Children Legislation Amendment Act 2016

Children Legislation Amendment Act 2016

No. 8 of 2016

table of provisions

SectionPage

SectionPage

Part 1—Preliminary

1Purposes

2Commencement

Part 2—Amendments to Children, Youth and Families Act 2005

3Permanency objective

4Preparation of case plan

5Review of case plan

6Secretary may specify certain issues

7Application if there is an irreconcilable difference

8Types of protection order

9Determining the period of a family reunification order

10Care by Secretary order

11Long-term care order

12Application for permanent care order

13Variation or revocation of permanent care order

14Review by Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal

15Interstate movement of children

16Financial or other arrangements

17Rules

18Powers of Secretary in relation to medical services and operations

19Persons whose consent is required

20New clause 6A inserted in Schedule 5 (Transitional)

21References

22Consequential amendments

Part 3—Amendments to Commission for Children and Young People Act 2012

23Definitions

24Child protection client

25Access to records

26Access to information

27New section 60A inserted

Part 4—Repeal of amending Act

28Repeal of amending Act

═══════════════

Endnotes

1General information

1

SectionPage

Victoria

1

SectionPage

1

SectionPage

Children Legislation Amendment Act 2016[†]

No. 8 of 2016

[Assented to 15 March 2016]

1

Children Legislation Amendment Act 2016
No. 8 of 2016

1

Children Legislation Amendment Act 2016
No. 8 of 2016

The Parliament of Victoriaenacts:

1

Part 4—Repeal of amending Act

Children Legislation Amendment Act 2016
No. 8 of 2016

Part 1—Preliminary

1Purposes

The main purposes of this Act are—

(a)to amend the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 to improve the operation of that Act; and

(b)to amend the Commission for Children and Young People Act 2012 in relation to the disclosure of information under that Act.

2Commencement

(1)This Part comes into operation on the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.

(2)Section 21 is taken to have come into operation on 1 March 2016.

(3)The remaining provisions of this Act come into operation on the day after the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.

Part 2—Amendments to Children, Youth and Families Act 2005

3Permanency objective

(1)In section 167(3) of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005, before "less than"insert"acumulative period of".

(2)In section 167(4) of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005—

(a)in paragraph (a), before "12 months" (wherefirst occurring) insert "a cumulative period of";

(b)in paragraph (b), for "total" substitute "cumulative period".

(3)After section 167(4) of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 insert—

"(5)Section 287A(4) applies to the determination of a cumulative period under this section.".

4Preparation of case plan

(1)After section 168(1) of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 insert—

"(1A)The Secretary must ensure that a case plan is prepared in respect of a child after the making by the Court of a therapeutic treatment (placement) order.".

(2)After section 168(2)(b) of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 insert—

"(ba)within 8 weeks after the making by the Court of a therapeutic treatment (placement) order; and".

5Review of case plan

After section 169(3) of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 insert—

"(4) Section 287A(4) applies to the determination of a cumulative period under this section.".

6Secretary may specify certain issues

In section 175A(1) of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005omit "for whom the Secretary has parental responsibility".

7Application if there is an irreconcilable difference

(1)In section 259(1) of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005, for "of a child" substitute "for a child".

(2)In section 259(2) of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005, for "custody of" substitute "parental responsibility for".

8Types of protection order

After section 275(2) of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 insert—

"(3)A care by Secretary order or a long-term care order may be made in relation to a child who is under the age of 18 years but ceases to be in force when the child attains the age of 18years or marries, whichever happens first.".

9Determining the period of a family reunification order

(1)In section 287A(4)(b) of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005, after "under this Part" insert ", including after that order or undertaking ceases to be in force,".

(2)In section 287A(4)(c) of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005—

(a)omit "under an order";

(b)for "was subsequently returned to" substitute "has subsequently been in".

10Care by Secretary order

After section 289(1) of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 insert—

"(1A)Subject to Division 1, a care by Secretary order may be made on the application of the Secretary.

(1B)A protection order applying to a child at the date of an application for a care by Secretary order in relation to the child continues in force until the application is determined.

(1C)If the Court decides not to make a care by Secretary order, it may, if satisfied that the grounds for the finding under section 274 still exist, make—

(a)an order requiring a person to give an undertaking under this Part; or

(b)a family preservation order in respect
of the child; or

(c)a family reunification order in respect of the child; or

(d)a long-term care order in respect of the child; or

(e)an order extending a protection order that is in force in respect of the child.".

11Long-term care order

After section 290(1) of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 insert—

"(1A)Subject to Division 1, a long-term care order may be made on the application of the Secretary.

(1B)A protection order applying to a child at the date of an application for a long-term care order in relation to the child continues in force until the application is determined.

(1C)If the Court decides not to make a long-term care order, it may, if satisfied that the grounds for the finding under section 274 still exist, make—

(a)an order requiring a person to give an undertaking under this Part; or

(b)a family preservation order in respect
of the child; or

(c)a family reunification order in respect of the child; or

(d)a care by Secretary order in respect of the child; or

(e)an order extending a protection order that is in force in respect of the child.".

12Application for permanent care order

After section 320(5) of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 insert—

"(6) A protection order applying to a child at the date of an application for a permanent care order in relation to the child continues in force until the application is determined.

(7)If the Court decides not to make a permanent care order, it may, if satisfied that the grounds for the finding under section 274 still exist, make—

(a)an order requiring a person to give an undertaking under this Part; or

(b)a family preservation order in respect
of the child; or

(c)a family reunification order in respect of the child; or

(d)a care by Secretary order in respect of the child; or

(e)a long-term care order in respect of the child; or

(f)an order extending a protection order that is in force in respect of the child.".

13Variation or revocation of permanent care order

(1)For section 326(1)(b) and (c) of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 substitute—

"(b)a person who is a parent of the child (otherthan a person referred to in paragraph(c)), with leave of the Court; or

(c)a person who has parental responsibility for the child under the order (the permanent care parent); or".

(2)In section 326(1B), (1C) and (1D) of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005, for "subsection (1)(c)" substitute "subsection (1)(b)".

14Review by Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal

In section 333(1)(a) of the Children, Youth and Families Act2005, for "section 167" substitute "section168".

15Interstate movement of children

(1)In section 335(1) of the Children, Youth andFamilies Act 2005, before "parental responsibility" insert "sole".

(2)In section 335(2) of the Children, Youth andFamilies Act 2005, for "12 months"
(where twice occurring) substitute "2 years".

16Financial or other arrangements

In section 336(a) and (b) of the Children,
Youth and Families Act 2005, before
"parental responsibility" insert "sole".

17Rules

(1)In section 588(1)(b) of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005, for "conferences." substitute "conferences;".

(2)After section 588(1)(b) of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 insert—

"(c)generally any matter relating to the practice and procedure of the Family Division of the Court.".

(3)After section 588(1A) of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 insert—

"(1AAB)The President together with 2 or more magistrates for the Court may jointly make rules of court for or with respect to—

(a)the form in which process may be issued out of the Court and the manner in which it may be authenticated, stored, transmitted or otherwise dealt with;

(b)the manner in which orders may be authenticated;

(c)the storage, disposal or destruction of documents—

(i)filed or lodged with the appropriate registrar in proceedings in the Court; or

(ii)issued out of the Court in proceedings in the Court and kept by the principal registrar.".

(4)In section 588(1AB) of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005, after "magistrates" insert "forthe Court".

18Powers of Secretary in relation to medical services and operations

(1)Section 597(1)(a)(i) of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005is repealed.

(2)For section 597(1)(a)(ii) of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005substitute—

"(ii)a family reunification order; or".

(3)For section 597(1)(c) of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005substitute—

"(c)placed, as the result of an interim accommodation order—

(i)with a suitable person or suitable persons; or

(ii)in an out of home care service; or

(iii)in a secure welfare service; or

(iv)in a declared hospital; or

(v) with a disability service provider within the meaning of the Disability Act2006; or

(vi)in a declared parent and baby unit; or".

19Persons whose consent is required

In clause 4(1) of Schedule 1 to the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005, for "custody to Secretary order, supervision order or a supervised custody order" substitute "family preservation order or a family reunification order".

20New clause 6A inserted in Schedule 5 (Transitional)

After clause 6 of Schedule 5 to the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 insert—

"6A Determining the period of a family reunification order

Section 287A applies as if in subsection (1) the list of orders included the following orders—

(a)an interim protection order;

(b)a custody to third party order;

(c)a supervised custody order;

(d)a custody to Secretary order;

(e)a guardianship to Secretary order;

(f)a long-term guardianship to Secretary order.".

21References

In clause 7(b) of Schedule 5 to the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005, for "family preservation order" substitute "family reunification order".

22Consequential amendments

(1)After section 277(1)(e) of the Children, Youth and Families Act2005 insert—

"(ea)a care by Secretary order applied for under section 289(1A); or

(eb)a long-term care order applied for under section 290(1A); or".

(2)In section 277(2)(b) of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005, for "paragraph (c) or (d)" substitute "subsection (1)(c), (d), (ea) or (eb)".

(3)After section 328(1)(b) of the Children, Youth and Families Act2005 insert—

"(ba)the dismissal of an application under section289(1A) for a care by Secretary order; or

(bb)the dismissal of an application under section290(1A) for a long-term care order; or".

(4)After section 515(1)(c) of the Children, Youth and Families Act2005 insert—

"(ca)a care by Secretary orderapplied for under section 289(1A); or

(cb)a long-term care order applied for under section 290(1A); or".

(5)After section 525(1)(e) of the Children, Youth and Families Act2005 insert—

"(ea)application under section 289(1A) for a care by Secretary order; or

(eb)application under section 290(1A) for a longterm care order; or".

(6)After section 557(1)(a) of the Children, Youth and Families Act2005 insert—

"(ab)the Secretary applies under section 289(1A) for a care by Secretary order; or

(ac)the Secretary applies under section 290(1A) for a long-term care order; or".

Part 3—Amendments to Commission for Children and Young People Act 2012

23Definitions

In section 3 of the Commission for Children
and Young People Act 2012, the definition of central register is repealed.

24Child protection client

In section 4(b) of the Commission for Children and Young People Act2012 omit "in the central register".

25Access to records

(1)In section 30(2) of the Commission for Children and Young People Act 2012—

(a)paragraph (a) is repealed;

(b)in paragraph (b), for "other documents" substitute "information, documents or records".

(2)In section 30(3) of the Commission for Children and Young People Act 2012, for "or files" substitute "or records".

26Access to information

(1)Section 42(1)(a) of the Commission for Children and Young People Act 2012 is repealed.

(2)For section 42(1)(b) of the Commission for Children and Young People Act 2012substitute—

"(b)information, documents or records in relation to any person or service that is the subject of the inquiry held in or by—

(i)the Department of Education and Training; or

(ii)the Department of Health and Human Services; or

(iii)the Department of Justice and Regulation;".

(3)After section 42(3) of the Commission forChildren and Young People Act 2012 insert—

"(4)This section applies despite anything to the contrary in the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005.".

27New section 60A inserted

After section 60 of the Commission for Children and Young People Act 2012 insert—

"60A Disclosure of information by Secretary

The Secretary must disclose to the Commission any information about an adverse event relating to a child in out of home care or a person detained in a youth justice centre or a youth residential centre ifthe information is relevant to the Commission's functions.".

Part 4—Repeal of amending Act

28Repeal of amending Act

This Act is repealed on the first anniversary of the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

Note

The repeal of this Act does not affect the continuing operation ofthe amendments made by it (seesection 15(1) of the Interpretation of Legislation Act1984).

═══════════════

1

Endnotes

Children Legislation Amendment Act 2016
No. 8 of 2016

Endnotes

1General information

See for Victorian Bills, Acts and current authorised versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.

1

[†] Minister's second reading speech—

Legislative Assembly: 10 February 2016

Legislative Council: 25 February 2016

The long title for the Bill for this Act was "A Bill for an Act to amend the Children, Youth and Families Act2005 to improve the operation of that Act and to amend the Commission for Children and Young People Act2012 in relation to the disclosure of information under that Act and for other purposes."