Less adversarial proceedings for vulnerable victorians

Amendments made to the Children, Youth and Families Act to make court proceedings less adversarial have been welcomed by the peak body for Victoria’s vulnerable children, young people and families.

This new legislation will reduce stress and trauma for vulnerable Victorian children, young people and families, and improve outcomes of proceedings in the Family Division of the Children’s Court.

The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare has long advocated for these improvements that were recommended in the Protecting Victoria’s Vulnerable Children Inquiry report.

The Centre’s CEO Deb Tsorbaris believes that these reforms will improve the experience and outcomes for children and facilitate decision-making in a way that promotes the best interests of the child.

Ms Tsorbaris said that “these improvements to the Children, Youth and Families Act make legal proceedings more child-focused and less daunting”.