Children's Court Clinic

The Children’s Court Clinic was created to provide the Children’s Court with expert clinical reports, known as clinic assessments. It is part of the Sydney Children’s Hospitals network located in Parramatta and is independent from the Court, the Department of Communities and Justice and the legal profession.

The clinic employs professional people with experience and qualifications in psychiatry, psychology, and social work.  These professionals are known as Authorised Clinicians. Their role is to help the judicial officer, lawyers and parents decide what is the best plan for a child or young person. 

Clinic Assessments

The Children’s Court must make an Assessment Order under section 53 or section 54 of the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 before the Clinic will prepare a report. The order for assessment could be

• to assess a child or young person
• to assess the capacity of a parent or other responsible persons who is seeking parental responsibility for a child or young person.

Authorised Clinicians undertake an assessment and then prepare a report for the Court. The assessment involves meeting and listening to children, parents and other important people in the family. They also read material filed in the court case which has been agreed to be sent to them by all parties and they may also speak to people that have been involved with the family, such as counsellors and/ or school teachers.

For more information about the Children’s Court Clinic:

• Who are we and what we do - Guide for adults (PDF, n/a)
• Who are we and what we do - Guide for children (PDF, n/a)