Family Violence Symposium in Sydney gathers over 70 leaders across sectors

“There’s no place in Australia for family violence – it’s an abhorrent crime that must be prevented,” said Michelle Rowland, Australia’s attorney-general, in the media release. “The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia plays a vital role in preventing and responding to instances of family violence, and our Government will continue to support that important work.” 

The event sought to strengthen culturally safe engagement and specialist Indigenous list pathways for First Nations families. Researchers and representatives from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal services and community organisations participated. 

“Symposiums such as this are critical to share ideas, learn from each other, and to shape future reform,” said Micaela Cronin, domestic, family, and sexual violence commissioner, in the media release. 

Cronin added that hearing from those affected by the courts’ systems would help improve such systems. 

While acknowledging the FCFCOA’s significant progress, Alstergren emphasised the importance of consistently striving to deliver safe, effective, and efficient justice. 

“The Courts are eager to engage with the profession and the sector at events like this, and listen to their on the ground experience, which helps to inform the action we take to strengthen the Courts in the years ahead,” Alstergren said in the media release. 

“There is much work under way to make the Court safer and fairer for families, and I thank Chief Justice Alstergren for hosting today and for all those who attended,” Cronin added. 

FCFCOA reforms

In its media release, the FCFCOA shared that the symposium aimed to build on the courts’ changes relating to: 

• the national expansion of the Lighthouse early risk identification, triage, and case management model 
• specialist Indigenous lists and Indigenous family liaison officers 
• the implementation of information-sharing arrangements among the family law courts, police, and child welfare agencies to help the courts access all information pertinent to crafting decisions in children’s best interests 
• a nationally consistent court safety protocol 
• safe room upgrades across Australia 
• child impact reports 
• child-centred practice, including the recently established Children’s Charter and Kids’ Corner website content 
• the whole-of-system adoption of perpetrator-pattern approaches through Safe & Together training 
• expanded education on systems abuse, coercive control, and sexual violence 

In 2024, the inaugural Family Violence Symposium in Melbourne gathered leaders seeking to combat family violence, who shared their perspectives on the issue and addressed potential solutions focusing on the justice system.