Attending the Children's Court
What happens when you go to Children's Court, how to request special assistance or a support person to go with you and how to behave in court.
Media attendance
The media generally has a right to attend court and report on proceedings, but in any report, article etc cannot identify any child or young person:
- who is the subject of the matter
- who gives evidence in the matter
- who is mentioned in the matter.
The court can direct that the media be excluded for some or all of the proceedings.
If for some reason the media wish to publish identifying details, they need to obtain consent from:
- the Children’s Court, if the child is under the age of 16
- directly from the young person in question, if they are aged 16 or over
- the Director-General, if the child or young person is under the Minister’s parental responsibility.
The rules of non-identification apply before, during, and after any court or non-court proceedings until the child or young person reaches 25 years of age. They also cease to apply if the child or young person dies before the age of 25.
If the media does not comply with these rules and a child or young person is identified without appropriate consent, then a criminal offence has been committed.