Child Minding Service

The Child Minding Centre is a free service available to parties attending the Family Court.

Staff at the centre are fully qualified childcare workers and in possession of senior first aid certificates. The centre has many toys, videos, puzzles, books, games and art activities to entertain your children while you attend to your court business.

The centre can care for children over 8 weeks old.

Using the Child Minding Centre

The centre is open from 8.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm.

Children can stay for up to three hours, and can return after a one hour break.

Please note the centre cannot assist with the facilitation of 'spend time with' court orders.

Signing in

You need to sign your child into the Centre at least half an hour before your appointment.

The sign in policy is that:

• children must be signed out by the same person who signed them in.
• you must remain at the Family Court while the child attends the centre.
• only the person who signs the child in is permitted to enter the Child Minding Centre, unless a support person is expressly permitted by the Child Care Worker to enter.

If at any time your child is distressed, your assistance will be sought and your child returned to you without delay.

What to bring

You should provide anything your child may need, such as bottles, nappies and lunches.

Nappy change facilities, beds and cots are available, however it is recommended that prams be provided for infants. A microwave is available for heating food and bottles. Bottles of infant formula need to be prepared in advance.

You need to tell the staff about:

• special dietary requirements
• allergies
• feeding times
• sleep times
• special needs or behaviours, and
• medical conditions that may require attention - staff will not give medication

Please note that children with infectious illnesses such as scabies, chicken pox, head lice, impetigo, school sores or cold sores will not be accepted into the centre.

Capacity of the child minding service

The Child Care Worker will determine the safe number of children in care in the centre at any time, depending on the needs of the children signed in. Priority will be given to parties with their own case before the Court that day.

Last updated: 17-May-2024

[ back to top ]