Introduction - Allan Borowski and Rosemary Sheehan -- Part One: the mandate of the Children’s Court -- 2 The Children’s Court in the Australian Capital Territory - Peter Camilleri and Morag McArthur,- 3 The Children’s Court in New South Wales - Elizabeth Fernandez, Jane Bolitho and Dr Patricia Hansen -- 4 Youth Justice, Child Protection and the Role of the Youth Courts in the Northern Territory - Debora West and David Heath -- 5 The Children’s Court in Queensland - Claire Tilbury and Paul Mazerolle -- 6 The Children’s Court in South Australia - Paul Delfabbro and Andrew Day -- 7 The Children’s Court in Tasmania - Rob White and Max Travers and Michael McKinnon -- 8 The Children’s Court in Victoria - Allan Borowski and Rosemary Sheehan -- 9 Cultural Slippage, Resource Divide, Aboriginal Children and Multisystemic Reform - Mike Clare, Joe Clare, Brenda Clare, Caroline Spiranovic --  Part two: Australia in the international context -- 10 A Portrait of Australis's Children's Courts - Allan Borowski -- 11. Care and protection: Australia and the international context - Marie Connolly -- 12 Juvenile Justice: Australian Court responses situated in the international context - Judy Cashmore -- About the authors -- Index.

The Children’s Court is one of society’s most important social institutions. At the same time, it is steeped in controversy. This is in large measure due to the persistence and complexity of the problems with which it deals, namely, juvenile crime and child abuse and neglect. Despite the importance of the Children’s Court as a means of holding young people accountable for their anti-social behaviour and parents for the care of their children, it has not been the subject of close study. Certainly it has not been previously studied nationally. This edited collection, is based on the findings of study that spanned the six States and two Territories of Australia. The study sought to examine the current challenges faced by the Children’s Court and to identify desirable and feasible directions for reform in each State and Territory. A further unique feature of this study is that it canvassed the views of judges and magistrates who preside over this court.