncle.

“(The father) agreed to the grandmother and uncle but is objecting to the mother.’’

DHS refused to comment.

But the Herald Sun can confirm the DHS has co-ordinated meetings between the mother and the girl’s medical specialists in preparation for them to be reintroduced.

Alex’s uncle said the DHS had told the family many times it believed it was in the children’s best interests to have contact with their mother.

He said he was appalled the DHS was telling the family it would cease its involvement once the mother was granted access to the children.

“They’re holding a gun to my brother’s head,’’ he said.

“They’ve said they’d be happy to leave so long as (the father) gives access to (her).

“Their mandate is to do what is in the best interests of the children, but all they have been doing is trying to get (the mother) access.’’

The DHS has paid the therapist who prepared the plan, and the psychologist who recommended the contact occur and whose recommendations are contained within the plan.

The children’s father will fight the bid and has taken to social media in a desperate effort to raise money for lawyers.

“We feel like we’re fighting Goliath,’’ his brother said.

The little girl’s twin sister, “Ava’’, died in the same attack in April 2012.

The woman later pleaded guilty to infanticide and recklessly causing serious injury.

The abuse was discovered on April 26, 2012, when they were taken to hospital.

Little Ava did not survive and while Alex recovered, she has been left with significant disabilities.

ellen.whinnett@news.com.au