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FAMILY COURT OF AUSTRALIA The website is divided into three key areas, Before You Begin, Resolution Phase and Determination Phase in line with the Court’s case management pathway: ■ Before You Begin – covers general information on what to consider before beginning proceedings in the Court. It includes contact information on sources of advice and assistance. ~ Personal Safety ~ Separation & Divorce ~ Children’s Matters ~ Family Law Basics ~ Getting Help ~ Property & Money Matters ~ Reaching Agreement ■ Resolution Phase – covers all the Court events in the early stages which help to resolve the dispute. ~ Filing an Application ~ Information Session ~ Case Assessment Conference ~ Directions Hearing ~ Conciliation Conference ~ Mediation ■ Determination Phase – covers the events which prepare a case for a final decision by a judge. ~ Interim Hearing ~ Pre-trial Conference ~ Listing Trial ~ Trial The Step-by-Step guide provides information in bite-size chunks at each step in the process through the Court. This helps litigants to prepare beforehand, to be informed about what might happen during a conference, appearance in Court, mediation session, or other Court related event, and to understand what might happen afterwards. Direct links to relevant sections of the Family Law Act and Rules and Regulations are also included. The site contains a range of other relevant links and has an excellent virtual tour of the courtroom. 14
Self-represented Litigants ~ A Challenge: PROJECT REPORT STRATEGY The Court will maintain and continue to develop the "Step-by-Step Guide to Proceedings in the Family Court" website. A national promotion strategy will be developed by the new team 6 to target a wide range of services such as community based organisations, family /relationship services, local courts, libraries, schools, etc to ensure that those who could benefit from access to such a site are aware of its benefits. Links from other relevant websites, such as Family Law on Line will also be negotiated. 2 Collaboration Collaboration with service providers, including the legal profession, that are also impacted by the increasing SRL phenomenon, has been a high priority. Since the publication of the Family Law Pathways Advisory Group Report Out of the Maze, the Family Court has been increasingly developing collaborative approaches to helping separating families as one of many possible strategies for achieving an integrated family law system. A number of other government and non-government agencies provide assistance to clients of the Family Court. The project team developed and the Court will continue to develop collaborative strategies through consultation with: local community based agencies; Legal Aid Commissions; community legal centres; legal practitioners; Child Support Agency; Attorney General’s Department; and family relationships service providers. Team members also attended or presented at a range of workshops, forums and conferences at local, national and international levels. 2.1 The Dandenong Family Court Support Program (FCSP) As a precursor to the SRL project, and in response to the concerns held both for SRLs and for their effect on the Court, the Family Court Support Program (FCSP) was established in November 1999. It was a joint initiative between the Dandenong Registry of the Family Court and a number of local agencies: Monash University’s Family Law Assistance Program; Victoria Legal Aid; the Family Mediation Centre; and Victoria Court Network. 6 See Conclusion/What next page 25. 15
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