Resources

Support Services

Best for Kids

Legal information for young people and their families. This website will give you legal information about family separation, going into care, domestic violence, the police, and legal problems in day- to- day life.

BeyondBlue

1300 22 46 36
provides information and support to help everyone in Australia achieve their best possible mental health, whatever their age and wherever they live.

Black Dog Institute

Providing expert advice and analysis to help shape a better future for mental health and suicide prevention.

D'Amore Mental Health

The Effects of Child Abuse and Childhood Trauma
Child Abuse and Childhood trauma can impact a person well into adulthood, often in unexpected ways.

Domestic Violence Prevention Centre

The Domestic Violence Prevention Centre provides a wide range of programs to support women and their children affected by domestic and family violence. They also work with men who perpetrate domestic violence.

DVConnect

Crisis support hotline (1800 811 811) and information, resources and referrals for people affected by family and domestic violence.

DVConnect - Mensline

DVConnect’s Mensline can support men who are using abuse or experiencing abuse in their intimate partner, ex-partner, or familial relationships. Mensline is a free and confidential helpline that assists men to change their abusive behaviours or to access safety from abuse.

DVConnect - Womensline

DVConnect’s Womensline is a free helpline for women and their children in Queensland who are experiencing domestic and family violence.

Family and Domestic Violence

Information, resources and referrals for people affected by family and domestic violence.

Family Relationships Online

Provides information about family relationship issues, ranging from building better relationships to dispute resolution.

Lifeline provides all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to online, phone and face-to-face crisis support and suicide prevention services. Find out how these services can help you, a friend or loved one.

MensLine Australia

1300 78 99 78
MensLine Australia is a telephone and online counselling service for men with family and relationship concerns. We’re here to help anywhere, anytime.

National Council for Single Mothers and their Children

Provides advice and information about services and support to help single mothers.

New Leaf Detox & Treatment

New Leaf Detox and Treatment provides life-changing care to empower people to overcome their chemical dependence and mental health issues and make changes that will support a happy and healthy future, free from the constraints of addiction.

ParentLine

1300 301 300
Parentline is a confidential telephone service providing professional counselling and support for parents and carers of children in Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Relationships Australia

Relationships Australia has published two booklets to help men and women who are going through separation and divorce. Men and Separation - Navigating the Future and Women and Separation - Managing New Horizons.

Suicide Call Back Service

Suicide Call Back Service is a free nationwide service providing 24/7 phone and online counselling to people affected by suicide.

White Ribbon Australia

White Ribbon is the world’s largest movement engaging men and boys to see this violence as their problem to fix, not women’s problem to tolerate.

Government & Community Services

Child Support Agency

13 12 72
If your spouse is providing you with financial support voluntarily you should see a lawyer before contacting the Child Support Agency.
If your spouse is not providing you with financial support voluntarily then you can make enquiries about your entitlements by phoning the Child Support Agency. The online child support calculator can provide you with an indicative amount, depending on your circumstances.

Child Support Assessment Estimator

You can use this estimator service to calculate an estimate of your child support payments.

Child Support Care Estimator

The care estimator allows you to estimate the care percentage to be used in estimating child support payments.

Centrelink Benefits

13 61 50
You may be entitled to certain Centrelink benefits including Sole Parents Payments or additional Family Tax Benefits. You can make enquiries about your entitlements by phoning the Department of Human Services.

Relationships Australia

This is a community-based, not-for-profit Australian organisation that provides support services for individuals, families and communities.

Children’s Contact Services

Provides a list of Children’s Contact Services providers. Children's contact services help children and parents to maintain contact where contact visits are difficult because of high levels of conflict between the parents or concerns for the safety of family members. 

Women's Legal Service

Free legal help for women in Queensland with domestic violence, complex family law and sexual assault notes counselling privilege matters.

National Association of Community Legal Centres

A not for profit community organisation which helps people who cannot afford to see Lawyers or go through mediation.

Legal Aid Queensland

The Legal Aid Office Queensland may be able to provide legal assistance to family members who need help with family law issues.

Court Resources

Compulsory Pre-Filing Family Dispute Resolution

This fact sheet is for people who need information on the procedures and requirements for compulsory Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) prior to the commencement of family law proceedings.

Court-based Family Dispute Resolution

This fact sheet is for people who have been ordered to attend a Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) conference in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.

Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia

This provides information about the Federal Circuit and Family Court system, including forms, fees and information on aspects of family law.

Have you been married less than 2 years?

This fact sheet is for spouses who have been married less than two years and want to apply for divorce. It explains what you need to do and the documents you need to file with the Court.

Marriage Families and Separation brochure

A good brochure providing general information about issues that come up for families who are separating.

Parental conflict and its effect on children

This fact sheet provides information for parents about the ways high levels of parental conflict can affect children, both in families who live together and in families who have separated.

Separation and stress

This fact sheet provides information to help separated parties navigate through stressful times.

The impact of family violence on children

This fact sheet provides information about family violence and its harmful effect on children.

VIDEO - How the Court process works for parenting cases

Every case is different and may be handled differently depending on the needs of your family. This video explains the usual process of a family law case involving children and provides an overview of what can be expected in most cases in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.

VIDEO - How the voice of the child is heard?

The court process is designed to balance the need to protect children from conflict with the child’s right to have a voice in decisions being made about them. This video is about how a child’s voice is considered in a family law case in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.

VIDEO - What is family violence?

Family violence is a serious problem in our community. The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Court) deals with families and relationships and a significant proportion of matters before the Court involve allegations of family violence. The focus of this video is on family violence and what it means.

VIDEO - What to expect when attending a Court hearing

An introduction and guide to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. As part of your separation, to legally resolve arrangements for your children or divide up your assets, you might find yourself at the FCFCOA. This video shares tips to help you understand what to expect if you have to attend a court hearing, whether in person or electronically.

VIDEO - You can separate smarter

Did you know, you don’t need to argue? If it is safe to do so, there is a better way to separate. You can take ownership of your dispute. This video provides tips on how to separate smarter - whether you agree or partially agree, perhaps you can’t agree at all.

Child Consultants

Anastasia Michael, Child Consultant

Michael works collaboratively with Anastasia Michael, Child Consultant, to provide an affordable, child inclusive mediation process that will benefit all parties. Here is a link to Anastasia's professional LinkedIn profile.

Family Dispute Resolution

Attorney-General's Department - Family Dispute Resolution

Register of Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners

Find an accredited family dispute resolution practitioner that provides services to your location.

For Lawyers

Lexon Mediation Checklist

A helpful Mediation Checklist for lawyers

Research

Australian National Research Organisation for Women's Safety (ANROWS)

Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety Limited is an independent, not-for-profit research organisation established to produce evidence to support the reduction of violence against women and their children.

Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS)

AIFS conducts high-quality, impartial research into the wellbeing of Australian families, to inform government policy and promote evidence-based practice in the family services sector.

Eeny Meeny Miney Mo Foundation

The Eeny Meeny Miney Mo Foundation is calling for legislative change that not only acknowledges Parental Alienating Behaviours exist but firmly and clearly legislates against it. Parental Alienating Behaviours are Child Abuse and Family Violence.

Parental Alienation Australia Research

Legislation

Family Law Act 1975

Family Law Act 1975: Sect 60I

Family Law Amendment (Family Violence and Cross-examination of Parties) Act 2018

Family Law Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Act 2018

Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021

Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (Family Law) Rules 2021

Family Law (Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners) Regulations 2008

Family Law (Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners) Regulations 2008 - REG 25 Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners - assessment of family dispute resolution suitability