Child Protection Matters in the Northern Territory

Morgan Anthony , ‘Evaluation of alternative dispute resolution initiatives in the care and protection jurisdiction of the NSW Children's Court’ (Research & Public Policy 118, Australian Institute of Criminology, 2012), 18, v.

Sheehan Rosemary , Alternative Dispute Resolution in Child Protection Matters' (2006) 59 Australian Social Work 157, 157; Bamblett Muriel , ‘Growing them Strong, Together’ (Board of Inquiry into the Child Protection System in the NT, 2010) 291–412; Parliament of NSW, Report of the Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW (2008) 465–491; Crime and Misconduct Commission, Parliament of Queensland, Protecting Children (2004) 213–223, 331; Victorian Law Reform Commission (‘VLRC’), Protection Applications in the Children's Court, Final Report No 19 (2010) 213–286; Australian Law Reform Commission (‘ALRC’), Family Violence, Final Report No 114 (2010) 1073–1085.

Harris Nathan , ‘Mapping the Adoption of Family Group Conferencing in Australian States and Territories’ (Australian Centre for Child Protection, 2007) 9.

Mayer Bernie , ‘Reflection on the State of Consensus-Based Decision-Making in Child Welfare’ (2009) 47(1) Family Court Review 10, 18–19.

Cunneen Chris Libesman Terri , A Review of International Models for Indigenous Child Protection (2002).

VLRC, above n 2, 236; Ban Paul , Aboriginal Child Placement Principle and Family Group Conferences' (2010) 58 Australian Social Work 384, 390.

Huntsman Leone , Family Group Conferencing in a Child Welfare Contex (Community Services, 2006) 2–4.

McArthur Morag Winkworth Gail , ‘Family Group Conferencing’ (Australian Catholic University, 2006) 10.

Murray Gwenn , ‘Evaluation Report –Family Group Meetings Pilot’ (Legal Aid Queensland, 2007) 72; Huntsman , above n 7, 6.

McArthur Winkworth , above n 8, 6; Bamblett , above n 2, 302.

Mayer , above n 4, 18–19; VLRC, above n 2, 237. Debate falls outside the scope of this article.

Care and Protection of Children Act 2007 (NT) ss 49, 127.

Ibid s 49(1).

Ibid ss 49(2), (6).

Ibid s 49(4)(d).

Ibid s 48.

Care and Protection of Children (Mediation Conferences) Regulations 2010 (NT) r 8.

Care and Protection of Children Act 2007 (NT) s 127(3)(b)(ii) and s 146A. While the Act was assented to on 12 December 2007, provisions relating to court ordered mediation conferences have not yet commenced. No date for s 127 has been gazetted. Regulations with respect to the procedural aspects have not been enacted.

Arney Fiona , ‘Report on the Implementation of Family Group Conferencing with Aboriginal Families in Alice Springs’ (Menzies School of Health Research, 2012).

Ibid 42.

Department of Children and Families (NT), Major Review of the Care and Protection of Children Act – Issues Paper (2012); Bamblett , above n 2, 706–712.

Bamblett , above n 2, 304 [Rec 8.3], 389 [Rec 10.7].

Ibid 331. See also, Office of Children's Commissioner 'OCC (NT), Annual Report 2011–2012 (2012) 146.

Hannam Hilary , ‘Child Protection law and practice in the Northern Territory and implications for the Court’ (2013) 22(3) Journal of Judicial Administration 146, 149.

Ibid 149–50; Bamblett , above n 2, 331.

ABS, 2011 Census Counts - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, (22 August 2012) <http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/2075.0main+features32011>.

OCC (NT), above n 23, 112–113.

Ibid 98.

VLRC, above n 2, 216–17.

McArthur Winkworth , above n 10, 12; Morgan , above n 1, 21.

Morgan , above n 1, 22.

VLRC, above n 2, 216, 261.

Ibid 216–17.

Morgan , above n 1, 26.

Vassallo Anthony , ‘Mediation in Care Matters’ (2011) 5 Children's Law News 1, 7.

Harris Nathan , ‘Family group conferencing in Australia 15 years on’ (2008) 27 Child Abuse Prevention Issues 1, 8.

Boxall Hayley , ‘Evaluation of Family Group Conferencing pilot program’ (Research and Public Policy Series 121, AIC, 2012) v; Huntsman , above n 7, 10–11.

Sherry Marilee , ‘What Have We Learned About Family Group Conferencing and Case Management Practices?’ (2008) 23(4) American Humane 20, 32.

VLRC, above n 2, 253 [7.221].

Huntsman , above n 7, 5; Vassallo, above n 35, 7; ALRC, above n 2, 1075 [23.76], 1078 [23.86], 1082 [23.104]–[23.105]; Morgan , above n 1, 41–42.

Vassallo , above n 35, 6–8; Boshier Peter , ‘Family Group Conferences and the Judicial Process’ (Paper presented at Te Hokinga Mai Conference, Wellington, NZ, 28 November 2006) 1; Morgan , above n 1, 43.

VLRC, above n 2, 263; Vassallo, above n 35, 13; ALRC, above n 2, 1073 [23.69].

See generally ALRC, above n 2, 1075 [23.75]; Walsh Tamara Douglas Heather , ‘Lawyers’ Views of Decision-Making in Child Protection Matters' (2013) 38 Monash University Law Review 181, 184, 192–198; VLRC, above n 2, 263.

Bamblett , above n 2, 712.

Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989 (NZ) ss 70, 72.

Boshier , above n 41, 22.

Re Children (1990) 6 FRNZ 55, 55.

Boshier , above n 41, 22.

Ibid 4.

Morgan , above n 1, 23 [Table 3].

In 2011–2012, 75% of notifications involved Aboriginal children; 84% in out of home care were Aboriginal: See OCC (NT), above n 23, 106, and 114.

ALRC, above n 2, 1084 [23.111].

Family Law Council, Improving the Family Law System for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Clients, (2012) 54.

Vassallo , above n 35, 8.

Sherry , above n 38, 31–32; Vassallo, above n 35, 13; ALRC, above n 2, 1073, [23.69]; Walsh Douglas , above n 43, 184.

Vassallo , above n 35, 12.

Sherry , above n 38, 29.

Ban Paul , ‘Dialogue and alignment in preparing families for family group conferences’ (2009) 20 ADR Journal 33, 33–34; Walsh Douglas , above n 43, 208–209.

Family Law Council, above n 53, 73; Boxall , above n 37, 32, 65.

See generally, VLRC, above n 2, 246.

Family Law Council, above n 56, 50, 73.

ALRC, Seen and heard: Priority for children in the legal process, Final Report No 84 (1997) [16.19].

We suggest legal representation be available at all times. This will address various concerns about FGC, including that evidence of protection concerns may be ‘dubious in nature’: See Walsh Douglas , above n 43, 199.

Kelly Loretta , ‘Mediation in Aboriginal Communities’ (2002) 5(14) Indigenous Law Bulletin 7; Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service Co-operative Ltd (‘VALS’), Submission No 38 to VLRC, Protection Applications in the Children's Court, 2010, 27.

Boxall , above n 37, 31.

Ibid 32–33.

Ibid 32; Morgan , above n 1, xxi [Rec 11], 69; VALS, above n 64, 27.

Boxall , above n 37, 32.

Ibid; Morgan , above n 1, xxi [Rec 16].

See generally Boshier , above n 41, 15–16; Boxall , above n 37, 40–1. See also AD v SD FC LHTT FAM 2005-032-000746 31 October 2005.

Arney , above n 19, 42.

AIFS, Submission No 40 to VLRC, Protection Applications in the Children's Court, 2010, 14; Boxall , above n 37, 9.

Vassallo , above n 35, 10.

Ibid 5.