Agency Information Guide

Courts, Tribunals and Service Delivery (CTSD) includes:

• Alternative Dispute Resolution Services and Community Justice Centres;
• Court Services;
• District Courts;
• Industrial Relations Commission;
• Land and Environment Court;
• Local Courts;
• Office of the Sheriff;
• Supreme Court;
• Tribunals, such as the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal;
• Veteran Affairs; and
• Victims Services.

This division manages and supports the functions of court and tribunal registries in NSW, which are managed by registrars and presided over by independent judges, magistrates, or tribunal members. Services are also provided by the Office of the Sheriff, including court and tribunal security, the administration of the jury system, and the enforcement of certain civil debts and fines.

The responsible management and support of courts and tribunals are central to the administration of justice in NSW. The operation of courts and tribunals and the decisions of judicial officers, tribunal members, and registrars affect persons who have direct contact with courts and tribunals, including:

• Parties to proceedings;
• persons selected as jurors; and
• Persons subject to orders of the court who must participate in legal proceedings in accordance with the law and rules of the relevant court or tribunal, comply with orders of the court, or who may be convicted and sentenced in criminal proceedings.

However, these functions also have broader indirect effects upon members of the public by ensuring that courts and tribunals function effectively, remain independent, impartial, and fair arbiters of legal disputes and criminal cases, and facilitate the maintenance of a democratic system of Government in NSW.

CTSD also provides services to victims of crime in NSW through its Victims Services directorate. Victims Services provides access to counselling and financial assistance to victims of violent crime through the Victims Support Scheme, supports the National Redress Scheme for Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse, and promotes the Charter of Victims Rights.

Additionally, the Office of Veterans Affairs manages State-based programs for the commemoration of veterans and providing services to assist veterans.

Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) is comprised of the following specialist subdivisions:

• Custodial Corrections
• Community Corrections
• Security and Intelligence
• Corrections Strategy and Policy
• Governance and Continuous Improvement
• Offender Management and Programs
• Corrections Industry and Capacity (see Corrective Services Industries)
• Strategic Project Delivery

These business areas work together to:

• Administer correctional centres in NSW in accordance with the Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Act 1999 (NSW) and regulations.
• Supervise offenders subject to community-based orders (for example, parole orders and intensive corrections orders) through Community Corrections offices.
• Deliver programs and services to offenders to provide education and rehabilitation, and reduce the risk of reoffending.
• Support offender reintegration into the community.
• Build safer communities.

The delivery of these services contributes to achieving the Premier’s Priority to reduce reoffending and enhance community safety. The effects of these functions are not limited to persons in direct contact with CSNSW, but are wide-reaching and impact the broader community by seeking to responsibly manage correctional centres and supervise offenders in the community, support members of the community affected by criminal behaviour, and support offenders and their families to reintegrate offenders into the community and reduce the risk of reoffending.

Child Protection and Permanency, District and Youth Justice Services (CPPDYJS) provides a broad range of services relating to children and young persons.

The Department’s child protection functions are primarily set out and governed by the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW).

CPPDYJS deliver child protection casework services, working with families and carers of children, other agencies, and non-government organisations (NGOs) to identify, investigate and mitigate risks to the welfare of children in NSW, and facilitate pathways to ensure children and young persons at risk have permanent and stable accommodation. These functions also include receiving, assessing, and investigating reports of children and young persons at risk of significant harm, and making direct contact with families, carers, children and NGOs to address potential risks and provide support services.

These functions have wide-reaching effects by seeking to ensure that children and young persons in NSW receive the necessary care, support, opportunities, and stability that will allow them to reach their full potential.

Further information about these functions is available at: Children and Families.

Youth Justice NSW (YJNSW) is responsible for working with young offenders in NSW in accordance with the Children (Detention Centres) Act 1987 (NSW) and the Young Offenders Act 1997 (NSW).

Six youth justice centres (YJCs) are operated by the Department across the State which accommodate young offenders on remand or subject to control orders under the Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987 (NSW). YJCs offer a range of services such as psychology services to support young offenders in custody, while external agencies also provide detainees with education and health services in custody to support their wellbeing, development, and eventual reintegration into the community.

There are also 35 community offices administered by YJNSW which provide community-based intervention for young offenders, including supervising young offenders on parole or other community-based orders, and facilitating Youth Justice Conferencing.

YJNSW’s functions align with four key focus areas:

1. Keeping children and young people out of court or custody.
2. Early intervention to address criminogenic risk factors.
3. Reduce re-offending.
4. Ensure the safety of the community.

These functions affect members of the public broadly by seeking to ensure the safety of the community against criminal behaviour, supporting young offenders and their families to appropriately address offending behaviour and criminogenic risk factors, and reduce the risk of reoffending or continuing to offend into adult life.

Strategy, Policy and Commissioning (SPC) provides policy and strategic support, and data analytic services, to the entire Department. The services provided are broad, including leading the development and implementation of policies and strategies relating to:

• Housing and homelessness
• Family preservation
• Child protection and out-of-home care
• Domestic and family violence
• Seniors
• Persons with disability
• Carers

Data analytic services are provided by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) and Family and Community Services Insights Analysis and Research (FACSIAR). These business areas provide research and evaluation support, cost modelling, and reporting and operational reviews to identify trends and support evidence-based decision making across the Department.

This division also provides oversight over Department-funded service providers and contracts with the private sector to ensure that services provided to the public by NGOs and private sector businesses on behalf of the Department are delivered in accordance with relevant policies and standards.

SPC’s functions are primarily exercised in support of the functions of other divisions of the Department. As such, SPC’s functions indirectly affect members of the public by informing and supporting service delivery, strategy, and policy across other areas of the Department.

Housing, Disability and District Services (HDDS) exercises a range of functions in the areas of housing and disability services.

HDDS offers a number of housing assistance products, including:

• Social housing and homelessness support.
• Private rental assistance.
• Accommodation solutions for disaster-affected persons.

The NSW Government provides services relating to disability and inclusion, and has regulatory responsibilities in relation to restrictive practices under a Bilateral Agreement between the Commonwealth Government and the NSW Government. Accordingly, HDDS exercises functions consistent with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Quality and Safeguarding Framework, including:

• Administering an online Restrictive Practices Authorisation (RPA) System for NSW-based NDIS providers.
• Engaging with and supporting the disability services sector in the implementation of the RPA Police and Procedural Guide.
• Capacity building for the disability services sector in relation to the RPA System.

HDDS functions affect members of the public experiencing hardship by delivering housing assistance to persons in a range of circumstances, and by supporting national schemes which assist persons with disabilities to access assistance within a well-regulated and responsibly managed framework.

Law Reform and Legal Services (LRLS) consists of the following subdivisions:

• Legal
• Policy Reform and Legislation (PRL)
• Ministerial and Parliamentary Services (MaPS)
• Divisional Support and Public Accountability (DSPA)
• Various independent statutory office holders (see the Department’s organisation chart online for further information).

Legal manages the delivery of in-house legal services. These services include providing legal advice to other areas of the Department, responding to subpoenas, summonses or orders for production issued to the Department, representing the Department in certain court or tribunal proceedings to which the Department is a party, instructing the Crown Solicitor’s Office or externally retained legal representatives to act for the Department, and assisting in coronial inquiries into deaths in custody. Legal does not provide legal advice to members of the public.

Legal provides many of its services internally to other areas of the Department, however, it does provide some services directly to members of the public. These services include facilitating applications for ex gratia payments, providing public access to information under the GIPA Act, and conducting internal reviews of conduct pursuant to the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW) (see the Department’s Privacy Management Plan).

PRL provides policy advice to Ministers within the Stronger Communities Cluster. It also produces discussion and consultation papers and seeks submissions from the public on various policy matters to inform legislative and policy reform.

MaPS is responsible for co-ordinating and managing Parliamentary products and twice yearly Budget Estimates, coordination of Cabinet, and providing Department Liaison Officers across the Department who facilitate communications between the Department and Ministerial Offices (MOs). It also provides parliamentary support to six MOs within the Stronger Communities Cluster and acts as a centralised point of contact between MOs, the Department and other cluster agencies.

DSPA manages, supports, records and improves end-to-end processing or workflow of briefs, ministerial correspondence and requests from Ministers and the Office of the Secretary. Additionally, DSPA registers and supports NSW Justices of the Peace, manages the appointments of certain office holders, and provides regular reporting on performance to Ministers, the Secretary, and other internal divisions and agencies.

LRLS services also extend to ensuring that the common law and statutory powers of the Attorney-General, the Minister for Prevention of Domestic Violence, the Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services, and the Minister for Counter Terrorism and Corrections are exercised consistently with the law.

The functions of LRLS have both direct and indirect effects upon members of the public by informing law and policy reform, ensuring the lawful and ethical exercise of common law and statutory powers of Ministers, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation including the GIPA Act, and providing legal advice to other areas of the Department to ensure the lawful exercise of Department functions.

Corporate Services delivers services to the Department and selected cluster/independent agencies with support, information and insights to achieve service delivery goals, including managing specific reforms and process initiatives, projects, and leading business and strategy planning.

Corporate Services consists of:

• Finance and Procurement - Provides financial management, reporting and related services, advisory services to other business areas on accounting and internal control policies, procurement support services, financial strategy services, and conducts monitoring and oversight of Departmental activities to ensure that the Department meets financial integrity standards, certification frameworks and continuous improvement strategies.
• Enterprise Strategy and Governance - Manages organisational risk, provides support to the Executive, oversees the Department’s compliance with Government policy, and provides divisional support to achieve outcomes through strategy, planning, governance, reporting, and change management.
• People - Manages human resources, workplace health and safety, inclusion and diversity, conduct and professional standards, talent acquisition, and pandemic coordination.
• Infrastructure and Assets - Manages accommodation and properties owned or leased by the Department.
• Shared Services and Customer Experience - Provides and coordinates shared services and solutions across all transactional activities, payroll and financial services including accounts payable, revenue and debt management, contact services including switchboard and mail services, and the development and management of customer experience and design.
• Communications - Manages communications strategy, delivering marketing, campaigns and events, managing corporate branding, managing the Department’s digital experience of websites and intranets, and media and social media services.
• Information and Digital Services - Provides information technology services to support Department staff and meeting client needs by ensuring the security and suitability of technology platforms used by the Department to deliver services to the public.
• Process and Technology Harmonisation (PaTH) - Delivering a program that progressively consolidates shared services operations and enterprise resource planning systems across NSW Government agencies through standardisation, technology and other supporting systems.

Corporate Services functions affect members of the public by providing services aimed broadly at improving the efficiency of the Department’s transactional activities and customer experience, communicating information to the public, and ensuring accountability through ethical procurement processes and reporting on finances, infrastructure, and assets.

Transforming Aboriginal Outcomes provides a range of services leading to improved outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Persons in areas such as criminal justice, child protection, and housing. This division also provides support services to other divisions of the Department to educate staff and improve service and program delivery to achieve meaningful and permanent outcomes for First Nations Persons.

This divisions functions aim to address systematic causes of disadvantage and work toward meeting National Agreement on Closing the Gap targets relating to child protection, criminal justice, housing, and the prevention of domestic violence.

The ADB promotes anti-discrimination and equal opportunity principles and policies through the administration of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW).

For information about the ADB’s functions and structure, please see the Board’s About us page.

If you wish to make a complaint pursuant to the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW), please see the Board’s Complaints page.

The Carers Advisory Council is established under the Carers (Recognition) Act 2010 (NSW) to advance the interests of carers, and review and make recommendations on legislative or policy proposals affecting carers.

Further information about the Council and its functions and members is available on the Department’s website at NSW Carers Advisory Council.

The Children’s Court Advisory Committee is established by the Attorney General under section 15A(1) of the Children’s Court Act 1987 (NSW). The Committee has a number of functions including consultation with persons using the Children’s Court and providing advice to the Attorney General, the Minister, and the Court.

See above at Table 1 for further information about the functions of Courts, Tribunals and Service Delivery.

The Children’s Court clinic is an independent body that is part of the Sydney Children’s Hospitals network. It employs Authorised Clinicians (professionals with psychiatry, psychology, and social work experience and qualifications) who give expert clinical assessments and recommendations to assist the Children’s Court, lawyers, and parents to plan for the care of a child or young person.

The Clinic’s functions ensure that the Children’s Court is able to make the most appropriate decision for the safety, welfare, and well-being of children who come into contact with the Court.

The Children’s Court is established by the Children’s Court Act 1987 (NSW) and exercises jurisdiction conferred by that Act and other relevant legislation in relation to various matters involving children and young persons (CYPs), including certain criminal proceedings against a CYP, and proceedings relating to care, protection, and schooling of a CYP.

The Children's Court aims to provide an efficient, fair and effective court service for children, families and the community.

Further information about the various functions of the Court is available on the Court’s About the Court page.

See above at Table 1 for further information about the functions of Courts, Tribunals and Service Delivery.

Commissioners of the Land and Environment Court of NSW are appointed by the Governor pursuant to section 12 of the Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (NSW) to exercise select functions of the Court.

Information about appointed Commissioners and their functions are set out on the Court’s website at: Judicial officers and decision makers.

The Coroners Act 2009 (NSW) sets out the functions of Coroners, being to examine sudden, unexpected, unnatural and suspicious deaths, suspected deaths in the case of missing persons, and fires and explosions causing serious injury or damage to property.

The findings of inquiries conducted by the Coroners Court have direct impacts upon deceased persons and their families by seeking to substantiate causes of death, providing closure, and bringing individuals criminally responsible for the death of a person to justice. The findings of inquiries may also assist in protecting the lives and well-being of persons by informing relevant authorities about practices, policies or laws which could be reformed to prevent future deaths, fires and explosions.

For additional information about the functions of the Coroners Court, please see How the Coroners Court works.

Costs assessors are appointed by the Chief Justice of New South Wales under section 93C of the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014 (NSW) to determine applications for cost assessments made under Part 7 of that Act. However, costs assessors are not officers of the Supreme Court of NSW.

In determining a costs assessment application, costs assessors are required to quantify amounts under a costs order made by a NSW court or tribunal, and determine fair and reasonable costs between clients and their lawyers.

Costs assessors aim to ascertain fair and reasonable costs to ensure that costs orders achieve a just outcome, and to ensure that a client’s costs payable to their lawyers give effect to any relevant costs agreement and applicable legislation.

Information about costs assessments is available online.

The CSO is the largest provider of legal services to state government agencies in NSW.

If issues arising in a civil or other dispute, or a criminal law matter, are considered core legal work of Government (see Premier's Memorandum M2016-04-NSW Government Core Legal Work Guidelines) or arise under certain legislation, agencies must instruct the Crown Solicitor to act on their behalf.

The CSO also provides legal advice and representation to NSW Government agencies in relation to matters that are not core legal work of Government at the request of agencies.

Whilst the CSO’s services are not provided to the public, its functions have broader impacts upon members of the public by assisting agencies to exercise their functions and deliver Government policies, programs, and projects in a lawful, effective and efficient manner.

The District Court is the intermediate court in the NSW judicial hierarchy. It has jurisdiction to hear criminal proceedings for all offences except murder, treason and piracy, civil claims for motor accident cases for any claimed amount, and other civil claims up to $750,000 (or higher if the parties consent). The District Court also hears appeals from the Local Court and the Children’s Court.

For information about the District Court’s jurisdiction and functions, please see the Court’s About us page.

The Drug Court of NSW is a specialist court providing alternatives to prison for eligible offenders with drug dependencies who have committed certain crimes.

For information about the jurisdiction and functions of the Drug Court, please see the Court’s About us page.

The Dust Diseases Tribunal hears claims for damages from persons who suffer from dust-related diseases, or dependents of persons who have died from a dust-related disease.

For information about the jurisdiction and functions of the Tribunal, please see: How the Tribunal works.

Industrial Committees may exercise certain functions of the Industrial Relations Commission in respect of the industry or part of an industry for which the Committee was established.

For information about Industrial Committees, including a list of Committees, their purpose and functions, please see: Industrial Committees.

The Industrial Registrar has various functions under the Industrial Relations Act 1996 (NSW) and other legislation, and provides administrative support and registry services to the Chief Commissioner and Commissioners of the Industrial Relations Commission.

The Registrar’s functions assist members of the public with industrial disputes within the Commission’s jurisdiction to achieve justice through access to the Commission and its services, and through the exercise of certain decision-making powers under relevant legislation.

The principal functions of the IRC are to resolve industrial disputes, unfair dismissal claims, fix wage rates, and set terms of conditions of employment through making industrial awards and approving enterprise agreements.

For information about the IRC, including its purpose, functions, and structure, please see: About the IRC

The IRC’s functions are limited to NSW-based industrial relations legislation, and do not extend to matters arising under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth). Such matters are dealt with in the Federal jurisdiction by the Fair Work Commission.

The ICS is appointed to inspect adult correctional facilities and youth justice centres, and reports to Parliament on the findings of these inspections. The Inspector also oversees the Official Visitor Program conducted in correctional facilities and youth justice centres.

The functions of the ICS are integral to ensure the standards of the conditions, treatments and outcomes for adults and young persons in custody and ensure the accountable and ethical operation of custodial environments in NSW.

The Land and Environment Court of NSW was established on 1 September 1980, and is the first specialist environmental superior court in the world.

For information about the Land and Environment Court, its functions, jurisdiction, and services, please visit the Court’s About us page.

The LPAB is responsible for:

• Approving the admission of lawyers and the appointment of public notaries in NSW.
• Accrediting academic law courses and practical legal training courses in NSW.
• Registering, enrolling, and examining students in the Board’s Diploma in Law course.
• Maintaining the Roll of Lawyers and the Roll of Public Notaries in NSW.

The LPAB’s functions ensure that tertiary education in law meets required standards and that persons seeking to be admitted to the legal profession are fit and proper persons to be entrusted with the responsibilities of such a profession. These functions facilitate the integrity of the legal profession and ensure that the public has confidence and trust in the legal profession.

The Local Court of NSW is the lowest court in the NSW court hierarchy. It has jurisdiction to hear criminal proceedings for less serious offences, committals for more serious criminal offences before the matter progresses to a superior court, civil proceedings for claims up to $100,000, apprehended violence order (AVO) applications, and limited family law applications relating to property settlements and residence orders.

Further information about the Local Court’s functions and jurisdiction is available online at: About us.

The NSW Ageing and Disability Commission is an independent agency of the NSW government whose role is to:

• Raise awareness to reduce and prevent the abuse, neglect and exploitation of older people and adults with disability from abuse, neglect and exploitation.
• Receive, investigate (if necessary), and respond to reports or allegations of abuse, neglect and exploitation of older persons and adults with disability.
• Report and advise the Government on systemic issues.
• Provide support and information.

The Commission does not investigate paid service providers. Rather, it focuses on the conduct of family members, informal supports, or members of the community toward older persons and adults with disability to ensure that such persons are not abused, exploited or neglected by their immediate supports and members of the community

The Ageing and Disability Commissioner’s functions are set out at section 12 of the Ageing and Disability Commissioner Act 2019 (NSW).

The NCAT commenced operation on 1 January 2014, consolidating the work of 22 former tribunals in NSW into a single source of specialist tribunal services. The Tribunal consists of the following divisions:

• Administrative and Equal Opportunity Division
• Consumer and Commercial Division
• Guardianship Division
• Occupational Division.

An Appeal Panel also hears appeals of certain decisions made by the Tribunal.

For further information about the Tribunal, its functions, and its governing legislation, please visit: What is NCAT?

Information about the structure and functions of the Department’s Courts, Tribunals and Service Delivery division is above at Table 1.

The HAC is an independent agency which deals with appeals from people who are aggrieved by a decision made by social housing providers, including the Department. This Committee was established to ensure that clients of Government-funded housing services have access to an independent system of review and redress.

The HAC’s functions operate to ensure that decisions of social housing providers are fair, reasonable, and consistent with policy. This impacts members of the public aggrieved by the decisions of social housing providers by ensuring that decision-making processes are fair and accountable.

The NSW Law Reform Commission is an independent statutory body constituted under the Law Reform Commission Act 1967 (NSW) to provide advice to the State Government on law reform matters referred to the Commission by the Attorney General.

For information about the functions of the NSW Law Reform Commission, please visit the Commission’s About us page.

The NSW Sentencing Council is an independent advisory body established in 2003, the first of its kind in Australia, to advise on, research, monitor, report, and educate the public about criminal sentencing matters and issues.

Please visit the Council’s About us page for further information about the Council’s functions.

The membership structure of the Council is set out at: Meet the Council

The OLSC is an independent statutory body that deals with complaints about lawyers under the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014 (NSW) and, where necessary, takes disciplinary action against lawyers or commences disciplinary proceedings in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

The OLSC consists of the Legal Services Commissioner and staff who advise and assist the Commissioner in the exercise of their functions and powers.

The Commissioner’s role seeks to improve the professionalism of lawyers in NSW and ensures that lawyers abide by ethical and professional obligations when providing services to the public. The OLSC further aims to improve standards in the legal services industry and improve the public’s satisfaction with the services delivered to the community by solicitors and barristers.

The Advocate for Children and Young People works to improve the safety, welfare and well-being of all children and young people in NSW, and to speak up for children and young people to ensure that their rights are respected and their points of view are heard by adult decision-makers.

The Advocate’s role includes:

• Making recommendations to Parliament, government agencies and NGOs on legislation, policies, practices, and services affecting children and young people.
• Promoting participation by children and young persons in decision-making about issues that affect their lives.
• Researching children’s issues and monitoring children’s well-being.
• Inquiring into important issues relating to children and young people.
• Providing information to help children and young people.

Broadly, these functions affect members of the public by seeking to address systemic issues affecting children and young people, prioritising the interests and needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged children, and working with other organisations to represent the interests of children and young people.

The Solicitor General is the second law officer of the State. The Solicitor General advises the Crown, especially on constitutional matters, and appears in court, often the High Court, acting for the State of NSW. The Crown Advocate assists the Solicitor General and often specialises in criminal matters.

The functions of the Solicitor General and the Crown Advocate ensure that the interests of the people of NSW are protected within Australia’s federal system.

The PDO provides salaried barristers independent of government to appear for clients who are charged with serious criminal offences and who have been granted legal assistance by Legal Aid NSW, the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT), or a community legal centre. Public defenders also provide legal advice and education for criminal law practitioners and play an active role in law reform.

The PDO ensures that all persons charged with serious criminal offences, regardless of their status, are able to access legal representation and achieve just and fair outcomes in accordance with the law.

The Registrar of Community Housing is an independent statutory office holder responsible for registering, monitoring, and regulating non-government community housing providers in NSW under the National Regulatory System for Community Housing (NRSCH) and the NSW Local Scheme (NSWLS).

The Registrar’s functions are essential to growing and developing the community housing sector and providing the public, particularly persons on very low, low or moderate incomes, with a well-regulated and managed community housing sector that meets the needs of tenants in a responsible and lawful manner.

The SORC is an independent statutory body established under the Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Act 1999 (NSW) to advise on the security classification, placement and case management of inmates classified as “serious offenders”, and the review segregation directions made pursuant to Part 2 Division 2 of the Act. It also provides advice to the State Parole Authority regarding the release of serious offenders on parole. Serious offenders for this purpose include inmates who are:

• Convicted of murder
• Serving a life sentence
• Serving a custodial sentence and will not be eligible for release until after at least 12 years in custody
• Deemed by the sentencing court, the State Parole Authority, or the Commissioner of Corrective Services NSW as requiring management as a serious offender.

The SOCR also includes a number of committees which provide recommendations pertaining to the management of high security inmates, reclassification of inmates classified as an escape-risk (medium security) to lower classifications, and pre-release leave for public interest inmates.

These functions affect members of the public by ensuring that serious offenders are appropriately managed in custody with the necessary classification, placement, and case management to maintain the security, good order, and discipline of correctional centres and facilitate the rehabilitation of serious offenders.

The SPA is an independent statutory authority which makes decisions on the safe reintegration of inmates into the community. The SPA makes decisions about releasing inmates on parole, setting parole conditions, revoking and reinstating parole orders and Intensive Correction Orders, and determining parole for offenders convicted of terrorism offences.

The SPA’s obligations in the exercise of its functions are set out by section 135 of the Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Act 1999 (NSW), which provides that it must not make any parole order directing the release of an offender unless the SPA is satisfied it is in the interests of the safety of the community.

These functions have implications for members of the community and offenders by ensuring that community safety is maintained and balanced with the objective of providing for the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders into the community.

The Supreme Court of NSW is the superior court in the NSW court hierarchy. It has both specific statutory jurisdiction and an inherent jurisdiction to exercise such powers as may be necessary for the administration of justice in NSW.

The Supreme Court has unlimited jurisdiction in civil matters and hears the most serious criminal matters, such as charges for murder. The Court’s jurisdiction and the hierarchy of the NSW court system is set out at: About the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court also consists of two appellate courts: the Court of Appeal, and the Court of Criminal Appeal (CCA), which have jurisdiction to hear appeals from the Supreme Court or inferior courts in certain circumstances.

Appeals from the Court of Appeal and the CCA are heard by the High Court of Australia, the highest court in the Commonwealth, State, and Territory court systems in Australia. A person may only appeal to the High Court from the Court of Appeal or the CCA if the High Court grants special leave (permission).

The High Court of Australia is a Commonwealth court and does not form part of the Department.

The Anzac Memorial Building, located at the southern end of Hyde Park, Sydney, is administered by a Board of Trustees appointed under the Anzac Memorial (Building) Act 1923 (NSW). The Board of Trustees includes various Government officials at both State and Commonwealth levels, the President of the Returned and Services League (RSL) of Australia (New South Wales Branch), a veterans’ representative, and a community representative, among others.

The Trustees’ functions include the control and management of all property vested in the body corporate established by the Act, and the application of funds to the equipment, upkeep, maintenance and management of the Memorial Building. These functions seek to “promote, maintain and enhance the Anzac Memorial as the State’s principal commemorative and interpretative monument dedicated to the service and sacrifice of Australians in peace and war.”

The Victims Advisory Board is established under section 109 of the Victims Rights and Support Act 2013 (NSW) to:

• Advise the Minister on policies and administrative arrangements for support services and assistance to victims of crime.
• Consult victims of crime, community support grounds and Government agencies on issues and policies concerning victims of crime.
• Promote legislative, administrative and other reforms to meet the needs of victims of crime.
• The Board consists of the Commissioner of Victims Rights (the Chairperson) and no more than 11 other members, which include:
• Six (6) community representatives, and
• NSW Government agency representatives from the Department, Legal Aid NSW, NSW Police Force, and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Child protection, family casework, out-of-home care, and adoption records relating to individuals and families.

Reports and assessments about children and young persons at risk of significant harm.

Information and records relating to children and young persons in custody or under supervision in the community.

Information about the operation of youth justice centres.

For further information relating to the care and protection of children held by the Department, or juvenile justice files pre-November 1991, please visit: FACS and DCJ records.

For further details about information and records held by Youth Justice NSW, including juvenile justice files from November 1991 onwards, please visit: Youth Justice records.

Information relating to business ethics, tenders, and contracts

Annual Reports, including audited financial statements, information relating to funding grants to NGOs, former Department of Family and Community Services Annual Reports and former Department of Justice Annual Reports

Budgeting and financial information.

Personnel and human resources-related information.

Information relating to Department assets.

Information such as personal and health information about clients and staff, or information obtained from third parties, held in the Federated Analytics Platform, which consolidates data from a variety of internal systems, data storage locations, file shares, legacy stores, and external systems (see the Department’s Privacy Management Plan for further information).

Case files relating to current and previous proceedings in a NSW court or tribunal, which contain documents such as applications, notices of motion or evidence filed with the court, subpoenaed or summonsed documents, and orders of the relevant court or tribunal.

Transcripts and audio recordings of court and tribunal proceedings.

Case files relating to victims support services.

Tenancy files.

Information and records within the Housing Operations Management Extended Services (HOMES) system, such as records of housing clients’ interactions with the Department and records of assistance provided to clients (for example, temporary accommodation, private rental subsidies, and tenancy management).

Information about clients who receive housing assistance products.

NSW Housing Register.

For further information, please visit: FACS and DCJ records.

Legal advice, client instructions, and information relevant to proceedings to which the Department is a party.

Litigation files.

Ministerial correspondence.

Information relating to policy and law reform proposals, including consultations and briefing notes.

Subpoenas, summonses, or other orders for production issued to the Department and related records or correspondence.

Access applications and informal requests under the GIPA Act and related information, including internal and external correspondence, notices of decision, and copies of information the subject of such applications and requests.

Submissions and consultation responses.

Correspondence.

Policies

Corrective Services NSW Policies

Youth Justice Resources and Policies

Housing Policies

Restrictive Practices Authorisation Portal Policy and Procedural Guide

Former Department of Justice Polices

Former Department of Family and Community Services Policies

Courts and Tribunals

Local Court: Policy documents and tabled documents

District Court: Practice and procedure

Supreme Court: Supreme Court Policies

Drug Court: Policy documents and tabled documents

Coroners Court: Policy and tabled documents

Children’s Court: Practice and procedures

NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal: Policies and tabled documents

Dust Diseases Tribunal: Publications

Industrial Relations Commission: Policy and tabled documents

Independent statutory bodies and office holders

Crown Solicitor’s Office: Policies

Legal Profession Admission Board: Policy and tabled documents