New President of the Children's Court

Judge Jack Vandersteen was admitted to practice in 1994 and commenced working with law firm Birch Ross & Barlow. In 1998-1999, His Honour worked at the Australian Institute of Public Safety. Following this he was employed at the Office of Public Prosecutions holding several management positions including Acting Manager of the Drug Section, Manager General Prosecutions, Manager of Eastern and Western Regional Victoria, Manager, Advocacy and Early Resolution Unit and was key in establishing the Specialist Sexual Offences Unit as the Manager of Solicitors.

In 2009, His Honour was appointed a Magistrate of the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria and was assigned to the Melbourne and Western Region of the Court. In 2014 he was appointed Regional Coordinating Magistrate (RCM) at Dandenong where he initiated fast tracking of criminal family violence matters. His Honour also sat regularly in the Criminal Division of the Children’s Court and worked closely with court stakeholders, including Youth Justice.

In 2020, the Chief Magistrate appointed His Honour to the role of RCM at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court where he has played an integral part in the Court’s response to COVID-19.

Judge Vandersteen was appointed a Judge of the County Court of Victoria on 1 January 2021 and as President of the Children’s Court of Victoria for a 5 year period.