Application Director-General, NSW Department of Family and Community Services; Re WAH and ODH [2013] NSWSC 378

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Application Director-General, NSW Department of Family and Community Services; Re WAH and ODH [2013] NSWSC 378 Hearing dates: Wednesday 20 March 2013 Decision date: 20 March 2013 Jurisdiction: Equity Division - Adoption List Before: Brereton J Decision: Adoption order made. Consent dispense order made. Order made to register adoption plan pursuant to (NSW) Adoption Act 2000, s 50. Catchwords: FAMILY LAW AND CHILD WELAFRE - Child welfare under State legislation - Adoption - Adoption order - where natural mother has made considerable efforts to improve parenting capacity - where children are in permanent foster care - whether order in best interests of the child

FAMILY LAW AND CHILD WELAFRE - Child welfare under State legislation - Adoption - Consent dispense order - birth mother indicates agreement to proposed adoption but does not wish to consent under (NSW) Adoption Act 2000 - whether consent may be dispensed with under (NSW) Adoption Act 2000 s 67(1)(d)

FAMILY LAW AND CHILD WELAFRE - Child welfare under State legislation - Adoption - Orders - where reasonable inquires have failed to locate natural father - whether notice requirement should be dispensed with Legislation Cited: (NSW) Adoptions Act 2000 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Director-General, Department of Family and Community Services (plaintiff) DSH (defendant) Representation: Counsel: Ms M Neville (plaintiff) Ms R Dart (solicitor - defendant) Solicitors: Crown Solicitors Office (plaintiff) Legal Aid (defendant) File Number(s): A127/2011