Open PDF - Self represented Litigants a challenge - Size 786 KB

FAMILY COURT OF AUSTRALIA
PROJECT ACHIEVEMENTS
December 2000 - December 2002
In meeting the challenges of the project, the team developed its initiatives in
three main areas:
■
■
■
Information
Collaboration
Innovation
1 Information
Ensuring that information about Court processes and procedures was available
to all clients in clear and easily understandable ways was a key area of work for
the project team. A review of existing Court documents and brochures identified
the need for the development of a range of new brochures written in plain
English (full details are below). The team was also charged with developing
alternative models of information delivery. The new website Step-by-Step Guide
to Proceedings in the Family Court was a major achievement in this area. The
project team consulted with a wide range of stakeholders, through informal and
formal submissions, consultative workshops and email correspondence, in the
development of the information products.
1.1 Pamphlets & Publications
The project team pulled together and reviewed a significant amount of
information available throughout Court registries and produced nationally
consistent material to deliver information or the same message to clients
regardless of where the information is obtained. This has been beneficial to
clients and to staff when assisting SRLs in the Registry, or those who are not able
to personally access Court registries and rely on mailed documentation. In
compiling this information the team consulted extensively with all levels of
Court staff who are responsible for the delivery of information, and with SRLs to
ensure that the information produced was in line with what clients needed.
6