Family violence
Family violence is a serious social issue that affects the health and well-being of thousands of Australians and has far-reaching effects on the Australian community as a whole. The family law system has a role to play in identifying families at risk of violence and protecting them from harm.
On 24 July 2009, the Attorney-General, the Hon Robert McClelland MP, announced a range of measures designed to improve the family law system’s response to family violence and child abuse. These include:
- a pilot of legally assisted family dispute resolution for families experiencing violence
- a review of court procedure and practice, to be undertaken by Professor Richard Chisholm
- development of minimum guidelines for screening and assessment for family violence
- a review to identify opportunities to improve information sharing across the family law system, and
- an investigation into the harmonisation of domestic violence and family law, to be conducted by the Australian and New South Wales Law Reform Commissions in consultation with other jurisdictions.
The Family Relationships Online site also provides the details of a range of services for families affected by family violence.
