Winha-nga-nha List

The Winha-nga-nha List is a dedicated court list for Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander families involved in care proceedings at Dubbo Children’s Court.

The Winha-nga-nha List commenced on 4 September 2023 following of a co-design process with Aboriginal community representatives and key stakeholders in response to Recommendation 125 of the Family is Culture Review Report.

Winha-nga-nha (pronounced Wi-nun-ga-na) is a word from the Wiradjuri language meaning to ‘know, think, remember’. The Children’s Court acknowledges the support of the Dubbo Aboriginal community in identifying and endorsing the Court’s use of the word in this context.   

About the Winha-nga-nha List

The Winha-nga-nha List aims to better engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander families in court proceedings about the care of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander children. Families involved in the list are welcome to invite extended family, Aboriginal Elders, respected community members or other support people to attend court with them.  

The Winha-nga-nha List is less formal than other care and protection proceedings with more time allocated to listen, talk and think about what is important for the children.

The Winha-nga-nha List provides an Aboriginal Court Liaison Officer as a point of contact for families coming to the Children’s Court and Aboriginal staff will be available to help families better understand the court process.

For more information about the Winha-nga-nha List read:

Children's Court Practice Note 18

Winha-nga-nha List Factsheet (PDF, 443.6 KB)