Victoria Legal Aid

Child protection in the Family Division of the Children’s Court

Checklists, practical tips and handy hints which may be useful references for lawyers practising in the Family Division of the Children’s Court.

We have checklists, practical tips and handy hints which may be useful references for lawyers practising in the Family Division of the Children’s Court.

Child Protection Duty Lawyer Guidelines

Child Protection Duty Lawyer Guidelines must be applied by all Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) child protection lawyers, community legal centres and private practitioners delivering child protection duty lawyer services at Children’s Court (Family Division) locations across Victoria.

The guidelines set out:

  • the different types of services to be delivered by the child protection duty lawyer service
  • the eligibility criteria for the child protection duty service.

The guidelines are available on the Duty lawyers in the Children's Court Family Division (child protection) page. They were developed as part of the Child Protection Transformation program. For more information about the process that led to this, see Child Protection Legal Aid Services Review.

Guides

Checklists

Case strategy

With the introduction of case strategy plan as part of the standard fees in child protection casesExternal Link , a case strategy document has been prepared to assist practitioners.

Precedents

Precedents in Microsoft Word file format, including different versions of client letters to children, young people and adults, are available to child protection private practitioner panel lawyers by email. If you would like access to these documents, please contact: suzanne.bettink@vla.vic.gov.au, eveline.pagnani@vla.vic.gov.au or hala.atwa@vla.vic.gov.au.

We have videos and associated materials which may be accessed by child protection private practitioner panel lawyers with recent topics including:

  • The Aboriginal Child Placement Principle by France Prasad, Managing Lawyer VACCA
  • Child protection basics by VLA Child Protection Managing Lawyer Jenny Anderson and Deputy Managing Lawyer Anna Gibson
  • IAO submissions contests by Matthew Strong, VLA In-house Counsel, Family and Children
  • Preparing and evidence IAO or final contest by Eric Myles, VLA In-house Counsel, Family and Children
  • Grounds for applications in the Family Division of the Children’s Court by Eric Myles
  • Orders/Dispositions in the Family Division of the Children’s Court by Eric Myles.

For a full list of available topics or to access the videos and materials email: ple@vla.vic.gov.au

More information

Read more about Child protection case planning and reviews.

See also Payments and records management for private practitioner duty lawyers in the Family Division of the Children’s Court.

Additional resources

Disclaimer: The material in this print-out relates to the law as it applies in the state of Victoria. It is intended as a general guide only. Readers should not act on the basis of any material in this print-out without getting legal advice about their own particular situations. Victoria Legal Aid disclaims any liability howsoever caused to any person in respect of any action taken in reliance on the contents of the publication.

We help Victorians with their legal problems and represent those who need it most. Find legal answers, chat with us online, or call us. You can speak to us in English or ask for an interpreter. You can also find more legal information at www.legalaid.vic.gov.au

Reviewed 09 May 2023

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