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Children's Court New South Wales
News
Publication of Practice Note 20: Bail Proceedings
June 2025: The President of the Children's Court has issued Practice Note 20: Bail Proceedings (PDF, 216.2 KB) (PDF, 216.2 KB), which reflects the commencement of the partial centralisation of Children's Court bails commencing on 07 July.
Current arrangements will remain unchanged for fresh custody proceedings within the catchment areas for:
- Surry Hills/Sutherland
- Campbelltown
- Woy/Wyong
- Broadmeadow/Raymond Terrace.
- Parramatta
Northern Rivers and Illawarra Children’s Courts will manage these matters within the circuit.
All other Children’s Court proceedings (including periodic Children’s Court circuits) will be centralised to Parramatta Children’s Court.
On weekends, public holidays, the Annual Magistrates’ conference, Mid-year recess, s16 conference of Children’s Magistrates, during regional Magistrates' conference periods and the fixed vacation period, all first appearance bail proceedings are to be listed at Parramatta Children’s Court. The young person is to appear by AVL.
Extension of Practice Note 19: Support Plan Conference Pilot
May 2025: The President of the Children's Court has reissued Practice Note 19: Support Plan Conference Pilot (PDF, 212.4 KB) (PDF, 212.4 KB), which reflects the extension of the pilot program from 2 May 2025 until 31 October 2025.
Practice Note 19 applies to all new s 61 applications made under the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW) filed at Surry Hills Children's Court between 2 May 2024 and 31 October 2025.
Practice Note 19 makes provision for the conduct of an early Alternative Dispute Resolution Conference (the 'Support Plan Conference) by a Children's Registrar.
Youth Koori Court 10 Year Anniversary
February 2025: On February 7, the NSW Youth Koori Court celebrated 10 years of transforming young lives at a special ceremony in Parramatta, on Dharug land.
With the assistance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and respected community members, the Youth Koori Court identifies factors that may affect the young person’s involvement with the criminal justice system such as homelessness, disengagement from education, drug and alcohol issues or other health problems.
The Court works closely with each young person to develop an action and support plan, strengthening their connections to culture and community while supporting them in making positive life changes. Independent evaluations have shown this approach leads to reduced incarceration rates without increasing re-offending.
Established at the Parramatta Childrens Court in 2015 to address the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in the justice system, the Court has since expanded to Surry Hills and Dubbo.
It was a celebration of the young people whose lives have been positively transformed through this approach. It was a celebration of the more than 150 young people who have been supported in the last 10 years. While the event was attended by a stellar cast, including, Attorney General Michael Daley, Children’s Court President Judge Ellen Skinner, and Youth Koori Court Magistrate Sue Duncombe, Secretary of the Department of Communities and Justice, Michael Tidball and Chief Justice Andrew Bell, the real VIPS were the Elders and Youth Koori Court graduates.
A decade on, the Youth Koori Court continues to make a profound impact by asking young Aboriginal people what they need to succeed and striving to provide that support to the young people and their families.
Children's Court Circuit Changes
January 2025: The Children's Court Lisitng and Sitting Arrangements document has been updated the reflect the planned 2025 changes to the New England Circuit. Please find the document under the General Court Listings page.
Children's Court Annual Review 2023
December 2024: The Children’s Court of New South Wales has published its 2023 Annual Review. The Annual Review provides detailed insights into the work undertaken by the Court in the 2023 Calendar Year, including the following:
- A history and overview of the Children’s Court
- Workload trends for the Children’s Court’s Care and Protection, Crime, Apprehended Violence Order, and Education jurisdictions
- The Children’s Court’s recent initiatives and specialist court processes and services
- The work undertaken by the Children’s Court to improve services to Aboriginal Communities
- Projects and resources relating to legal education, support and engagement with the community
Changes to listing arrangements in Children's Court Circuits.
December 2024: The President of the Children's Court has approved changes to listing arrangements to the Illawarra/Southern Highlands/ Sutherland Circuit, the New England Circuit, the Riverina Circuit and the Western Circuit. Sitting arrangements for 2025 can be found on our listings arrangements page.
Issuing of Children's Court Form 43
May 2024: The President of the Children's Court has issued From 34 - Support Plan.
Forms used in Children's Court care and protection proceedings are located on the Court's website under Forms and Fees.
New Practice Note 19: Support Plan Conference Pilot
May 2024: The President of the Children's Court has issued Practice Note 19: Support Plan Conference Pilot. (PDF, 117.8 KB) (PDF, 117.8 KB)
Practice Note 19 applies to all new s 61 applications made under the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW) filed at Surry Hills Children's Court between 2 May 2024 and 2 May 2025.
Practice Note 19 makes provision for the conduct of an early Alternative Dispute Resolution Conference (the 'Support Plan Conference) by a Children's Registrar.
Children's Law News
May 2024: CLN 2024 Volume 1 has now been published and includes a number of cases and a paper which are of relevance to the Children's Court jurisidiction.
Changes to the Children's Court Listing Arrangements in Broadmeadow and New England Circuits
January 2024: The President of the Children’s Court has approved the following changes to the Children’s Court’s listing arrangements.
The Broadmeadow/Raymond Terrace/Singleton Circuit will no longer include Singleton. The Court will hold an additional hearing day at Broadmeadow Children’s Court on the third Tuesday of the month to replace the Singleton sitting day.
A new Children’s Court circuit in the New England region will commence from Monday 19 February 2024. The Circuit will take place on the third week of each month thereafter and incorporate Tamworth and Moree. The Listing Protocol for the New England circuit can be found on the Children's Court’s Guidelines page.
Children's Court Annual Review 2022
December 2023: The Children’s Court of New South Wales has published its first Annual Review. The Annual Review provides detailed insights into the work undertaken by the Court in the 2022 Calendar Year, including the following:
- A history and overview of the Children’s Court
- Workload trends for the Children’s Court’s Care and Protection, Crime, Apprehended Violence Order, and Education jurisdictions
- The Children’s Court’s recent initiatives and specialist court processes and services
- The work undertaken by the Children’s Court to improve services to Aboriginal Communities
- Projects and resources relating to legal education, support and engagement with the community
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We acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of the land on which we work and we pay respect to the Elders, past, present and future.