Statutory out-of-home care and adoption notifications

Last update: 31 March 2025

Accredited agencies must make notifications to the Office of the Children’s Guardian in line with legislation and conditions of accreditation.

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    Notifications and changes to agency details should be made using the accreditation portal. 

    Accredited agencies must update their details and make notifications via the accreditation portal when:

    • there are changes to the agency’s Principal Officer, other contacts or agency details
    • there is a death of a child or young person in statutory out-of-home care placed with the agency
    • a child under 12 is placed with the agency in residential statutory out-of-home care, and if the placement with the agency ceases before the child turns 12.
       

    Alternative Care Arrangements 

    From 31 March 2025, placement of a child or young person in Alternative Care Arrangements (known as ACAs) is prohibited.

    Advice about emergency placements is available from NSW Department of Communities and Justice’s Placement Management Team, email CAU-TriageandEmergencyCareArrangements@dcj.nsw.gov.au

    Individual Placement Arrangements

    When agencies make Individual Placement Arrangements (known as IPAs) for a child, notification to the Children’s Guardian is not needed unless the child being placed is under 12 years of age. In this case, the designated agency providing residential care for the child must lodge a notification of the placement, via the accreditation portal. More information about the accreditation portal and how to make a notification is available on our website.

    If you need help with notifications to the Children’s Guardian, please contact the Accreditation and Monitoring team at oohcnotifications@ocg.nsw.gov.au

    The Department's website provides information about emergency and temporary care arrangements, including forms and emergency or temporary care terminology

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