Welcome to the Children's Guardian

The NSW Children's Guardian is a government department set up to promote the best interests and rights of children and young people in out-of-home care in New South Wales. The Children's Guardian is part of Communities NSW.

The Children's Guardian is an independent organisation that reports directly to the Minister for Community Services. The Children's Guardian can make special reports to the Minister or directly to the Parliament of NSW.

The NSW Children's Guardian Office is located at:

Suite 1, Level 13 418A Elizabeth St Surry Hills

Tel: (02 ) 8219 3600

Fax: (02) 8219 3699

The NSW Standards for Statutory Out-of-Home Care

The Children's Guardian has streamlined the NSW Standards for Statutoury Out-of-Home Care. See the new Standards here

New Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) (Child Employment) Regulation 2010

The Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) (Child Employment) Regulation 2010 commenced on 1 September 2010. It replaces the 2005 Regulation which was automatically repealed on that date.

Relevant employers will soon be sent information regarding the changes from the 2005 Regulation to the 2010 Regulation. In the mean time, for more information please contact the Children's Employment team on 8219 3600 or email kids@kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au

How Australian Kids see the World The Children's Guardian, in collaboration with Children's Commissioners and Child Guardian's around Australia, have published the book "How Australian Kids see the World: The Rights of the Child" in celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Artwork from children all over Australia is used throughout the book to depict Children's Rights. All proceeds from the book go directly to NAPCAN, The National Association for Protection Against Child Abuse and Neglect. Please follow this link to the NAPCAN website to purchase a copy.

Want To Know About?

  Cooperative arrangements between the Children's Guardian, Ombudsman and Official Community Visitors

The Children's Guardian, Ombudsman and Official Community Visitors (OCVs) are committed to working with each other, and with agencies that provide residential out-of-home care, to promote the best interests of children and young people in residential out-of-home care.The Children's Guardian, Ombudsman and OCVs have separate, but related, functions in relation to residential out-of-home care services and children and young people in residential out-of-home care. Click here to download the fact sheet (produced by the NSW Ombudsman)

 Guidelines regarding the removal of organs and tissue from a deceased child or young person in the care of the State

The Human Tissue Act 1983 was amended in 2009 to enable children and young people in the care of the State to be considered as eligible organ and tissue donors. Up until this amendment, the removal of organs and tissue from a deceased child or young person in the care of the State was not permitted - even where they had indicated this be to their wish and where the birth and foster parents consented to the donation. The Children's Guardian has developed procedures for Principal Officers of designated agencies to follow when they are contacted by a hospital to obtain consents for organ and tissue donation under the Human Tissue Act 1983. Learn more about Request under the Human Tissue Act 1983 to remove organ and tissue from a deceased child in the care of the State.