I gather LovingMyKids that the reunification was not with the person that the department have the trouble with as you said in your earlier post (about a bad choice of partners). If this person has nothing to do with you or your children anymore I can't see how the department can justify that you are not allowed to have any contact with your children. This is doing irreparable damage to the whole family. This department needs some big shake up to wake up to themselves. False allegations are such a cruel thing to have happen to anyone.

How can it be that the department can overrule the judges decision? I thought the justice system had more authority than the department, or am I really blinkered?

Keep your chin up and let us know how you go.