'They need their mum': Red tape keeping terminal mum from her kids

Most of us have had to deal with a government department at one time or another.

It can be frustrating, dealing with the red-tape of bureaucracy or just not losing your cool with the different Christian name on the other end of the phone every time you ring, explaining your situation time and time again.

So imagine if your situation was urgent. Really urgent. Like "life-threatening" urgent.

That’s what the family of Kelli O’Brien have been through every day of the last seven months.

You see, Kelli is very unwell.  She has a massive brain tumour and already a quarter of her brain has been cut out by renown neurosurgeon Charlie Teo.

Charlie has kept Kelli alive for longer than anyone expected.

But now he says it is time for this single mum to go home and be with her teenage children.

"I want to be home with my kids," Kelli told A Current Affair.

"I don't care about anything else."

They are alone at home while Kelli is stuck in a hospital. It’s been that way for six months now.

This is where the government department kicks in. Or, perhaps, doesn’t.

Kelli’s extended family have been emailing, calling and filling out forms every day since she was admitted to hospital, trying to get some funding from the NDIS.

The scheme was set up to help people just like Kelli, but as we know the wheels of bureaucracy move very slowly.

Thing is, after seven months, they can’t wait anymore.

Kelli’s condition is deteriorating and she wants to come home and spend the precious time remaining with her kids.

"They need their mum," Kelli said.

Meg is 16, and Ryan, a first-year apprentice, is 18.

All Kelli is asking for is a carer.  An NDIS carer to look after her medical needs at home.  The hospital won’t release her until she has one.

And so the battle is on to get Kelli home.

After Kelli's situation was brought to his attention, Social Services Minister Dan Tehan has ordered a ministerial briefing and instructed officials to meet with Kelli and her family on Friday.