Children's Court Assistance Scheme
Who we are
Legal Aid NSW funds 4 Community Legal Centres (CLCs) to operate Children’s Court Assistance Schemes (CCAS’) in 7 Children’s Court locations in NSW.
Who we help
The Children's Court Assistance Scheme provides services to children in criminal matters only.
How we can help
Schemes provide rosters of trained youth workers to work with young people and their families before, during and after the day of court.
They provide:
- information about court processes and outcomes,
- support for young people and their carers on the day at court,
- informal counselling and conflict resolution, and
- referral to welfare services such as drug and alcohol programs, counselling and accommodation.
The CLCs and Children's Courts include:
- Central Coast CLC - Wyong, Woy Woy and Broadmeadow
- Illawarra Legal Centre - Port Kembla
- Macarthur Legal Centre - Campbelltown
- Western Sydney CLC - Surry Hills and Parramatta
25th Anniversary of the Children’s Court Assistance Scheme (CCAS)
On 9 December 2020, CCAS celebrated its 25th anniversary at NSW Parliament House. Guest speakers included NSW Attorney General, the Honourable Mark Speakman SC MP; Her Honour Children’s Magistrate Debra Maher; and Mr Brendan Thomas, CEO Legal Aid NSW.
This milestone was commemorated in a special video presentation featuring His Honour Judge Peter Johnstone, President of the Children’s Court of NSW; Her Honour Children’s Magistrate Ellen Skinner; and CLC staff involved with CCAS.
The media release for the CCAS 25th anniversary celebration can be viewed on the NSW Department of Communities and Justice’s website.
A series of standalone videos are also available on Legal Aid NSW’s YouTube channel including interviews with:
- His Honour Judge Peter Johnstone, President of the Children’s Court of NSW
- Her Honour Children’s Magistrate Ellen Skinner
- Stan Small from Western Sydney CLC
- Deborah Macmillan and BJ Duncan from Central Coast CLC
- Levenia Clulow and Lucy Houweling from Illawarra Legal Centre
- Robert Pelletier from Macarthur Legal Centre
Contact us
For more information, please call the relevant Children's Court Assistance Scheme Coordinator.
- Central Coast Community Legal Centre
- 31 Alison Road, Wyong 2259
- Tel: 02 4353 4988
- Illawarra Legal Centre
- 7 Greene Street, Warrawong 2502
- Tel: 02 4276 1939
- Macarthur Legal Centre
- 317 Queen Street, Campbelltown 2560
- Tel: 02 4628 2042
- Western Sydney Community Legal Centre
- Suite 302 Level 3, 107 Phillip Street, Parramatta 2124
- Tel: 0418 520 461
CCAS policies & guidelines
Policies and Guidelines for CCAS workers