Youth Justice Act 1992

In a proceeding before a court in which a child is charged with an offence, the court must take steps to ensure, as far as practicable, that the child and any parent of the child present has full opportunity to be heard and participate in the proceeding.

Without limiting subsection (1), the court must ensure that the child and parent understand, as far as practicable—

the nature of the alleged offence, including the matters that must be established before the child can be found guilty; and

the court’s procedures; and

the consequences of any order that may be made.

Examples of the steps a court may take are—

directly explaining these matters in court to the child and parent; and

having some appropriate person give the explanation; and

having an interpreter or another person able to communicate effectively with the child and parent give the explanation; and

causing an explanatory note in English or another language to be supplied to the child and parent.