Annual report [1997-98] - Family Court of Australia

The Family Court of Australia – annual report 1997-98
Internet
www.familycourt.gov.au
During 1997-98 the Court continued the development of its internet site. The main focus
of the site has been to provide a simple and easy-to-use structure. The Court has aimed to
take advantage of the internet as a way of distributing information and material to its customers
and the legal profession. The site has also been seen as a mechanism for increasing
an awareness of the Court’s operations and issues associated with family breakdown.
The site includes new developments, contact details, information about the Court, its procedures
and services, Court lists, legislation, judgments, practice directions, case management
guidelines, legal costs, brochures, publications, reports and links to other sites.
The Court recognises the potential of the internet as a medium for enhancing the communication
and the dissemination of information. In 1998-99 the Court aims to review the
function, management and maintenance of its internet site with a view of maximising the
site’s potential.
The site has been found to be a timely and efficient mechanism for distributing reportable
judgments when compared to the previous paper-based practice. From the 1 January 1998
to 30 June 1998, 1282 copies of reportable judgments delivered in 1998 were downloaded
from the Court’s site. Over this period Re Evelyn[1998] FamCA55 was the most common
download at 204 times. Other frequently downloaded judgments included Aand A [1998]
FamCA(114) and G v G [1998] FamCA52 (105). It is considered that the judgments have
been downloaded by members of the legal profession, Court customers, publishers and
other interested parties. The global nature of the internet also means that the Court site
allows world-wide access to its judgments.
During 1997-98 the Court made the majority of its forms available on its site in Adobe
Acrobat format. The aim of this was to allow interested parties to readily obtain copies of
required forms. From the 1 January 1998 to 30 June 1998, 5069 copies of the Court’s forms
were either viewed or downloaded via the site. Once downloaded the user could print as
many copies of a specific form as they require. The most common forms requested from
the site were: Form 4 – Application for Divorce (when there are children under 18) – 526;
Form 4 – Application for Divorce (where there are no children under 18) – 311; Form 7 –
Application for Final Orders – 306; Form 12A – Application for Consent Orders – 299;
Form 16 – Affidavit – 255; Form 8 – Application – 242; Form 1A – Cover Sheet – 215;
Form 17 – Financial Statement – 205; Form 26A– Application for Parenting Plan – 143.
Arange of general information and links were provided. Much of this material was taken
from the Court’s set of brochures. The most popular pages in this section of the site were
Legal Advice (414), Separation and Divorce (375), Family Violence (313) and Child
Support (295).
The Court’s practice directions and case management guidelines (CMGs) were made available
on the site. From the 1 January to 30 June 1998, 58 copies of the CMGs were downloaded.
The most popular chapters of the CMGs visited on the site were Chapter 1 Primary
Dispute Resolution (136) and Chapter 5 Summary and Miscellaneous Provisions (95). The
most requested practice direction was No.1 of 1998 (Affidavit – Interim residence, contact,
special issues order) (140).
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