Family Law Articles on domestic violence and care and protection of children:
The Family Court has a serious attitude problem when it comes to domestic violence (SMH 2016)
http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/news-and-views/opinion/the-family-court-has-a-serious-attitude-problem-when-it-comes-to-domestic-violence-20160501-goj6mg.htmlAbout dismissal of domestic violence claims during custody and giving custody to the potential abusive parent, commenting judges seeing the the parent making claims of domestic violence as “unwilling to support their child’s relationship with the other parent”.
This article is an example of when the concept of maintaining a relationship with both parents under the family law reforms in 2006, has been given more weight than is warranted, seen when the comment ‘judges are overwhelmingly determining a child's best interests in a way that is "weighted more toward the parental rights of abusers than the safety of children."’ is made.
The article also suggests the laws attempt in resolving conflict in terms of custody has not been achieving just outcomes for family members due to the dismissal of domestic violence victims.
Mike Baird announces reform to state's broken child welfare system (smh 2016)
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/mike-baird-announces-reform-to-states-broken-child-welfare-system-20161117-gsrbb6.htmlThis article is about the findings and changes intended to be made in relation to the child protection system. It addresses the lack of progress and evidence from support programs for children costing more than $300 million a year. The article is very useful in discussing the law’s role in initiating change in areas of care and protection of children and responding to ineffective legal measures put in place. The article mentions the findings of a review of the system including the statistic of “20,000 children are in out-of-home care in NSW, a number that has doubled in a decade”, this, as well as “the first stage of reform will be reducing the number of children in the states broken residential care system” can be used to show the law’s responsiveness to ineffective systems and practices, and the steps it is taking to provide a viable resolution (reflecting an effective legal response once changes are actually made).
Not sure if helpful or not but just something to add!