Families and Marriage Publications

In March 2013, this paper was published. The aim was to find ways to ensure that information relevant to decisions about children is appropriately shared between the family law system, the state and territory child protection system, and the legal aid commissions and independent children's lawyers.

Family Relationship Centres and the Family Relationship Advice Line are front doors to services that can assist families at all stages of their relationships. The following guidelines are provided to assist with development of the best possible referral practices. 

Frequently asked questions about Commonwealth laws for the division of property for people in de facto relationships that break down.

Use this form if you are named in a Hague Convention child abduction case, and you decide to oppose the application and do not want the child to return to their home country.

If you believe your child has been wrongfully removed from Australia or wrongfully retained overseas in a Hague Convention country without your consent, you can apply for the return of your child.

Family Violence Act - Frequently Asked Questions

Use this form if you are seeking access to a child in a country that is a member of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

Use this form if you have received a Hague Convention child access application, and you do not want the person to have access to the child, or want to propose different access.

The council provided a letter of advice to the former Attorney-General in response to an Attorney-General’s Department discussion paper.

This letter of advice includes Council’s comments of fifteen recommendations made in an options paper prepared by the Attorney-General’s Department.

From 7 June 2012, changes to Family Law will take effect that will place children and their safety front and centre in family law matters.

In response to terms of reference issued by the former Attorney-General, the council considered ways in which the family law system can better meet the needs of Indigenous clients.  As part of the consultation process, the council sought submissions from interested organisations and individuals about services and engagement programs for families of Indigenous communities.

In response to terms of reference issued by the former Attorney-General, the council considered ways in which the family law system can better meet the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse clients. As part of the consultation process, the council sought submissions from interested organisations and individuals about services and engagement programs for families of culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Family Law DOORS is a standardised frontline screening tool and framework that has been developed for professionals to use to identify safety risks for clients across the family law system.

The department commissioned the Australian Institute of Family Studies to undertake a study of parents who separated prior to the implementation of the Family Law Amendment (Family Violence and Other Matters) Act 2011.

The council supported the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs’ report recommending an education campaign.

On 5 August 2011 the council provided a further letter of advice in response to a request by the former Attorney-General and the former Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. The letter of advice was on the issue of child support in cases of international parental child abduction.

An own motion letter of advice was provided to the former Attorney-General expressing concerns about the possible effect of a ruling regarding the application of section 10H and 10J of the Family Law Act 1975 to family dispute resolution intake assessments.

A letter of advice was provided on 14 March 2011 in relation to international parental child abduction in response to terms of reference issued by the former Attorney-General.

The council provided the former Attorney-General with a letter of advice on the former Australian Government’s policy initiative to enhance family dispute resolution.