I was a legal academic for twenty years: teaching, researching and writing about family law and family mediation. I have always sought to integrate theory with practice, and to inform my teaching and research with professional experience and current innovation. So, in addition to being...
At the end of last year a bill was introduced to allow summary court magistrates to hear more family property cases. What are the implications for vulnerable families experiencing violence? The bill responded to recommendations by the Family Law Council and the Victorian Royal Commission into...
Currently the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee is inquiring into the Bill that proposes to introduce a Parent Management System, ‘an innovative forum for resolving simpler family law disputes between self-represented litigants’. The Committee is due to report on 23 March 2018. The Law...
Separation and divorce are tough. Although everyone’s separation will be different, it often involves emotional turmoil, confusion and practical challenges. So it is very important to take care of yourself during this time. Here are seven things you can do to support yourself. Take care of your body Separation...
Separation and divorce are two of life’s biggest stressors. Although everyone’s separation will be different, it can commonly can leave us feeling frightened, alone, angry, ashamed, betrayed, depressed, bitter, guilty and/or hopeless that we will ever be ok, feel happy or loved again. It often...
A version of this first blogged on the Australian Dispute Resolution Research Network. It is important for many separating families to have access to cost effective, quick and fair ways to resolve any disagreements about how to distribute their shared assets (and liabilities). It is also...