Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is a term used to describe a variety of different processes, in which an impartial person helps people to resolve their disputes. The word ‘alternative’ is usually understood to mean that these processes are an alternative to having a decision made by a judge in court.

The Department of Justice and Attorney General is taking steps to encourage the greater use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in NSW. Read more about the different processes of ADR available in NSW. ADR Blueprint On 7 May 2009 the Attorney General released the ADR Blueprint Discussion Paper for public consultation. The ADR Blueprint contains 19 proposals to increase and better integrate ADR across the NSW civil justice system.The ADR Blueprint project is an important reform project, with significant implications for the way we resolve our civil disputes in the future... read more >>

Increasing ADR in child protection matters

The Department of Justice and Attorney General (DJAG) chaired an Expert Working Party responsible for reviewing and advising the NSW Government on preferred ADR models for use in child protection matters. The Expert Working Party was established by the Government after the Report on the Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW (November 2008) recommended that ADR be used both prior to, and during, care proceedings in the Children’s Court.

The Expert Working Party included representatives from relevant government agencies, the Children’s Court, Legal Aid NSW, the Law Society and the Bar Association, as well as leading practitioners and academics in the fields of ADR and care and protection. DJAG was the lead agency, responsible for driving the work of the Expert Working Party. The Working Party delivered its report to the Government in December 2009.