Attachment Theory and the Family Violence Reforms

conflict are not just “in the moment.” Zeanah asserts that not only does it create longterm problem trajectories for children but, where the father is the perpetrator and thefather has left, children often identify with the aggressor, which in turn becomes thetemplate for the way in which the child relates to women in intimate relationships in laterlife. Thus it can be contended that the effect of violence on attachment relationships hasboth intra and inter-generational dimensions.An overview of the most recent major reforms to family law in AustraliaI now wish to provide an overview of the shared parenting and family violence reforms,which I will then analyse from an attachment theory perspective.Family Law Amendment (Shared Parental Responsibility) Act 2006The Australian Institute of Family Studies (the AIFS), a statutory research institute, wascommissioned by the Australian Government to undertake an evaluation of the sharedparenting reforms. A brief summary of their findings is contained at appendix 2. I havetaken the following précis of the shared parenting reforms from the AIFS’ evaluationreport, with due acknowledgement to the researchers who prepared that report. 13 Theprécis concludes at the commencement of the discussion of Division 12A of the Act, atpage 9.In 2006, a series of changes to the family law system were introduced. There werechanges to the Family Law Act and increased funding for new and expanded familyrelationships services, including the establishment of 65 Family Relationship Centres anda national advice line. The aim of the reforms was to bring about “generational change in13 Rae Kaspiew, Matthew Gray, Ruth Weston, Lawrie Moloney, Kelly Hand, Lixia Qu, Evaluation of the2006 Family Law Reforms, Australian Institute of Family Studies, December 2009, pp. 1-4,www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/fle/evaluationreport.pdf (viewed 9 August 2012).6