News

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