This means that people involved in parenting cases for either court will have an easier, simplified way to provide information at the very beginning of the process which details issues of family violence and other forms of potential risks. This may include abuse of a child, family violence, substance abuse, abduction and threats of harm and safety. 

The Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia and the Chief Judge for the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, the Honourable Will Alstergren, said the new notice of risk is a “significant achievement” and forms part of a broader harmonisation of projects to make filing family law proceedings in the courts a less complicated process. 

“It is critically important that courts are aware, at the earliest point, of facts and information about safety and issues of risk. The new form will assist in ensuring that families and their children receive appropriate and targeted intervention in the system,” CJ Alstergren said. 

“This is an exciting initiative and one that will ensure that judges, registrars and family consultants in both courts have comprehensive information in relation to child abuse, family violence and other risks at an early stage in the proceedings.”

The redesign consolidates three former forms and allows data to be captured from six key questions to give the courts a more concrete understanding of the possible risks. 

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“This achievement is the culmination of many months of work by the Joint Rules Harmonisation Working Group and Joint Family Violence Committee, judges, registrars and staff of the courts, in consultation with the profession and other stakeholders,” the Chief Justice added.