Maximising client access There are barriers hindering access to legal services by some sections of the community, including people in prison and involuntary patients in mental health facilities. Greater use of technology could improve access to legal services and participation in proceedings. Developing improved processes There is a need to work with our partners to ensure child protection processes and practices are being applied fairly and consistently across the State. Meeting the challenges of the changing nature of child protection A need has been identified to work to ensure that the provision of child protection legal services is sustainable and equipped to deal with the challenges presented by a changing child protection landscape. Clarity of purpose: why we provide assistance in child protection It's important for us to have a clear and shared understanding of why we provide assistance with child protection matters. There was a general consensus that a client-centred approach, that puts children at the heart of service design and delivery, is critical. We propose that the purpose of the VLA Child Protection Program is to promote the safety, wellbeing and development of children and young people. This has three elements: To explain to children their rights, in a way that is appropriate to their age and evolving capacity, and support them to participate in proceedings that are about their future. To promote the safety, wellbeing and development of children by supporting parents to make decisions and take actions that have the child's best interests at heart. The family is recognised as the fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection. Parents are acknowledged to be central to the wellbeing of children they have obligations to children, not rights over them. – To work toward improving outcomes for children and young people through our processes and practices, and those of the child protection system. The provision of legal support to vulnerable children, young people and their parents is an integral part of the child protection system, providing a check on the extent of State intervention and ensuring that it is proportionate. We have tried to reflect in this consultation paper what we heard during the consultation process. The questions and proposed options are intended to test whether we have accurately understood this and to get further feedback about what action we might take.
Maximising client access There are barriers hindering access to legal services by some sections of the community, including people in prison and involuntary patients in mental health facilities. Greater use of technology could improve access to legal services and participation in proceedings. Developing improved processes There is a need to work with our partners to ensure child protection processes and practices are being applied fairly and consistently across the State. Meeting the challenges of the changing nature of child protection A need has been identified to work to ensure that the provision of child protection legal services is sustainable and equipped to deal with the challenges presented by a changing child protection landscape. Clarity of purpose: why we provide assistance in child protection It's important for us to have a clear and shared understanding of why we provide assistance with child protection matters. There was a general consensus that a client-centred approach, that puts children at the heart of service design and delivery, is critical. We propose that the purpose of the VLA Child Protection Program is to promote the safety, wellbeing and development of children and young people. This has three elements: To explain to children their rights, in a way that is appropriate to their age and evolving capacity, and support them to participate in proceedings that are about their future. To promote the safety, wellbeing and development of children by supporting parents to make decisions and take actions that have the child's best interests at heart. The family is recognised as the fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection. Parents are acknowledged to be central to the wellbeing of children – they have obligations to children, not rights over them. To work toward improving outcomes for children and young people through our processes and practices, and those of the child protection system. The provision of legal support to vulnerable children, young people and their parents is an integral part of the child protection system, providing a check on the extent of State intervention and ensuring that it is proportionate. We have tried to reflect in this consultation paper what we heard during the consultation process. The questions and proposed options are intended to test whether we have accurately understood this and to get further feedback about what action we might take.
vla-executive-summary-and-summary-of-proposed-options-child-protection-legal-aid-services-review-consultation-and-options-paper.docx