Understanding supervised contact

Supervised contact is where an adult's contact with a child takes place in a safe, controlled situation overseen by a court-approved person, such as a relative or a person working for an organisation that provides supervised contact services.

Contact with a child is how and when a child gets to spend time with a parent or other person who does not have day-to-day care of them. It used to be called access.

The court can make an order about supervised contact if the judge is concerned about a child's safety. For example, if there are allegations of violence or a Protection Order or a Temporary Protection Order has been made.

The court can also order supervised contact in situations that don't involve violence. For example, to reintroduce a parent to a child after a period of no contact between them.

When the court is making a decision about supervised contact it will take the child's wishes into account. The court can also appoint a lawyer for the child.

In cases of violence, when the court orders that contact be supervised by an organisation, the cost of the sessions is paid for by the Government. In other cases, the Government doesn't pay the costs of the contact sessions.

Supervised contact will continue until the court decides it's no longer necessary. In many cases, the relationship between the adult and the child improves quickly and supervision is no longer needed.

But, in some cases, supervised contact may continue for a number of years. To stop this type of contact, the adult whose contact with the child is being supervised needs to apply to the court. The court will only approve unsupervised contact if it's satisfied the child will be safe.

For more information visit www.justice.govt.nz/supervised-contact or ring 0800 224 733.

For free and confidential advice and information on this or any other matter visit the Palmerston North Citizens Advice Bureau in Hancock Community House, 77 King St, Palmerston North.

We're open Monday to Friday, 9am-4.30pm. Call us on (06) 357 0647 or 0800 367 222. We have a free legal advice service by qualified lawyers most Thursday evenings at 7.30pm, and a JP is available on Tuesdays from 12pm-2.30pm. No appointment is necessary.