65Dispute resolution conferences

#### 65 Dispute resolution conferences 65 Dispute resolution conferences > > (1) If it considers it appropriate, the Children’s Court may, before or at any stage during the hearing of a care application, refer the application to a Children’s Registrar to be dealt with under this section. > > > (1A) The Children’s Registrar is to arrange and conduct a dispute resolution conference between the parties to the care application. > > > (2) The purpose of a dispute resolution conference is to provide the parties with an opportunity to agree on action that should be taken in the best interests of the child or young person concerned. > > > (2A) In conducting a dispute resolution conference, a Children’s Registrar is to act as a conciliator between the parties or persons specified in section 86(1A)(b). In so doing— > > > > > (a) the Children’s Registrar should seek to encourage the parties or persons specified in section 86(1A)(b) to agree on action that should be taken in relation to the child or young person concerned (including the formulation of final or interim orders that may be made by consent), or > > > > > (b) if the parties or persons specified in section 86(1A)(b) cannot agree on the action to be taken in relation to the child or young person, the Children’s Registrar should encourage the parties or persons specified in section 86(1A)(b)— > > > > > > > (i) to identify areas of agreement between the parties or persons specified in section 86(1A)(b), and > > > > > > > (ii) to identify issues in dispute between the parties or persons specified in section 86(1A)(b), and > > > > > > > (iii) to determine the best way of resolving any issues in dispute, and > > > > > > > (iv) to set a timetable for the hearing of the application by the Children’s Court. > > > (3) A party or person specified in section 86(1A)(b) may be legally represented at a dispute resolution conference. > > > (4), (5) (Repealed) > > **s 65:** Am 2000 No 76, Sch 1 \[7\]–\[9\]; 2010 No 63, Sch 1.2 \[2\] \[3\]; 2014 No 8, Sch 1 \[30\]–\[35\].