Family reports

There are a number of ways for the voice of the child to be heard in the court proceedings, the most common way is through the family report process. The court will appoint a family consultant to assist the court: s 11A, FLA.

In almost all cases that proceed to a hearing in either the Family Court or the Federal Circuit Court, a family report will have been prepared to assist the judge determine the outstanding issues. The role of the family consultant includes observing the relationships between the child and the related parties and assisting and advising parties to better understand the impact of court orders on the child concerned. Communications with the family consultant are not privileged and may form the basis of the consultant’s report to the court. Family consultants can also inform people about other services available to help them.

Part VII, Div 3 of the FLA makes provision for the ordering and receiving into evidence of a family report .

See Family reports.