16November 2025. It also includes any commencement, amendment, repeal or expiry affecting

16 November 2025. It also includes any commencement, amendment, repeal or expiry affecting this republished law to 16 November 2025. The legislation history and amendment history of the republished law are set out in endnotes 3 and 4. Kinds of republications The Parliamentary Counsel’s Office prepares 2 kinds of republications of ACT laws (see the ACT legislation register at www.legislation.act.gov.au): • authorised republications to which the Legislation Act 2001 applies • unauthorised republications. The status of this republication appears on the bottom of each page. Editorial changes The Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 authorises the Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial amendments and other changes of a formal nature when preparing a law for republication. Editorial changes do not change the effect of the law, but have effect as if they had been made by an Act commencing on the republication date (see Legislation Act 2001, s 115 and s 117). The changes are made if the Parliamentary Counsel considers they are desirable to bring the law into line, or more closely into line, with current legislative drafting practice. This republication includes amendments made under part 11.3 (see endnote 1). Uncommenced provisions and amendments If a provision of the republished law has not commenced, the symbol U appears immediately before the provision heading. Any uncommenced amendments that affect this republished law are accessible on the ACT legislation register (www.legislation.act.gov.au). For more information, see the home page for this law on the register. Modifications If a provision of the republished law is affected by a current modification, the symbol M appears immediately before the provision heading. The text of the modifying provision appears in the endnotes. For the legal status of modifications, see the Legislation Act 2001, section 95. Penalties At the republication date, the value of a penalty unit for an offence against this law is $160 for an individual and $810 for a corporation (see Legislation Act 2001, s 133).

contents 1 Page 1 Name of Act 2 3 Dictionary 2 4 Notes 2 5 Offences against Act—application of Criminal Code etc 3 6 Application of Act to children and young people etc 3 7 Main objects of Act 4 8 Best interests of children and young people paramount consideration 6 9 Principles applying to Act 6

Page contents 2 Children and Young People Act 2008 10 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people— placement principles 7 10A Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people—other principles 8 Division 1.3.1 Definitions 11 Who is a child? 9 12 Who is a young person? 9 13 Who is a family member of a child or young person? 9 14 Who is a significant person for a child or young person? 10 15 What is parental responsibility? 10 16 Parents have parental responsibility 11 17 Aspects of parental responsibility may be transferred 11 18 Aspects of parental responsibility may be shared 12 19 Daily care responsibility for children and young people 14 20 Long-term care responsibility for children and young people 16 21 Parents or people with parental responsibility who cannot be found 17 22 Director-general’s functions 18 23 Director-general instructions 20 24 Ministerial directions to director-general 21 24A Director-general charters 21 25 Director-general may ask for assistance, etc 22 26 Director-general must give identity cards 23 Part 2.2 Children and Youth Services Council 27 Establishment of council 24 28 Council members 24