Parramatta Children’s Court | Catron Simmons Lawyers
Your child’s matter is too important to leave to chance
A phone call from the police, a court attendance notice in the mail, or a knock at the door — however it starts, finding out your child is facing the Children’s Court is one of the hardest moments a parent can have. At Catron Simmons Lawyers, we understand what’s at stake. A poor outcome can affect your child’s record, their schooling, their future employment, and their sense of themselves for years to come. The right legal advice, early, changes the picture.
If your child has a matter listed at Parramatta Children’s Court, we’re here to help.
About Parramatta Children’s Court
Parramatta Children’s Court sits at 12 George Street, Parramatta, in the same precinct as the Parramatta Local and District Courts. It is one of the busiest specialist Children’s Courts in New South Wales, dealing with matters involving young people from across Western Sydney — including The Hills, Blacktown, Holroyd, Cumberland and the Parramatta local government area.
The court hears two main types of matters:
- Criminal matters involving children and young people aged 10 to 17 at the time of the alleged offence
- Care and protection matters brought by the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) under the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998
Specialist Children’s Magistrates preside. The procedure, the language used in court, and the principles applied are deliberately different from the adult system, with a strong focus on rehabilitation, family involvement, and minimising long-term harm.
How the Children’s Court is different from the adult system
Parents often assume that a Children’s Court matter runs the same way as an adult matter, just for someone younger. It doesn’t. Several legal principles change the entire approach:
Doli incapax. For children aged 10 to 13, there is a legal presumption that they are incapable of forming criminal intent. The prosecution must prove the child knew the act was seriously wrong, not just naughty. Many matters against younger children fail on this point alone with the right defence.
The Young Offenders Act 1997. This Act creates a hierarchy of diversionary options — warnings, cautions, and youth justice conferences — designed to keep young people out of the formal court system wherever possible. Eligibility depends on the offence type, the child’s history, and an admission of responsibility. A well-prepared application for diversion can resolve a matter without a court finding at all.
Section 6 principles. Under the Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987, sentencing must consider the child’s age, education, family circumstances, and the principle that children have a particular need for guidance and assistance. Magistrates have broad discretion to take a rehabilitative approach.
Publication restrictions. Identifying details of children before the court cannot be published. This protects your child’s privacy now and into the future.
Records. Most Children’s Court findings are not disclosed for employment purposes after certain time periods, and a non-conviction order leaves no formal record. Protecting this position is often the central goal.
Matters we handle at Parramatta Children’s Court
Our representation covers the full range of matters that come before the court, including:
- Assault, affray and public order offences
- Drug possession and drug supply offences
- Theft, shoplifting, break and enter, and robbery
- Malicious damage and graffiti offences
- Sexual offences (handled with appropriate care and discretion)
- Driving offences for young people aged 16 and over
- Apprehended Violence Order matters involving young people
- Care and protection applications by DCJ
- Bail applications and bail variations
Every matter is different. Some are resolved before the first court date through a Young Offenders Act caution or conference. Others require a defended hearing. Many fall somewhere in between, where careful preparation and the right submissions on sentencing make the difference between a finding that follows your child for years and one that disappears from view.
How we help
Early advice. The single biggest predictor of a good outcome is getting proper advice before the first court date — and often before the police interview, if there’s still time. Call us as soon as you become aware of the matter.
