News 2014

Riverina Circuit to be held in Week 3 from February 2015

December 2014: The President of the Children's Court has confirmed that the Riverina Care and Protection Circuit will change from week 2 of the month to week 3 from February 2015 (except April 2015 and December 2015 when the circuit will be held in week 2). The circuit otherwise remains unchanged.

Children's Law News Volume 3 2014 issued

December 2014: CLN Volume 3 includes a number of cases and papers which are of relevance to the Children's Court jurisdiction.

New protocol for Children's Registrars conducting care call overs

December 2014: To align with the October amendments to the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998, the President of the Children's Court of New South Wales, Judge Peter Johnstone, has issued new Protocol for Children's Registrars Conducting Care Call Overs.

Parramatta Children's Court trials new Youth Koori Court

November 2014: The Parramatta Children's Court will begin trialling a dedicated court for young Aboriginal offenders in January next year. For further information, click here.

Care and protection reforms commence 29 October 2014

October 2014: The Child Protection Legislation Amendment Act 2014 has made a number of reforms to the Care and Protection jurisdiction of the Children's Court. The reforms commence on Wednesday 29 October 2014. Changes have been made in relation to: Parent Responsibility Contracts, Contact Orders, Permanency Planning, Supervision Orders and Prohibition Orders. The reforms also introduce Guardianship Orders and Parent Capacity Orders.

New forms are now available, including:

1. Form 5 - Application for parent capacity order
2. Form 6 - Application for variation or revocation of a parent capacity order
3. Form 4 - Application for contact orders
4. Form 41 - Contract breach notice
5. Form 42 - Notification of breach of prohibition order

The Children's Court has also amended the following forms:

1. Form 1 Application and report initiating care proceedings
2. Form 3 Application for rescission/variation of care order

The Children's Court has also amended Practice Note 3 - Alternative Dispute Resolution in the Children's Court - and has issued a new Practice Note in relation to Parent Capacity Orders.

The reforms also introduce changes in relation to the confidentiality of information disclosed during Alternative Dispute Resolution processes. The 'Alternative Dispute Resolution Confidentiality' factsheet has been developed to assist parties to understand how the changes work.

Amended Practice Note 5 for care and protection matters

September 2014: A number of amendments have been made to the Children's Court Practice Note 5. The changes remove the requirement for parties to annex subpoenaed material to an affidavit. This is replaced by a requirement that each party prepare a bundle of documents produced under the subpoena that the party proposes to rely on at the hearing and a schedule listing those documents. Further standard directions are provided for the filing and service of the schedule of documents and the bundle of documents. Essentially, the Secretary is to serve the bundle of documents 14 days prior to the Readiness Hearing and the other parties are to serve their bundle 7 days prior to the Readiness Hearing. Each party is to file their bundle of documents with the Court 24 hours prior to the hearing. Additionally, the requirement for an Independent Legal Representative of a child to file a minute of care order prior to the Readiness Hearing has been removed. For further particulars outlining the changes see paragraphs 14.8, 16.2, 16.3, 16.7.1, 16.7.2, 16.7.3, 16.7.4, 16.7.5, 16.7.6, 16.8 and 22.1.

Children's Law News Volume 2 of 2014 issued

September 2014: CLN Volume 2 includes a number of cases and papers which are of relevance to the Children's Court jurisdiction.

Amended care and protection Form 16

July 2014: The Children's Court has amended the general affidavit form used in Care and Protection proceedings to include the date of the affidavit on the front page of the affidavit. This form should be used for all general affidavits filed in care proceedings.

Children's Law News volume 1 of 2014 issued

May 2014: CLN Volume 1 includes a number of cases and papers which are of relevance to the Children's Court jurisdiction.

Country Care Circuits for 2014

January 2014: The Children's Court will be introducing a new country care circuit from February 2014 in the Mid-North Coast region incorporating Port Macquarie, Kempsey and Coffs Harbour. Changes will also be made to the Dubbo circuit that will see the introduction of Orange in lieu of Wellington.