Public Guardian Act 2014

The main principle to be applied by persons performing functions or exercising powers under this Act in relation to a relevant child or a child staying at a visitable site is that the best interests of the child are paramount.

The persons must also apply the following general principles when performing functions or exercising powers under this Act in relation to the child—

the child’s family has primary responsibility for the child’s upbringing and development and should be supported in that role;

the child is a valued member of society;

the child is—

to be treated in a way that respects the child’s dignity and privacy; and

to be cared for in a way that protects the child from harm, promotes the child’s wellbeing and allows the child to reach his or her full potential;

the child’s emotional, moral, social and intellectual development is important and must be taken into account;

the child is entitled to be heard, even if others may not agree with the views expressed by the child;

the child should be able to exercise his or her rights and participate in decisions that affect his or her life;

the child should be able to access available services necessary to meet his or her needs;

an ongoing relationship between the child and the child’s family is important for the child’s welfare and wellbeing and must be taken into account;

an ongoing connection with the child’s culture, traditions, language and community is important for the child’s welfare and wellbeing and must be taken into account.