Care and Protection

FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE

What is the Care Partner Service?

Macarthur Legal Centre (‘MLC’), based in Campbelltown, is partnering with Legal Aid NSW to provide legal assistance in response to recent amendments to the (NSW) Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998. MLC can work with parents or primary caregivers who require legal assistance when responding to early intervention approaches from the Department of Family and Community Services (‘FACS’), and in arranging and participating in alternative dispute resolution about contact arrangements after final orders have been made.

What can we do to help ?

MLC can provide legal advice and assistance for the following matters:

1. Parents or caregivers experiencing initial contact by FaCS.
2. Parental Responsibility Contracts.
3. Preliminary advice and negotiation about Parental Capacity Orders.
4. Variations to contact orders.
5. Post final order contact disputes, including representation at ADR conferences.

What we cannot help with?

We can’t provide  urgent advice and representation when children have been recently removed, and we can’t appear as a children’s representative in proceedings.   Clients needing representation in Court matters should call their local Legal Aid NSW office or the Aboriginal Legal Service on 1800 733 233 (Aboriginal clients only).

Contact Us

Clients in the Macarthur region can call us direct on (02) 4628 2042.

Clients outside the Macarthur region should call the Legal Aid Early Intervention Unit on 1800 551 589, to make a booking in their local area.