Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:C2004A03590:body:0:p12
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:C2004A03590
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 28917–31605

a child welfare law.
"(3) Where it appears to a court having jurisdiction under this Act that another court or an authority proposes to make an order, or to take any other action, of the kind referred to in paragraph (2) (a) in relation to a child, the first-mentioned court may adjourn any proceedings before it that relate to the child.

"Division 3—Counselling

Notice seeking court counselling
"61. (1) A party to proceedings under this Part, or a person representing a child under an order made under section 65, may file in the Family Court

or a Family Court of a State a notice stating that he or she wishes to have the assistance of the counselling facilities of that Court.
"(2) On the filing of the notice, the Principal Director of Court Counselling of the Family Court or an appropriate officer of the Family Court of the State, as the case may be, shall arrange for parties to the proceedings (with or without the child) to be interviewed by a court counsellor or welfare officer:
     (a) to discuss the welfare of the child; and
     (b) if there are differences between the parties in relation to matters affecting the welfare of the child, to endeavour to resolve those differences.

Court counselling facilities to be made available
"61a. (1) A parent of a child, a child or a party to proceedings under this Part may seek the assistance of the counselling facilities of the Family Court or a Family Court of a State.
"(2) The Principal Director of Court Counselling of the Family Court or an appropriate officer of the Family Court of the State, as the case may be, shall, as far as practicable, make those facilities available.

Conciliation counselling
"61b. The Family Court and any other court exercising jurisdiction under this Part, and any legal practitioner acting in proceedings under this Part or consulted by a person who is considering instituting proceedings under this Part, shall have regard to the need to direct the attention of parties to such proceedings, and persons considering such proceedings:
     (a) to the facilities provided by courts exercising jurisdiction under this Part for counselling to assist children and parties to adjust, to the consequences of orders under this Part; and
     (b) to the procedures available for the resolution by conciliation of matters arising in the proceedings.

Provision of certain documents
"61c. The Rules of Court shall provide for the furnishing to a person proposing to institute proceedings under this Part in relation to a child, and in appropriate cases to any other person who may be interested in the welfare of the child, of documents setting out:
     (a) the legal and possible social effects