Family Law Services
The Australian Government funds a range of services to help separating or separated families resolve their disputes without going to court. The services listed assist families dealing with personal and family issues or issues relating to the care of children during family separation and divorce.
Children’s Contact Services
These services provide a safe, reliable and neutral place where the children of separated parents can have contact with and establish and maintain a relationship with the parent they do not live with and other family members.
Counselling
Professional counsellors assist one or more persons, including children, to deal with relationship issues that arise during marriage or separation and divorce.
Family dispute resolution is a process conducted by an independent practitioner or practitioners to assist members of families, including separated families, to resolve some or all of their disputes with each other. Family dispute resolution services can help separating families resolve disputes as an alternative to going to court.
Parenting Orders Program
Services under the Parenting Orders Program assist separating families in high conflict over parenting arrangements as an alternative to taking their disputes to court. Counselling, family dispute resolution and group work education for family members, including children, are offered as part of this Program.
Post Separation Cooperative Parenting
Post Separation Cooperative Parenting services help separated parents who are fighting learn how parental conflict affects children and how to focus on the needs of the children. The program offers a short educational seminar, counselling and individual support for both parents individually and is helpful even if only one parent attends.
Supporting Children After Separation
The Supporting Children After Separation Program assists children from separating and separated families to deal with issues arising from the breakdown in their parents’ relationship and to be able to participate in decisions that impact on them.