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Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Family Law

The Australian Chapter of Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) focuses on education, research, training and collaboration of professionals involved in Family Law. This includes Judicial officers, lawyers, barristers, psychologists, social workers and mediators.

The benefit of multi-disciplinary associations such as the AFCC is that it provides professionals in the family law field to network, work together and learn from each other for the benefit of our clients.

Getting to meet and discuss practical issues with other professionals such as psychologists helps to gain an understanding of the professionals we are referring our clients to for Assessments and / or professional services. It also helps with gaining alternative perspectives and insight concerning issues relating to our practice.

Managing Partner Sally Nicholes and Senior Associate Natasha Mastroianni represented Nicholes Family Lawyers at the 2019 AFCC Conference and had the opportunity to catch up with Dr Robert Simon from the United States of America, a leader in forensic psychology consulting who focuses exclusively on Family Law and a friend of the firm.

The focus of the 2019 AFCC conference was “Ethics – Duties and Dilemmas in Family Law.” As lawyers it is very important that we abide by our ethical obligations to ensure that we provide quality services to our clients and ensure that we abide by our professional conduct rules. It is also important for psychologists and other professionals involved in the Family Law field to understand their ethical duties and be aware of issues which may arise and challenge them.

In addition to learning about ethical issues, sessions also focused on Family Law Reform which is quite topical in the face of Attorney General Christian Porter seeking to re-introduce legislation to merge the Federal Circuit Court and Family Court.

The 2020 AFCC Conference Let’s hear it for the kids: Challenges and the way forward in Family Law will be held in Brisbane from 16 July 2020 – 18 July 2020.

By Nicholes Family Lawyers

 

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