New South Wales Consolidated Acts

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS (CARE AND PROTECTION) ACT 1998 - SECT 22

22 Director-General’s response to requests for assistance

(1) If a person or non-government agency seeks assistance from the Director-General under this Part (whether or not a child or young person is suspected of being in need of care and protection), the Director-General must:

(a) provide whatever advice or material assistance, or make such referral, as the Director-General considers necessary, or

(b) take whatever other action the Director-General considers necessary,

to safeguard or promote the safety, welfare and well-being of the child or young person.

(2) Subsection (1) does not, however, require the Director-General to take any action other than assessing the request for assistance.

Note: The Director-General, in responding to a request for assistance, can provide services or arrange for other government departments and agencies, or community organisations, to provide services to assist children, young persons and their families.
The Department may also play a role in referring people to services provided under Commonwealth legislation, such as Family Court counselling and access to maintenance entitlements or other benefits.