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Changes to Child Protection private practitioner duty lawyer services

Following extensive consultation, we are creating two metropolitan private practitioner duty lawyer schemes.

Published:
Monday, 22 August 2022 at 9:56 am

In June and July this year, we consulted on proposed changes to the operation of child protection private practitioner duty lawyer (PPDL) services at metropolitan courts.

The changes were proposed to promote continuity of representation and help ensure the supply and organisation of services is well matched to demand.

Following extensive feedback from private practitioners and others including our staff, people with lived experience of the child protection system and the Department of Fairness, Families and Housing, we have decided to proceed with the key proposal to create two metropolitan PPDL schemes – North (Melbourne and Broadmeadows) and South (Moorabbin, plus Dandenong from 2023).

We have compiled an information sheet with more information on this change, as well as a summary of issues discussed through the consultations.

The information sheet also covers how we intend to proceed in relation to issues raised by practitioners regarding fair allocation of referrals between private firms, and processes for referral of previous clients.

Updates to Child Protection Duty Lawyer Service Manual

We received useful feedback from practitioners on information to include in our update of the Child Protection Duty Lawyer Service Manual.

The manual will be revised over coming weeks and released ahead of the commencement of the new metropolitan PPDL schemes.

The expectations set out in the Manual apply to all legal practitioners delivering child protection duty lawyer services statewide, including our staff, private practitioners, community legal centres and Aboriginal Legal Services.

Read more about the planned updates.

Key dates

The new North and South metropolitan schemes will come into effect from December 2022.

The application process for metropolitan child protection PPDL schemes will open on 12 September and close on 3 October 2022.

For more information, access the application form, template contract and FAQs.

More information

Email Manager, Child Protection Projects, Jackie Anders via jackie.anders@vla.vic.gov.au

Download the information sheet on changes to child protection PPDL services

Child protection PPDL services update
PDF 311.35 KB
(opens in a new window)
Child protection PPDL services update
Word 196.93 KB
(opens in a new window)

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