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All information about the Family Law and Child Support changes in chronological order
28 January 2010
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
ROBERT McCLELLAND MP
RELEASE OF FAMILY LAW REVIEWS
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today released key reports examining the operation of the family law system and how the family law courts deal with cases involving family violence.
The reports provide a comprehensive and objective analysis of the family law system against the aim of providing fair and sustainable solutions for families, while ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children, Mr McClelland said.
The Evaluation of the 2006 Family Law Reforms by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) looks at the impact of changes which included:
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introducing a presumption of shared parental responsibility into the Family Law Act 1975;
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requiring separating parents to attend family dispute resolution before going to court, with some limited exceptions, including where there were issues relating to family violence; and
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establishing Family Relationship Centres to provide information, advice and assistance to families with relationship difficulties.
The AIFS evaluation finds that the principle of shared parental responsibility is widely supported, although it is often misconstrued as requiring equal shared care time and, according to AIFS, has led to unrealistic expectations among some parents.
The AIFS evaluation reports that the majority of parents in shared care arrangements believed they were working well, but there were concerns where ongoing fear of violence existed.
In addition, there has been a shift away from using the family law courts, with more separated parents using family dispute resolution services and consequently fewer disputes being resolved through litigation.
The Family Courts Violence Review , conducted by Professor Richard Chisholm AM, and Improving Responses to Family Violence in the Family Law System, conducted by the Family Law Council, examines the effectiveness of legislation as well as court practices and procedures in cases involving family violence.
Importantly, both the AIFS evaluation and these reviews find that the family law system has some way to go in effectively responding to issues relating to family violence.
The reports highlight issues relating to the screening and handling of family violence as well as legislative provisions that potentially deter the disclosure of allegations.
The Government is committed to improving the family law system so that separated families can effectively access the help they need and disputes can be resolved in the best interests of children.
The Government will carefully consider the findings and recommendations of these reports, as well as other associated research, before outlining its response in due course.
Copies of the reports are available on the Attorney-General's Department website at
www.ag.gov.au.
Media Contact: Adam Siddique 0407 473 630
Downloads:
AIFS: Evaluation of the 2006 Family Law Reforms - Full Report (PDF document 5,7MB)
AIFS: Evaluation of the 2006 Family Law Reforms - Summary Report (PDF document 744kb)
Family Courts Violence Review by Professor Richard Chisholm AM (PDF document 1MB)
Improving Responses to Family Violence in the Family Law System (PDF document 584kb)
Listing of all current Family Relationship Centres (FRCs):
New South Wales
Blacktown 125 Main Street , Cnr Main Street and Sunnyholt Road, Blacktown
(02) 8811 0000
Campbelltown 8 Iolanthe St, Campbelltown (interim site) 1300 883 471
Fairfield Cnr Hamilton and Barbara Streets, Fairfield 1300 851 437
Lismore Market Street Community Centre, Level 1, 5 Market Street, Lismore
(02) 6622 7003
Newcastle 495 Hunter Street, Newcastle (02) 4016 0566
North Ryde 277 Lane Cove Road, North Ryde (02) 8874 8088
Nowra 38-44 Berry Street, Nowra (02) 4429 1400
Penrith Ground Floor, 27 Lawson Street (Cnr Henry Street), Penrith (02)
4720 4999
Sutherland 383-385 Port Hacking Road South, Caringbah (02) 9525 6488
Wagga Wagga 129 Fitzmaurice Street, Wagga Wagga (02) 6923 9100
Wollongong Shop 2, 310 Crown Street, Wollongong (02) 4220 1100
Victoria
Ballarat 32 Main Road, Ballarat (interim site) 1300 303 988
Berwick 1-2, 38 Clyde Road, Berwick (03) 8768 4111
Frankston 37 Playne Street, Frankston (03) 9770 0341
Geelong 27 Myers Street, Geelong 1300 656 043
Greensborough 79 Grimshaw Street, Greensbrough (03) 9404 7800
Mildura 105 Lemon Avenue, Mildura 1300 667 382
Ringwood 16 Bond Street, Ringwood (03) 9871 6300
Sunshine 1 Clarke Street, Sunshine (03) 9313 0444
Traralgon 41 Grey Street, Traralgon (03) 5174 1055
Wodonga 282 Beechworth Road, Wodonga (02) 60228644
Queensland
Cairns 182 Gatton Street, Manundah (interim site) (07) 4041 6063
Gold Coast Ashmore Commercial Centre, 207 Currumburra Road, Ashmore City
(07) 5656 1700
Ipswich 41 East Street, Ipswich (07) 3810 4800
Upper Mount Gravatt 23 Sanders Street, Upper Mt Gravatt (07) 3423 6967
Rockhampton 36 East Street, Rockhampton (07) 4927 1210
Strathpine 16 Mecklem Street, Strathpine (07) 3423 6962
Sunshine Coast Big Top Shopping Centre, Ocean Street, Maroochydore (07)
5452 9700
Townsville Unit 1, 281-285 Ross River Road,Aitkenvale (07) 4779 4211
South Australia
Noarlunga 38 Beach Road, Christies Beach (08) 8202 5200
Port Augusta 6 Gibson Street, Port Augusta (interim site) (08) 8641 0432
Salisbury Shop 8, Salisbury Cinema Complex, Cnr James and Gawler Streets,
Salisbury (08) 8255 3323
Shop 52a, Oxenham Mall, Elizabeth Shopping Centre, 50 Elizabeth Way,
Elizabeth (08) 8255 3323
Western Australia
Geraldton 116 Durlacher Street, Geraldton (08) 9921 2611
Joondalup Sanori House, 126 Grand Boulevard, Joondalup (08) 9301 8500
Mandurah 11-15 Pinjarra Road, Mandurah (08) 9583 1400
Midland 53 The Crescent, Cnr Sayer St and The Crescent, Midland (08) 9436
0600
Tasmania
Hobart 178 Macquarie Street, Hobart (03) 6211 2100
Launceston 121-125 York Street, Launceston (03) 6336 7050
Northern Territory
Darwin Ground Floor, Winlow House, 75 Woods Street, Darwin (08) 8923 1400
1800 650 276 (toll free)
Australian Capital Territory
Canberra Level 1, Westfield Woden Offices, Woden Town Square (02) 6122
2444
Factsheets about the Proposed Changes to the Child Support Scheme
Factsheet One: An overview of the reforms (PDF document 170kb)
Factsheet Two: Questions and answers about the reforms (PDF document 188kb)
Factsheet Three: Stage One - Changes to the Scheme from July 2006 (PDF document 140kb)
Factsheet Four: Stage Two - Changes to the Child Support Scheme from January 2007 (PDF document 157kb)
Factsheet Five: Stage Three - Changes to the Child Support Scheme from July 2008 (PDF document 138kb)
Factsheet Six: The new Child Support Formula (PDF document 135kb)
Factsheet Seven: Stage Two - Improving the relationship between the courts, the Child Support Scheme and the CSA (PDF document 129kb)
Factsheet Eight: Stage Two - Extension of time to apply for child support (PDF document 128kb)
Factsheet Nine: Stage Two - Parentage issues and child support payments (PDF document 133kb)
Factsheet Ten: Stage Two - Appealing child support decisions to the Social Security Appeals Tribunal (PDF document 141kb)
All information about the Family Law and Child Support changes in chronological order
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