Disclaimer
The Lawyer Education Series has been developed for lawyers, not self-represented parties. The training modules assume a high level of foundational legal knowledge because they are made for lawyers. The modules are not a complete guide to the law and should not be relied upon for the preparation of your case.
If you need legal help, please call LawAccess NSW on 1300 888 529 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).
Overview
To demonstrate participation in this training module, you are required to register and complete it through our Learning Management System using course code eLESCPRC.
For more information about the eligibility requirements for the representation of children, see our Care and Protection panel requirements.
The date for the next Representing Children workshop will be held on 4 December 2025.
Please note that the online Phase 1 Lawyer Education Series training modules are currently under review to ensure they reflect recent changes to the law. We strongly encourage practitioners to conduct their own independent research and stay updated with relevant legal developments until the modules are fully updated.
If you have applied for the Care and Protection panel, completed the Phase 1 training, and met all other requirements, you will be eligible to register for the workshop once the date is confirmed.
Learning outcomes
By completing this training module, participants will:
- understand the role of the child representative including the legislative framework and the expectations of the bench in fulfilling this role
- have more confidence and skills in meeting with and interviewing with children
- have knowledge of how to work collaboratively with the Department of Communities and Justice
- proactively represent children in Dispute Resolution Conferences
- proficiently draft legal documents and make succinct but thorough submissions to the Court
- assist with the development and amendment of care plans and leaving care plans
- understand and ensure the appropriate representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, and
- draft orders and applications and make submissions in relation to clinic and expert reports.
Video
Required reading
- Representation Principles for Children’s Lawyers, Law Society of NSW (PDF, 513KB)
- Proactive Representation of Children in Care Proceedings, Robert McLachlan (PDF, 485KB)
- Communicating with children over 10: if wishes were horses, beggars would ride, Dr Chris Lennings (PDF, 363KB)
- Unacceptable Risk: A comparison of the Family and Care Jurisdictions, Dr Richard Chisholm (PDF, 332KB)
- Article 12 of UNCROC and the Participation of Children in Statutory Child Protection Decision-Making in Australia, Deborah De Fina (PDF, 306KB)
- Understanding the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principles as a framework for best practice, Aboriginal Legal Service (PDF, 288KB)
- Practice Note No. 2 – Initiating Documents for Care Proceedings (PDF, 179KB)
- Practice Note No. 3 – Alternative Dispute Resolution Procedures in the Children’s Court (PDF, 156KB)
- Practice Note No. 5 – Case Management in Care Proceedings (PDF, 238KB)
- Practice Note No. 10 – Parent Capacity Orders (PDF, 14KB)
- Practice Note No. 13 – Section 38 Care Plans (PDF, 28KB)
- Working with Children: A Guide to Best Practice (PDF, 1MB)
- The Secretary of the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) and Fiona Farmer [2019] NSWChC 5 (PDF, 274KB)
- Hackett (a pseudonym) v Secretary, Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) [2020] NSWCA 83 (PDF, 558KB)
- Child Protection and Indigenous Children, Stephen Ralph (PDF, 806KB)
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