Information sheet 1 What is the Office of the Child and Family Official Solicitor? This should improve the quality of the The Queensland Government is building a new child protection and family support material prepared by Child Safety for Court, and improve decision-making about what system that meets the needs of children and should happen to keep children safe. families, now and in the future. Office of the Director of Child One of the recommendations made by the Queensland Child Protection Commission of Protection Litigation Inquiry in reforming the child protection While the Office of the Child and Family system was that child protection court work Official Solicitor will continue to apply for needed to improve. temporary orders to keep children safe in The Commission found that: emergency situations, a new independent body called the Director of Child Protection there are often lengthy delays in Litigation has been established by the finalising child protection orders, and too Department of Justice and Attorney-General many interim orders are made over a to apply for Child Protection Orders (instead long period of time, instead of applying of Child Safety). for long-term orders in the first instance the quality of statements, affidavits and A new approach to child protection evidence provided by the Department of matters Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services is sometimes not well written or There will be a new approach to child easy to understand protection matters in the Childrens Court in the court process is not open to the Queensland. This new approach aims to voices of children and young people introduce a quicker timeframe to resolve children, young people and their families matters and improve consistency across the should have a lawyer with them at court, state. if possible Most importantly, children and young people there is not enough legal advice provided will have a greater opportunity to present to families earlier in the process. their views in court, if they wish to, and access legal representation for themselves The Commission recommended changes to and their families, when they need it. court processes for child protection matters to improve accountability, quality of These new arrangements commence from 1 applications made and timeliness of court July 2016. decisions. For more information about the changes to Child Safety has now established a new court processes for child protection matters, team of legal officers, headed by a Child call the Office of the Child and Family and Family Official Solicitor, to provide legal Official Solicitor on 3405 4970. advice and assist Child Safety Officers prepare for court.
What is the Office of the Child and Family Official Solicitor? The Queensland Government is building a new child protection and family support system that meets the needs of children and families, now and in the future. One of the recommendations made by the Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry in reforming the child protection system was that child protection court work needed to improve. The Commission found that: there are often lengthy delays in finalising child protection orders, and too many interim orders are made over a long period of time, instead of applying for long-term orders in the first instance the quality of statements, affidavits and evidence provided by the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services is sometimes not well written or easy to understand the court process is not open to the voices of children and young people children, young people and their families should have a lawyer with them at court, if possible there is not enough legal advice provided to families earlier in the process. The Commission recommended changes to court processes for child protection matters to improve accountability, quality of applications made and timeliness of court decisions. Child Safety has now established a new team of legal officers, headed by a Child and Family Official Solicitor, to provide legal advice and assist Child Safety Officers prepare for court. Information sheet 1 This should improve the quality of the material prepared by Child Safety for Court, and improve decision-making about what should happen to keep children safe. Office of the Director of Child Protection Litigation While the Office of the Child and Family Official Solicitor will continue to apply for temporary orders to keep children safe in emergency situations, a new independent body called the Director of Child Protection Litigation has been established by the Department of Justice and Attorney-General to apply for Child Protection Orders (instead of Child Safety). A new approach to child protection matters There will be a new approach to child protection matters in the Childrens Court in Queensland. This new approach aims to introduce a quicker timeframe to resolve matters and improve consistency across the state. Most importantly, children and young people will have a greater opportunity to present their views in court, if they wish to, and access legal representation for themselves and their families, when they need it. These new arrangements commence from 1 July 2016. For more information about the changes to court processes for child protection matters, call the Office of the Child and Family Official Solicitor on 3405 4970.
what-is-ocfos-information-sheet.docx