When the Children’s Court grants an Assessment Order, a file of documents is provided to the Children’s Court Clinic with the Order and the Application for an Order. The file of documents provides background information on the person(s) subject to an Assessment Order. 

If the Children’s Court Clinic has been requested to conduct the assessment, the information helps determine whether the Children’s Court Clinic is able to carry out the assessment, and it will assist the Director in determining who may be the most suitable clinician to do it.

The person who lodged the Application for an Assessment Order is usually responsible for providing the file of documents, unless the court directs otherwise. The file of documents should be provided to the Children’s Court Clinic via email or secure USB.

Only documents agreed by all parties in court should be made available to the Children’s Court Clinic. This includes subpoened materials.

Other information may only be provided by the caseworker or other parties to the clinician upon the Authorised Clinician's specific request. Additional material or missing material provided after the initial material is received, will delay the preparation of the report.

Suggestions for the construction of the file of documents

Documents are needed that give the Children’s Court Clinician a summary of the main facts of the case and an overall understanding of assessments, observation and interviews that have already been conducted.  All the filed affidavits and Reports should also be provided

The file of documents is to:

  • Arrive at the clinic less than five days after the Assessment Order has been made.
  • Be sent via email or in the case of secure USB or by registered post to the Clinic’s correct address 2 George St, Parramatta 2150, or Locked Bag 4001, Westmead 2145 or in person during business hours.
  • The Application to the Children's Court for Assessment Order (Form No. 2) includes a guideline for listing the documents, to provide background material to help the Authorised Clinician plan the assessment.
    • The name and contact details of the person responsible for forwarding the documents will enable any difficulties to be resolved quickly.
    • The documents need to have been agreed by all parties for the assessment.
    • The list needs to include details of annexures to affidavits and reports.

Video in any form is not  accepted by the Children’s Court Clinic

Use this checklist to construct the file of documents

  • A statement of intended casework proposals, and the initiating document
  • Applications and Orders relevant to the assessment, including all documents that are relevant to the issues to be addressed in the Assessment Order. Previous drafts of Assessment Order applications do NOT need to be included.
  • Relevant current court orders, including those made by courts other than the Children’s Court (e.g., Apprehended Violence Orders, Family Court Orders) should be included.t.

Useful documents to include

The most useful relevant documents include:

  • A brief chronology of proceedings,
  • Casework reviews and case plans, summaries of relevant interventions attempted and the family’s responses to them.
  • Copies of previous clinical assessments undertaken of the child, children or family (e.g., paediatric, psychological, psychiatric, social work assessments or reports, school reports, Children's Court Clinic assessments, and Karitane/Tresillian/hospital discharge summaries).
  • Copies of previous Children’s Court Clinic Reports will be provided to the Clinician as a matter of Children’s Court Clinic procedure as per NSW Children’s Court Practice Note 6.