Dispute Resolution Conferences (DRCs)

Collaborating in DRCs

If the Children’s Registrar agrees, a representative of the PSP provider (the ‘representative’) exercising primary case responsibility may participate in a DRC (section 65), noting:

• they have (or will have) a casework relationship with the child, their carers, parents and family/kin
• they may possess first-hand knowledge about the child and their placement
• they are likely to be given responsibility for implementing the care plan.

The following factors are considered by the Department in relation to participation by the representative:

• relevance of the likely input of the representative, to the issues in dispute
• whether the representative’s input will help all parties reach an agreement
• the nature and extent of the representative’s relationship with the child, their parents, siblings and family/kin
• whether the representative attends all or part of the DRC
• any other relevant factors.

Subject to the Department’s instructions, the Department’s legal officer seeks the Registrar’s agreement for the representative to participate. However, the representative may approach the Registrar directly to seek agreement.

In deciding whether the representative will be able to participate in a DRC, the Children’s Registrar will seek the consent of all parties to the court proceedings.

If the Registrar agrees that the representative can participate:

• the representative’s role is in support of the Department (during the DRC) and the representative follows the advice of Department’s legal officer
• the representative is bound by the confidentiality of the DRC and follows the guidance of the Children’s Registrar.