What is a Family Report?
A comprehensive and independent assessment to assist parents/caregivers and/or the Court to make decisions about the children.
For further information please see the Family Report Fact Sheet: https://www.fcfcoa.gov.au/fl/pubs/family-reports
How is a Family Report Completed?
The assessment process generally includes separate interviews with each parent/caregiver, any other party to the case, significant adults as appropriate (e.g., current partners, grandparents), and each child over 5 years of age. The report writer will also conduct observations, where considered appropriate, between the children and each parent/caregiver. Interviews with adults and some teenage children may be conducted by an online platform, with younger child interviews and parent-child observations occurring in-person.
Assessment occurs about a range of relevant topics including the issues in dispute; any risks to the children, adults, or family unit; each child's relationships, wants and needs with consideration of their individual circumstances; co-parental and adult relationships; parental capacity; and other issues as requested by the Court or parties.
The Report Writer will read documents which have been filed in court and/or jointly prepared by the parties/legal representatives. These generally include the application and response documents and/or letter of instruction. Subpoena material can be read if an order permits the Report Writer to do so and either party or the Report Writer considers it would be beneficial for the assessment process.
A full and comprehensive written report will be prepared and include information provided by the parties, other adults interviewed, children, and observations conducted; identification, analysis, and evaluation of the topics and issues relevant to the case; and recommendations about the future care, welfare, and development of the children.
Safety is of the utmost importance at all times and the Report Writer will make decisions about the mode and facilitation of interviews, observations, and release of the report based upon a clinical assessment.
Costs
A standard Private Family Report is $5500 plus GST, with costs to be shared equally between the parties unless agreed otherwise. Reports where there are more than two adult parties, more than three children, and/or significant documents or subpoena material may attract a higher fee. Please enquire for fees relating to Update, Limited Issues Reports, or Reports where the Report Writer has already completed an Initial Assessment and Advice.
If the Report Writer is required to give evidence at a trial, preparation fees (e.g., reading of new material) are $120 per hour, and the fee for giving evidence is $150 per hour.
What is an Initial Assessment and Advice?
A short, preliminary, and targeted assessment to assist parents/caregivers and/or the Court to make decisions about the children. This assessment is designed to assist the parents/caregivers to narrow the issues in dispute and may be appropriate prior to court proceedings commencing, or for interim hearings. A successful and productive Initial Assessment and Advice may avoid the need for a Family Report, and/or future emotionally and financially costly disputes.
How is an Initial Assessment and Advice completed?
The assessment process generally includes interviews with each parent/caregiver, any other party to the case, and each child over 5 years of age. The report writer may conduct observations, where considered appropriate, between a child and parent if the child is too young to be interviewed. Interviews with adults and some teenage children may be conducted by an online platform, with younger child interviews and parent-child observations occurring in-person.
By request, this assessment can also be conducted by interviewing the adult parties only, or the children only.
Assessment occurs about a range of relevant topics including the issues in dispute; any risks to the children, adults, or family unit; each child's relationships, wants and needs with consideration of their individual circumstances; co-parental and adult relationships; parental capacity; and other issues as requested by the Court or parties.
The Report Writer will read relevant documents which have been filed in court and/or jointly prepared by the parties/legal respresentatives. These generally include the application and response documents and/or letter of instruction.
A brief written report will be prepared and include relevant information provided by the parties, children, and observations conducted; identification and initial analysis of the topics and issues relevant to the case; advice about short-term care, welfare, and development of the children; suggestions of programs/supports which may benefit the parents and children moving forward.
Safety is of the utmost importance at all times and the Report Writer will make decisions about the mode and facilitation of interviews, observations, and release of the report based upon a clinical assessment.
Costs
An Initial Assessment and Advice is $2500 plus GST, with costs to be shared equally between the parties unless agreed otherwise.
What is Family Therapy?
A family therapist provides support, education, advice, and reunification (where appropriate) to one or more members of a family who are experiencing disconnect in the context of post-separation. It is child-focused and solution-focused, and not designed to replace individual counselling or therapies.
The Family Therapy process
This service can be requested jointly by parties or their legal representatives, or by court order. Each family and their circumstances are different. Generally, the family therapist completes an intake process with each parent/caregiver in addition to reading preliminary information provided jointly by the parties/legal representatives (if applicable). The family therapist then makes a plan which may include intakes and individual sessions with any children, individual sessions with one or both adults, joint sessions between one or both adults and the children, and joint sessions with the adults.
Safety is of the utmost importance and at all times the family therapist will make decisions about the mode and facilitation of any sessions with children or adults based upon a clinical assessment.
Please note that a practitioner cannot provide both family therapy services and a Family Report/Initial Assessment and Advice to a family.
Costs
Family Therapy is $180 per hour plus GST, with costs to be shared equally between the parties unless agreed otherwise.
What is Child Consultancy?
A child consultant provides professional, independent, specialised, child-focused knowledge in the context of a mediation or dispute resolution process. The child consultant cannot solely facilitate mediation or dispute resolution.
The Child Consultancy Process
This service can be requested jointly by parties or their legal representatives, or by court order. The process is conducted with an accredited Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner and/or the parties' legal representatives.
Each family and their circumstances are different. A child consultant may read preliminary information provided jointly by the parties/legal representatives, and/or speak with children over 5 years of age. Feedback and guidance can be provided to parents/caregivers before and/or during the mediation or dispute resolution process. A child consultant may remain present for the entirety of the mediation or dispute resolution or provide guidance throughout the process when necessary. Safety is of the utmost importance and at all times the child consultant will make decisions about the mode and facilitation of any discussions with children or adults based upon a clinical assessment.
Please note that a practitioner cannot provide both child consultancy services and a Family Report/Initial Assessment and Advice to a family.
Costs
Child Consultancy is $180 per hour plus GST, with costs to be shared equally between the parties unless agree otherwise.
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