Is it 'fair'? Representation of children, young people and parents in an adversarial court system. (11th March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thomson, Lorraine; McArthur, Morag; Camilleri, Peter
• Is Part Of: Child & family social work. Volume 22:(2017) Supplement 2
• Page Start: 23
• Page End: 32
• Publication Date: 2015-03-11
• Subjects: advocacy for children -- child protection -- child welfare (in Australia) -- courts; Social work with children -- Periodicals; Family social work -- Periodicals; 362.7
• DOI: 10.1111/cfs.12226
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1356-7500

Abstract

Abstract: Children's Courts in Australia are important parts of the systems which protect children and deal with young people who offend. They make decisions about the best interests of these vulnerable children and young people and require that children are represented in court. The paper reports on views of 46 stakeholders about quality of and access to representation in the care jurisdiction of the Childrens Court in Australian Capital Territory. Most stakeholders were adamant that for all parties to receive as fair a hearing as possible, they needed representation. There were a range of views about the quality of representation and about what quality representation looks like in an adversarial system of decision‐making.