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Fathers and the separation pathway: The Family Court of Australia in dialogue with men's groups
Richard J Foster
Family Court of Australia, Canberra ACT
Andrew S Chudleigh
FatherWork, Mullumbimby NSW
Raymond Lenton
National Men and Fathers Practitioner Network, Sydney NSW
Penny S Gibson
Family Court of Australia, Canberra ACT
Abstract
This article outlines initiatives being taken by the Family Court of Australia to improve the pathways for fathers through the separation process as part of its ongoing dialogue with clients and stakeholder groups.
In particular, it highlights the process and outcomes of a recent cross-sectoral discussion forum, Fathers and the Family Court.
The forum gave rise to constructive, nonadversarial dialogue on the issue and found strong commonality of views across sectors, with outcomes that are expected to lead to more satisfactory pathways through separation for all clients, including for fathers. It moved beyond the court processes to discuss the entire separation pathway.
Keywords
Family Court of Australia, separation, fathers, men's advocacy groups, family law
References
Bryant D (2004 July) Press Conference. Family Court of Australia, Melbourne VIC.
Commonwealth of Australia (2004) 'Engaging newly separated men'. Part of professional training package materials developed by Crisis Support Services and Mensline Australia for Family Court registry client-services staff. Canberra ACT: Family Court of Australia, unpublished document.
Commonwealth of Australia, House of Representatives (2005a) Family Law Amendment (Shared Parental Responsibility) Bill Exposure Draft: http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/laca/familylaw/exposuredraft.pdf
Commonwealth of Australia, House of Representatives (2005b) Family Law Amendment (Shared Parental Responsibility) Bill Explanatory Statement (2005): http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/laca/familylaw/explanatorymemorandum.pdf
Commonwealth of Australia (2002) Me and my kids: Parenting from a distance. Canberra ACT: Family Court of Australia website: http://www.familycourt.gov.au/presence/connect/www/home/publications/
client_brochures/brochures/comms_brochure_me_and_my_kids
Foster RJ (2005 June) Presentation to The Lone Fathers Association 2005 National Conference, Canberra, Australia.
Relationships Australia (Victoria) & Mensline Australia (2003) Men and separation: Choices in tough times. Available from Relationships Australia website http://www.relationships.com.au/utilities/about/pub.asp#6; and Mensline Australia website http://www.menslineaus.org.au/cms/index.html
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