Practice tools
We have a toolkit and checklist available for lawyers assisting clients through both the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) internal case plan review process and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Review Tribunal (VCAT) process.
- Review of DHHS Child Protection Services decisions in VCAT – checklist (docx, 135.48 KB)(opens in a new window)
A checklist to the processes involved in applying to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for review of any decisions made by the Child Protection Service of the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) concerning a child to go with the toolkit. - Review of DHHS Child Protection Service decisions by VCAT – toolkit (docx, 146.85 KB)(opens in a new window)
This toolkit provides a brief overview and guide to the processes involved in applying to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for review of any decisions made by the Child Protection Service of the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) concerning a child.
Precedents
Precedents in Microsoft Word file format, including different versions of client letters to children, young people and adults, are available to child protection private practitioner panel lawyers by email. If you would like access to these documents, please contact: suzanne.bettink@vla.vic.gov.au, eveline.pagnani@vla.vic.gov.au or hala.atwa@vla.vic.gov.au
Professional legal education
We have videos and associated materials which may be accessed by child protection private practitioner panel lawyers with topics including:
- Applying to VCAT for reviews of DHHS (as it then was) case plan decisions in child protection matters (part 1)
- How to run an administrative review of DHHS (as it then was) decisions at VCAT (part 2).
For a full list of available topics or to access the videos and materials email: ple@vla.vic.gov.au
More information
See also Child protection in the Family Division of the Children’s Court.
Additional resources
- Children’s Court of Victoria – Family Division – Child protection – part 5:29 – Case planning
- DHHS Child Protection Manual (now DFFH but still labelled as DHHS):
Rules of procedural fairness apply to the decision-making process. See the following publications of the Law Institute of Victoria:
Updated