June 2014 Newsletter 8
Contact Me
Jaime Pick
(07) 4840 0602
0400 773 994
35 Milton Street Mackay, Qld 4740
Information Links (control and click to follow link)
Grandparents raising grandchildren – Useful websites.
· COUNCIL OF GRANDPARENTS QLD click here
· GRANDPARENTS INFO LINE AND WEBSITE QLD click here
· TIME FOR GRANDPARENTS QLD click here
· SENIORS ENQUIRY LINE QLD click here
Family Relationship Advice Line is a national telephone services established to assist families affected by relationship or separation issues. 1800 050 321
Contact Me
Jaime Pick
(07) 4840 0602
0400 773 994
35 Milton Street Mackay, Qld 4740
Interesting Reads / Reports (control and click to follow link)
· Independent Children’s Lawyers Study: Final report click on Independent Children's Lawyers Study
· Children's Rights Report 2013. To view the report click on Human Rights
· Gay man fights to be recognised as father of child to lesbian couple
· Divorce ruling likely to leave wealthy husbands with less
Contact Me
Jaime Pick
(07) 4840 0602
0400 773 994
35 Milton Street Mackay, Qld 4740
Useful Links (control and click to follow link)
Full Court Family Law Judgements
Australian Federal Police - Family Law Kit
Contact Me
Jaime Pick
(07) 4840 0602
0400 773 994
35 Milton Street Mackay, Qld 4740
Contact Me
Jaime Pick
(07) 4840 0602
0400 773 994
35 Milton Street Mackay, Qld 4740
Contact Me
Jaime Pick
(07) 4840 0602
0400 773 994
35 Milton Street Mackay, Qld 4740 / Welcome to the 8th edition of the Mackay-Whitsunday REgion, Family Law Pathways Network Newlsetter
It is with great pleasure that I can announce the Australian Attorney General’s Department will continue to fund the Family Law Pathways Network throughout Australia. I don’t mind admitting that I was tender hooks for a while after the Federal Budget was announced.
The MWFLPN includes the townships of Mackay, Moranbah, Dysart, Nebo, Proserpine, Cannonvale and Arlie Beach. The Mackay- Whitsunday FLPN is funded by the Australian Government, Attorney-General’s Department and hosted by the Mackay Family Relationship Centre, Centacare. There is no cost to join the network and new members are always encouraged.
Please note that I work part-time – Wed, Thu, Fri until 2pm. If your matter is urgent please leave a message on the mobile phone number. Otherwise please be patient with my responses.
For further information on the Mackay-Whitsunday Family Law Pathways Network please contact Jaime Pick, Mob: 0400 773 994 or email .
Family Law Pathways Network Website: http://www.qldfamilylawnet.org.au/
The main aim of FLPNs is to help families who are experiencing family separation, breakdown and conflict to access the services they need as quickly and seamlessly as possible. Therefore reducing the negative emotional impact and financial strain on families.
It’s Hypothetical – Pathways through family separation and the Family Services Expo
The Mackay-Whitsunday Family Law Pathways Networks together with Legal Aid Qld, Mackay Branch hosted ‘It’s Hypothetical’ and the Family Services Expo at the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre at the 29th May 2014. Approximately 70 people attended and 20 services displayed at the expo.There were three main goals of the day.
1. To provide an unique learning opportunity to Mackay professionals whose work is impacted by family conflict and separation.
2. To provide a networking opportunity to Mackay professionals.
3. To showcase local family services and family law services in the Mackay region.
I think all three goals were achieved and the feedback we have been receiving has been positive. We have also received feedback on how to improve the event for next year. Thank you for all those that attended. Also a big thank you to the panel members who generously give up their time to participate and also to Kristyn Everett for moderating the scenario.
I will upload photos to the FLPN website once I receive them.
Andrew King Training
On the 7th and 8th July the MWFLPN is pleased to bring Andrew King back to Mackay to deliver some valuable training on working with fathers. Andrew will be delivering two days of training. Day 1 is Working Effectively with Separated Fathers and the Day 2 is Focusing on Early Fatherhood. More information on the workshops is available on the FLPN Website http://www.qldfamilylawnet.org.au/This training is being provided to members of the MWFLPN at no cost and includes refreshments throughout the day. Numbers are strictly limited so please register ASAP to avoid disappointment.
Mackay Circuit Court Dates 2014
FCJ = Family Court JudgeFCCJ = FCC Judge
FCR = Family Court Registrar
24-Feb-14 / - / 28-Feb-14 / FCCJ / Demack / confirmed
3-Mar-14 / - / 7-Mar-14 / FCCJ / Burnett / confirmed / 2 days only
10-Mar-14 / - / 14-Mar-14 / FCR / Coutts / confirmed
24-Mar-14 / - / 28-Mar-14 / FCJ / Tree / cancelled
5-May-14 / - / 9-May-14 / FCCJ / Demack / confirmed
12-May-14 / - / 16-May-14 / FCR / Coutts / confirmed
23-Jun-14 / - / 27-Jun-14 / FCCJ / Demack / confirmed
21-Jul-14 / - / 25-Jul-14 / FCR / Coutts / proposed
25-Aug-14 / - / 29-Aug-14 / FCCJ / Demack / proposed
29-Sep-14 / - / 3-Oct-14 / FCR / Coutts / proposed
20-Oct-14 / - / 24-Oct-14 / FCCJ / Demack / proposed
24-Nov-14 / - / 28-Nov-14 / FCCJ / Demack / proposed
8-Dec-14 / - / 12-Dec-14 / FCR / Coutts / proposed
Resource for Expectant Mums
A new resource for expectant parents is now available to help parents prepare for the realities of parenthood. The Looking After You self-directed learning pack for expectant mums can be ordered via the Women's Health website. The program is based on the latest Australian Toward Parenthood research that showed women who received an evidence-based psychoeducation program in pregnancy:· were less anxious
· were less stressed
· had fewer depressive symptoms
· tended to experience less parenting stress.
To order the pack please follow this link click here.
Child Support Service
Reminder: Changes to Child Support ServiceFrom January 2nd the Child Support Service has been accessible by telephone or online. For key contacts points please see below:
131272 Child support related queries only including applying for child support, care arrangements and Child Support Online Services. MON-FRI 8:30am - 4:45pm
131107 Automated Child Support information service. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Customers require a PIN to access this service which can be obtained via the General number above. Customers can obtain basic information about their Child Support account such as their next and last payment.
131272 Child support related queries only including applying for child support, care arrangements and Child Support Online Services. MON-FRI 8:30am - 4:45pm
131107 Automated Child Support information service. Customers require a PIN to access this service which can be obtained via the General number above. Customers can obtain basic information about their Child Support account such as their next and last payment.
Online access http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/themes/child-support-and-separated-parents
Domestic Violence Resource Service turns 20!!!
The Domestic Violence Resource Service (Mackay & Region) celebrated 20 years of service to women and children in the local area. A big congratulations to Jude Marshall, fellow staff and the management committee of DVRS.DVRS held a morning tea to celebrate this milestone on Friday 30th May 2014. It was fantastic to see people from numerous organisations, past and present DVRS staff and past and present management committee members attend. Deirdre Comerford, Mayor of Mackay, also gave some of her valuable time to attend and give a few words of acknowledgement and encouragement to DVRS for the great work that they continue to do.
Please contact DVRS on 4957 3888 for further information on the services it offers.
Parliamentary Inquiry into the Child Support Program
The House of Representatives Social Policy and Legal Affairs Committee has been asked by Minister Kevin Andrews to inquire into and report on the Child Support Program. The Committee has created an online questionnaire for individuals to complete. The questionnaire enables people with an experience of the Child Support Program to make a personal contribution to the inquiry, and will enable the Committee to understand the individual experiences of a broad range of people. People must be over 18 years old to complete the questionnaire, and it will take up to 20 minutes. The questionnaire is available here.The Committee will also be holding hearings in many Australian cities, which will be open to the public. Those who would like to express interest in participating in one of these sessions may complete the form at this page.
Additionally, submissions to the inquiry from stakeholder groups and experts are being sought. Submissions directly addressing the terms of reference should be forwarded to the Committee no later than Friday 13 June 2014. For information on how to make a submission, go toMaking a submission to a Committee Inquiry.
Those who make a submission to the inquiry should be aware that the Committee cannot investigate individual cases or complaints. Submissions should not include personal details. Those who wish to share personal experiences with the Committee, may complete the online questionnaire. The Committee expects to table its report in early 2015.
5 Things Recently Separated Parents Need to Know About Child Custody
By HHG Legal Group1. Legal terminology
Following legislative change to Australian family law in 2007, commonly used terms such as “child custody”, “child access”, “sole custody”, “joint custody” and “visitation” are no longer in use.
Throughout the process of determining custody of the child, terms such as “lives with”, “spends time with”, “primary parent” and “primary carer” will be used in place of the previous expressions.
2. Best interests of the child
TheFamily Law Act 1975(the Act) governs family law in Australia.It does not address parental ‘rights’ – in fact, parents do not have ‘rights’ as such.
Instead, the legislation focuses on each parent’s responsibility to their child so to prioritise the child’s best interests over that of parents.
3.Parental responsibility is equally shared
The Act presumes both parents are presented with equal parental responsibility in their decision making role for serious long-term considerations such as education, religious upbringing medical treatment, where a child lives and changes to their name.
The presumption of equal parents’ responsibility will not apply where there is a risk to the child or children of family violence.
Importantly, the concept ofequal shared parental responsibility does not constitute any right to equal time spent with the child.
4. Allocation of time spent with the child
The amount of time each parent may spend with the child is determined by;a)An agreed arrangement negotiated through Family Dispute Resolution (FDR), a compulsory process for child custody matters. The Act requires both parents to make a genuine effort to come to an agreement.Or where FDR fails,b)A courtwill consider what time arrangement suits the best interests of the child, make a determination, and issue orders.
5. Support for children and parents
The following services provide support during this difficult time;
· The Family Relationship Advice Line 1800 050 321
· TheFamily Relationships Hotline 1800 050 321
· Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
This is general information only, and does not constitute specific legal advice.