Community Justice Centres Act 1983 (NSW)

Community Justice Centres Act 1983 No 127

An Act to provide for the establishment and operation of Community Justice Centres to provide mediation services in connection with certain disputes.

Part 1 Preliminary

1 Name of Act This Act may be cited as the Community Justice Centres Act 1983.

2 Commencement (1) Sections 1 and 2 shall commence on the date of assent to this Act. (2) Except as provided by subsection (1), this Act shall commence on 1 December 1983.

3 Object of Act The object of this Act is to provide for the establishment and operation of Community Justice Centres for the purpose of: (a) providing dispute resolution and conflict management services, including the mediation of disputes, and (b) training persons to be mediators, and (c) promoting alternative dispute resolution, and (d) contributing to the development of alternative dispute resolution in New South Wales by entering into connections and partnerships with the legal profession, courts, tribunals, the academic sector and other providers of alternative dispute resolution services, and (e) undertaking other matters incidental to the provision of dispute resolution and conflict management services.

4 Definitions (1) In this Act, except in so far as the context or subject-matter otherwise indicates or requires: Community Justice Centre means a Community Justice Centre established under this Act. Director means the Director of Community Justice Centres. functions includes powers, authorities and duties. mediation includes: (a) the undertaking of any activity for the purpose of promoting the discussion and settlement of disputes, (b) the bringing together of the parties to any dispute for that purpose, and (c) the follow-up of any matter the subject of any such discussion or settlement. mediation session means a meeting in accordance with this Act between 2 or more parties who are in dispute on any matter. mediator means: (a) the Director, or (b) a person for the time being holding office as a mediator under section 5. Secretary means the Secretary of the Department of Justice. (2) A reference in this Act to the exercise of a function includes, where the function is a duty, a reference to the performance of the duty. (3) A reference in this Act to the parties to a mediation session includes a reference to the parties to a dispute in respect of which an application for a mediation session is duly made, but does not include a reference to the mediator conducting the mediation session. (4) A reference in this Act to the conduct of a mediation session by a mediator includes a reference to the conduct of a mediation session in the presence, or under the supervision, of the mediator. (5) Notes included in this Act do not form part of this Act.