Child Safety and Family Law Interface Forum

On 1 September, Commissioner Elizabeth Fraser hosted the fifth annual Child Safety and Family Law Interface Forum. The Forum provides an opportunity for key stakeholders to focus attention on improving the experiences and outcomes for children involved in child protection matters and family law proceedings.

Discussion at this year’s Forum centred on:

• how the courts, tribunals and child protection services deal with the cultural overlay when working with Indigenous children and families
• how agencies can assist each other through professional development initiatives to develop staff capacity to better support children at the interface, and
• what is currently happening and what mechanisms help, to support children’s participation in court and tribunal proceedings.

Forum members shared information about the positive developments taking place in their respective areas and exchanged views about some of the ongoing challenges. Challenges include creating ways for children and young people to have a say during court processes, to give feedback about their experiences and to help them understand the decisions made.

The Commissioner expressed an interest in posting a series of short articles on the Commission’s website over the next 12 months which will look at children’s participation and the law in the context of children’s rights.

The Forum was attended by senior representatives from the Family Court of Australia, the Federal Magistrates Court, Magistrates Court of Queensland, Department of Justice and Attorney-General, Department of Communities (including Child Safety Services), Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT), Legal Aid Queensland and the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian.

L-R: Magistrate Pam Dowse, Magistrates Court of Queensland; The Hon Justice Peter Murphy, Magellan Judge, Family Court of Australia; Lisa O’Neill, A/Child Safety Director, Department of Justice and Attorney-General; Commissioner Elizabeth Fraser; Ms Megan Giles, Director of Community Policy, Department of Communities

L-R: David Hugall, Regional Coordinator, Child Dispute Services, Family Court of Australia; Federal Magistrate Anne Demack, Federal Magistrates Court; Julie Ford, Member of QCAT; Commissioner Elizabeth Fraser; Ron Joachim, A/Senior Member, Human Rights Division, QCAT

L-R: Anthony Reilly, CEO and Ms Toni Bell, A/Director, Family Law Services, both of Legal Aid Queensland with Commissioner Elizabeth Fraser

Last Updated: September 13, 2011

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