The free forum, at South Warrnambool Football Club, is set to feature Department of Health and Human Services assistant director Beth Allen, Judge of the County Court of Victoria and president of the Children’s Court of Victoria Judge Amanda Chambers and permanent carer Dan Baron.

Permanent Care and Adoptive Families chief executive officer Brenda Carmen said the forum, on Wednesday, February 17, would cover changes to existing court orders, the rights of parents and carers under the new orders and changes to access/contact visits.

The amendments address key recommendations of the January 2012 Report of the Protecting Victoria’s Vulnerable Children’s Inquiry.

The major changes include a new children's court orders which are clearer and linked with case plans to better protect children from harm and giving carers more authority to make decisions on specified issues about children in their care.

There will also be the introduction of timelines to achieve reunification of children where parents will have an initial 12 months to resolve issues so they can resume care of their child and at the end of this period either an additional 12 months will be provided where reunification is likely to be achieved in the 12 months, or permanent alternative care will be sought. 

The forum starts at 10am, with registration at the venue from 9.30am.