Clause 28

In any proceedings before a Family Court involving the custody or welfare of a child or involving a person, the Court may, on the application of any party to those proceedings or on its own motion, appoint a registered medical practitioner, psychologist, counsellor, social worker or mental health professional to examine and assess the child or person (as the case may be) for the purposes of preparing expert evidence for use in those proceedings.

Where a registered medical practitioner, psychologist, counsellor, social worker or mental health professional who is not appointed by the Family Court under subsection (1) examines or assesses the child or person, no evidence arising out of that examination or assessment shall be adduced in those proceedings without the leave of the Court.

A registered medical practitioner, psychologist, counsellor, social worker or mental health professional appointed under subsection (1) may make such enquiries relevant to the examination and assessment of the child or person as may be provided for under the Family Justice Rules or, prior to their enactment, the Rules of Court.