Child Impact Report - FAQs
This fact sheet provides information for parties who have had a Child Impact Report ordered by the Court.
Before you file – pre-action procedure for parenting cases (prescribed brochure)
This brochure provides information for people considering applying to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia for parenting orders. It provides information about the pre-action procedures required before starting a parenting case.
Before you file – pre-action procedure for financial or property cases (prescribed brochure)
This brochure provides information for people considering applying to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (the Court) for financial or property orders. In particular, it provides information about pre-action procedures required before starting a case.
Guide for Independent Children’s Lawyers in the Evatt List
This Guide summarises the involvement and role of an Independent Children’s Lawyer (ICL) in the Evatt List, which is a specialist list established in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) to resolve high risk matters. This Guide should be read in conjunction with the Guide for Practitioners.
Guide for practitioners in the Evatt List
This Guide summarises the arrangements for the Evatt List which is a specialist list established in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) to resolve high risk matters. The Evatt List is being trialled in the following registries: Adelaide, Brisbane, and Parramatta.
Guide for parties in the Evatt List
The Evatt List is a specialist list developed by the Courts where a highly qualified team of Senior Judicial Registrars, Judicial Registrars, Court Child Experts and court staff, in consultation with Judges, are allocated to manage eligible cases that are considered to be high risk, through more intensive case management and resources.
Family law: Drug and alcohol support
There are a range of drug and alcohol support services that can assist you at this difficult time. This page provides contact details of national support services, including counselling and outreach organisations.
Crisis support
Beyond Blue
1300 224 636 or Online chat
Alcohol Drug Information Service
1800 250 015
Alcoholics Anonymous
1300 222 222
Family Drug Support Australia
1300 368 186
Counselling service and outreach organisations
National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline
1800 250 015
Alcohol and drug counselling online
Mental health support services
Separation, divorce and coming to court can be a highly stressful time and it affects people in different ways. Stress, anxiety, depression and other forms of mental illness are common.
This page details a list of national organisations and other resources that may provide support.
Crisis support
Beyond Blue
1300 224 636 or Online chat
Suicide Call Back Service
1300 659 467
Resources
Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma, Loss and Grief Network
A network linking people across Australia concerned with the trauma, loss and grief experiences of children and adolescents.
Beyond Blue (the national depression initiative)
Provides national leadership to increase community awareness, prevention and early intervention of depression and related illnesses.
Black Dog Institute
A not-for-profit, educational, research, clinical and community-oriented facility offering specialist expertise in depression and bipolar disorder.
Children of Parents with a Mental Illness
Promotes better mental health outcomes for children whose parents have a mental illness.
Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression
Information and research on anxiety and depression for consumers and doctors.
Headspace (National Youth Mental Health Foundation)
Provides health advice, support and information to young Australians aged 12–25.
Head to Health
National digital mental health online portal.
healthdirect
A national, government-owned, not-for-profit organisation who supports Australians in managing their own health and wellbeing through a range of online health services.
Kids Help Line
Provides a free 24 hour national telephone and online counselling service for young people aged between 5 and 25 in Australia.
Lifeline Australia
The peak body for Lifeline Centres which provide telephone counselling, and information, referral and associated services in local areas.
Mental Health in Multicultural Australia
Provides a national focus on mental health and suicide prevention amongst Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
MindSpot clinic
A national clinic that provides free online and telephone assessment and treatment for Australian adults with stress, worry, anxiety, low mood or depression.
National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum
The national voice for consumers and carers participating in the development of mental health policy and sector development in Australia.
ReachOut.com
A youth mental health service providing practical tools, forums and information in a safe and anonymous online environment.
SANE forums
Provides peer support for people living with a mental illness or related mental health issues, and for family, friends and other carers.
Family law: Parenting support services
We understand that navigating court proceedings together with parenting can be a stressful time. This page provides a list of national resources to help you through this difficult time.
Crisis support
- Lifeline: 13 11 14
- Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 or Online chat
- Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
- Kids Help Line: 1800 551 800
Resources
Separate smarter: Overview
Separation is the ending of an intimate partner relationship, including the end of a marriage or de facto relationship. It is often a difficult time; it can be stressful, and you may feel unsure about what to do next.
If you have separated recently, you and your former partner will need to make some immediate decisions about practical issues concerning your children and/or your assets like property and debts. Some of the things you might need to consider are:
- where your children live and who will take care of them
- how you and your former partner will support yourselves and your children
- what, how and when you will tell the children, other family members and friends
- who will pay outstanding bills or debts
- who will stay in the house
- how will the rent or mortgage be paid
- what will happen to any joint bank, building society or credit union accounts, and
- what will happen to the house, car, furniture and other property.
You may not be able to agree on all these things at the time of separation, but if it is safe to do so, it can greatly help you and your family if you try to reach a temporary agreement.
You can contact the Family Relationship Advice Line, a Family Relationship Centre, or other community-based services for help to reach an agreement.
Family Relationship Advice Line
www.familyrelationships.gov.au
You can separate smarter
Where it is safe to do so, you can take ownership of your dispute. Whether you agree, partially agree or don't agree at all. You can mediate at any stage, as many times as you need. It is time we started thinking differently about family law disputes.
Most people don't need to come to court to make arrangements for their children or dividing property and finances after separation.
While you do need to apply to the Court for a Divorce order (to end your marriage), there is no need for parenting and/or financial arrangements to be decided by a court - unless it is not safe to make your own agreement, or after making a genuine attempt to resolve your dispute, you still cannot agree.
Going to court is expensive, time consuming and stressful, and you may not get the result you want.
When it is safe - there is a better way to separate.
An AUSLAN version of this video is also available.
Getting help to resolve your dispute
Court proceedings should be a last resort. The Court expects people to make genuine attempts to engage in dispute resolution, to avoid the time, cost and stress associated with litigation.
Dispute resolution refers to a range of services designed to help you resolve disputes arising from separation or divorce and improve your relationship with the other party/s. There is an expectation that you will attempt to resolve your dispute by compromise, discussion and dispute resolution, if it is safe to do so. Even if you do start court proceedings, in most cases, you must demonstrate that you have taken genuine steps to resolve the dispute.
For more information about options and assistance to resolve your dispute, see Get help - Dispute Resolution.
Looking after yourself
Separation is a big change. It can be a difficult time for you, your children, and your former partner. Looking after yourself and recognising when you might need a bit of extra help and support is important. If you are feeling stressed, see the brochure Separation and stress.
For more information about help and support, see Get help – Support services.
Family violence and your safety
The Court places children, litigants and their safety at the heart of the process. For some families, it may be unsafe to resolve their disputes without the help of the Court process and court orders. Remember, there are people who can help you.
If you are experiencing family and domestic violence you can get help and support. See Get help – Family violence or visit the Family Violence Law Help website, which provides information about domestic and family violence and the law in Australia.
Family Violence Law Help
https://familyviolencelaw.gov.au/
If you are in immediate danger call 000
Further reading
Pre-Action Procedures: What to do before you file your family law application
Are you thinking about filing a family law application in the Court? This checklist brochure takes you through the steps or ‘pre-action procedures’ you need to complete before you do so. These steps will ask you to try and resolve issues with the other party using Dispute Resolution, if it is safe to do so.
