503Offence to obstruct Secretary or employee

503 Offence to obstruct Secretary or employee A person must not obstruct or hinder the Secretary or any employee in the execution of his or her duties under this Act. Chapter 7—The Children's Court of Victoria Part 7.1—The Children's Court 504 The Children's Court (1) There continues to be a court called "The Children's Court of Victoria". S. 504(2) amended by No. 34/2010 s. 37(1). (2) The Court consists of a President, the magistrates, the judicial registrars and the registrars of the Court. (3) The Court has the following Divisions— (a) the Family Division; (b) the Criminal Division; S. 504(3)(c) amended by No. 51/2006 s. 12(a). (c) the Koori Court (Criminal Division); S. 504(3)(d) inserted by No. 51/2006 s. 12(b). (d) the Neighbourhood Justice Division. (4) Every proceeding in the Court must be commenced, heard and determined in one of those Divisions. (5) The Court must not sit as more than one Division at the same time in the same room. (6) Each Division has such of the powers of the Court as are necessary to enable it to exercise its jurisdiction. (7) The Court, in any Division, shall be constituted by the President or a magistrate except in the case of any proceeding for which provision is made by any Act for the Court to be constituted by a registrar. S. 504(8) inserted by No. 34/2010 s. 37(2). (8) Without limiting subsection (7), the Court may be constituted by a judicial registrar in the case of any proceeding for which provision is made by rules of court for— (a) the court to be so constituted; and (b) the delegation to judicial registrars of powers of the court to hear and determine such a matter or proceeding. S. 505 substituted by No. 11/2021 s. 37. **505 Where and when Court to be held** The Court may sit and act at any time and place. S. 505A inserted by No. 11/2021 s. 37. **505A Court may order place of hearing which is not a proper venue** (1) Without limiting section 505, the Court may order that a hearing be held at an appropriate place that is not the proper venue for the hearing if the Court considers that— (a) for any reason it is appropriate that the hearing not be held at the proper venue; and (b) it is in the interests of justice that the hearing not be held at the proper venue. (2) In determining an appropriate place to hold a hearing for the purposes of subsection (1), the Court must first have regard to— (a) places closest to the proper venue for the hearing; and (b) the views of the parties to the proceeding. S. 506 (Heading) amended by No. 5/2013 s. 49(1). S. 506 amended by No. 5/2013 s. 49(2).