New South Wales Consolidated Acts

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS (CARE AND PROTECTION) ACT 1998 - SECT 36

36 Principles of intervention

(1) In deciding the appropriate response to a report concerning a child or young person, the Director-General must have regard to the following principles:

(a) The immediate safety, welfare and well-being of the child or young person, and of other children or young persons in the usual residential setting of the child or young person, must be given paramount consideration.

(b) Subject to paragraph (a), any action must be appropriate to the age of the child or young person, any disability the child, young person or his or her family members have, and the circumstances, language, religion and cultural background of the family.

(c) Removal of the child or young person from his or her usual caregiver may occur only where it is necessary to protect the child or young person from the risk of serious harm.

(2) The principles in this section are to be applied in priority to the principles in section 9 in deciding the appropriate response to a report concerning a child or young person.