Children Registrar - Surry Hills

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The Children’s Registrar in Surry Hills is a full‑time ongoing role within the Department of Communities and Justice, part of the NSW Children’s Court, with travel across metropolitan and regional NSW. You will facilitate conciliation and mediation conferences in care and protection, run call‑overs, manage procedural applications, and support disadvantaged families to participate in court proceedings. Essential: Australian legal qualifications and admission, ability to facilitate ADR, preside in court, and travel; experience in the Children’s Court jurisdiction and related acts. Highlight ADR skills, stakeholder collaboration, clear communication, integrity, and resilience under pressure. Apply via DCJ Careers or Seek by 1 March 2026 11:59pm AEST; attach a 2 page cover letter and a 5 page resume; for questions contact Hana Marjanac or Matthew Oakley.

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Children Registrar

 

 

Location - Surry Hills

Employment Type – Ongoing Fulltime

Salary & Grade – Department Professional Officer, Grade IV-V $138,539.00 - $149,739.00

 

Your role

 

The Children’s Court of NSW deals with cases involving children, including criminal and care and protection cases.

The Children’s Registrar works within a team of Children’s Registrars across New South Wales (NSW).  The role facilitates mediation and conciliation conferences and undertake case management functions.

It is a requirement that the successful applicant will undertake frequent travel to metropolitan Children’s Court locations and regional locations in NSW.

 

What you’ll do

 

• Facilitate conciliation conferences in the care and protection jurisdiction of the Children’s Court as well as conducting call-overs and determining other procedural applications in both the Court’s criminal and care and protection jurisdictions. 
• Conduct mediation conferences in the education jurisdiction of the Children’s Court,
• Ensure that disadvantaged families are supported and empowered to participate meaningfully in court proceedings and decisions affecting their children

 

What we’re looking for

 

• Knowledge and experience in alternative dispute resolution including the ability to manage and effectively involve people (including children) from diverse and/or socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds in the decision-making process;
• Knowledge and understanding of the Children’s Court jurisdiction including a thorough understanding of the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998, legislation relating to the Children’s Court’s criminal, compulsory schooling and apprehended violence jurisdictions;
• Demonstrated ability to build and sustain effective working relationships across a diverse range of stakeholders;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and effectively to a range of audiences;
• A high level of integrity, professionalism, sound judgment, discretion, and initiative while effectively managing competing priorities in a high-pressure work environment.
• Demonstrated capability to work cohesively and collaboratively with a team located across various NSW regions

 

Essential requirements

 

• Australian lawyer (a person who has legal qualifications and is admitted or immediately eligible for admission to the legal profession under the Legal Profession Act 2004 (NSW) or a corresponding law.
• Ability to facilitate alternative dispute resolution processes
• Ability to preside in Court and make decisions on procedural issues in accordance with the law and the practice of the Children’s Court
• Travel to regional locations within NSW is required.

 

 

 

Download the role description.

 

 

If you are viewing this ad in Seek and wish to apply via their portal, you will be required to either set up a profile or login via your existing Seek account.

 

To apply directly via the DCJ Careers site click here. Search for the job and click the ‘Apply now’ button.

 

We focus on hiring people who share our commitment and goals of inclusion, collaboration, adaptability, courage and integrity. If you meet the essential requirements and the role resonates with you, please apply – you do not need to meet every desired requirement for us to want to talk to you.

 

What We Offer

 

We offer a variety of benefits, including:

 

• A challenging and rewarding career

• Flexible, autonomous work environment

• Competitive pay and conditions

• Training and development opportunities to build and maintain capabilities

• Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs.

 

Want more information?  Visit our website to see more information on Working for us.

 

We do work that really matters

 

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It’s work that really matters.

 

Apply now and join Australia’s top public sector employer where we will support you and provide an exciting and flexible working environment!

 

Are you ready to join us?

 

Click apply, attach a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining how you meet the requirements of the role as well as an up-to-date résumé (maximum 5 pages).

 

 

 

Applications close 01st March 2026 at 11:59pm AEST.

 

Got a question?

 

For more information about the role or what it’s like to work for DCJ, please contact the hiring manager Hana Marjanac via [email protected].

 

If you’ve got a question about applying or would benefit from an adjustment in the recruitment process to help you perform at your best (including an alternate method submission of the application), please call Matthew Oakley via [email protected].

 

Visit Recruitment adjustments on the DCJ website to learn more.

 

Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit

 

We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers and other diversity groups.

 

To find out what DCJ are doing to build an inclusive and diverse workforce, visit Inclusion and diversity on the DCJ website.

 

Other Information

 

A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.

 

For more information visit Applying for DCJ jobs on the DCJ website.

 

 

Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.

 

To keep up with recruitment opportunities at DCJ, follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CareersatDCJ/

 

The Welcome Experience
 Thinking about moving to regional NSW? Get free, personalised support with housing, schools, jobs, and settling in. Learn more: www.nsw.gov.au/welcomeexperience

 

The careers site currently promotes this service on the ‘Discover roles with DCJ in regional NSW’ page.