Practice Directions 2018

Practice Direction 8 of 2018

Criminal Division - Moorabbin Custody Listings

This Practice Direction applies to all Children's Court custody matters where Moorabbin Children's Court is the proper venue and commences on 20 September 2018.

Practice Direction 7 of 2018

Fast Track Remand Court

The Children's Court at Melbourne operates a Fast Track Remand Court ("FTRC") to actively case manage the criminal proceedings of children who are held on remand. It is well known that the detention of children on remand for extended periods can have detrimental consequences for the child and for the community. For proceedings initiated in the FTRC strict time frames apply to the management of the criminal charges of children held on remand.

This Practice Direction replaces Practice Direction 7 of 2017 and commences on 20 September 2018.

Practice Direction 6 of 2018 (revoked)

Intermediary Pilot Program at Melbourne Children's Court

This Practice Direction gives effect to the new Part 8.2A of the Criminal Procedure Act 2009 as it relates to the Intermediary Pilot Program (the Pilot Program) at Melbourne Children's Court.

The Pilot Program commenced on 2 July 2018 and applies to criminal proceedings commenced on or after 28 February 2018 that relate to a sexual offence (as defined in s (4)(1) Criminal Procedure Act 2009) or a homicide offence.

This Practice Direction operates in conjunction with Practice Direction 4 of 2018 and commences on 18 July 2018.

Practice Direction 5 of 2018 (revoked) 

Subpoenas relating to confidential communications

This Practice Direction applies with respect to criminal proceedings which relate wholly or partly to a charge for a sexual offence. It clarifies the procedure to apply for leave to compel the production of and to produce documents containing confidential communications. This Practice Direction commences on 4 June 2018.

Practice Direction 4 of 2018 (revoked) 

Sexual Offences - Summary Contest Listings (including Forms A and B)

This Practice Direction applies with respect to criminal proceedings, which relate wholly or partly to a charge of a sexual offence and where the proceedings are to be listed for a summary contested hearing.

This Practice Direction revokes Practice Direction 2 of 2009 and commences on 4 June 2018.

Practice Direction 3 of 2018 (revoked)

This Practice Direction applies to a child protection application filed at regional venues of the Children's Court of Victoria where a child has been placed in emergency care.

This Practice Direction revokes Practice Direction 5 of 2016 and commences on 9 May 2018.

Practice Direction 2 of 2018

Procedure for Indictable Offences that may be heard and determined summarily

This Practice Direction is issued pursuant to Section 592 of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 and commences on 5 April 2018.

Practice Direction 1 of 2018

This Practice Direction operates until 31 December 2018. Practice Direction 1 of 2019 commenced on 11 January 2019 and extends the practices contained in Practice Direction 1 of 2018.