Resources

ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER (ATSI) SUPPORT SERVICES

Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency

An Aboriginal child and family welfare organisation offering numerous programs to strengthen families, provide parenting support, and respond to family violence.

vacca.org/services/early-intervention-and-
family-services

Elizabeth Morgan House Aboriginal Women’s Service Inc

A service for Aboriginal women experiencing family violence. Services include counselling, court support, and a high security refuge.

emhaws.org.au
Relationships Australia Victoria (RAV) – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Support Services

Information about the range of services offered by RAV to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities about family relationships.

relationshipsvictoria.com.au/services/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-support

CALD (CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY DIVERSE) SUPPORT SERVICES

Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National)

Telephone and onsite interpreting and document translation services. Telephone interpreting can often be provided immediately without a booking.

tisnational.gov.au

Immigrant Women’s Domestic Violence Service

Telephone service for women and children from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds who are victims of domestic violence.
1800 755 988

inTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence

A state-wide service for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) people in response to family violence. Services include crisis support, phone service, therapeutic counselling, men’s behaviour change program, group work, children’s groups, women’s groups, family camps, and holiday programs.

intouch.org.au

CHILD ABDUCTION

Attorney General’s Webpage

This website contains information about international child abduction, steps to prevent a child being removed from Australia, guide for applying for the return of a child taken from Australia under the Hague Convention and contact details.

ag.gov.au/childabduction

Australian Federal Police (AFP) – Family Law Watch list

This website includes information about the police and family law, the Family Law Watch List (airport watch list), how to place your child on the Family Law Watch List and what to do if your child is on the watch list.

afp.gov.au/what-we-do/crime-types/family-law-kit

International Social Service (ISS) Australia

An independent, not for profit organisation that provides assistance to families experiencing international parental child abduction. Includes downloadable general information brochure about international parental child abduction.

iss.org.au

Australian Passport Office – Child Alert

This website includes information about making a Child Alert request with a link to the child alert request form.

relationshipsvictoria.com.au/services/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-support

CHILD PROTECTION (DFFH)

Child protection (DFFH)

This website provides information regarding the role and services provided by the Department of Fairness, Families and Housing Child Protection unit.

https://services.dffh.vic.gov.au/child-protection

CHILD RELATED MATTERS

CHILD SUPPORT

Department of Human Services (Child Support)
Information on this website includes the child-support assessment process, child-support online estimators, options for the payment and collection of child support, issues when children or parents lived outside Australia and support for people affected by family violence.

New applications for child support can be made online from this page.
humanservices.gov.au/individuals/separated-parents

Child Support Forms
This page provides links to child support forms including Application to Change your Assessment – Special Circumstances, Application for Post Separation Income to be Excluded, Child over 18 in full-time secondary education, Child Support Agreement form, Estimate of Income for use in child support assessment, Non-agency payment details.
humanservices.gov.au/individuals/forms/child-support

Child Support Guides
A parent’s guide to child support, containing a range of information to help parents understand the child support scheme:
humanservices.gov.au/individuals/subjects/parents-guide-child-support

A technical guide to the Australian child support system containing information about the scheme, child support assessments, registrable maintenance liabilities, the rules relating to objections, reviews, appeals and Court applications under the child support legislation, and options for collection of child support payments:
guides.dss.gov.au/child-support-guide

COURTS

Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia

As of 1 September 2021, The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) was established to consolidate the two federal courts which previously dealt with family law matters: the Federal Circuit Court of Australia and the Family Court of Australia.

This new court structure has created a single point of entry for all family law matters and provided a harmonised set of rules and forms for family law proceedings.

The Central Practice Direction dated 1 September 2021 sets out a focus on dispute resolution to reduce costs, delay and emotional stress for litigants, as well as a focus on responses to family violence and risks to children.

Information available includes daily Court lists, online forms, downloadable brochures, Court filing fees, costs, judgments, legislation, contact details. The website contains a wide range of useful information and resources for separated parents and couples, kids and young people and grandparents and other family members including issues arising upon separation, divorce, child related issues, family violence, property and financial matters and the court process. That information includes some helpful videos setting out what to expect if your family law matter proceeds to court. 

To visit the website go to: https://www.fcfcoa.gov.au/fl

Commonwealth Courts portal
Access to your family law matter online. From this site you can see a list of documents filed and Orders made, file court documents online, see upcoming Court dates.
comcourts.gov.au

Magistrates Court of Victoria
Information available includes daily Court lists, online forms, legislation, contact details. Contains a range of information regarding intervention orders, personal safety intervention orders and Court support services.
mcv.vic.gov.au

DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Parties involved in family law disputes are encouraged to resolve their disputes, if it is safe to do so, before making an application to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
For more information on family dispute resolution in Australia go to: https://www.fcfcoa.gov.au/fl/family-dispute-resolution

Family Relationship Centres
This website provides general information about ways you can reach agreement about your parenting and property issues without attending court. The Advice Line also provides phone information and referrals: 1800 050 321
familyrelationships.gov.au/home

Arbitration
The Alternative Courtroom
A fee paying arbitration service, offering separating couples an alternative to a Court determined outcome. Jack Campbell is an arbitrator on this website.
alternativecourtroom.com.au

Arbitration and Mediation
AIFLAM – The Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators
An independent body that promotes and offers training in both Family law arbitration and mediation. Jacky Campbell is a member of AIFLAM and is an arbitrator on this website.
aiflam.org.au

FAMILY VIOLENCE

FINANCIAL MATTERS / PROPERTY SETTLEMENT

Federal Circuit and Family Court Website
This court’s website provides information regarding financial matters, including reaching agreement without going to Court, spousal maintenance and steps to be undertaken if you agree, or don’t agree, about property and finance matters.
https://www.fcfcoa.gov.au/fl/fp/overview

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia website
This page on the website of the Family Court provides information regarding a party’s obligation to provide full and frank disclosure of their financial circumstances and how to complete a Financial Statement, which must be filed with the Court if a party is seeking a property settlement, spousal maintenance, child support or financial enforcement.
https://www.fcfcoa.gov.au/fl/forms/financial-statement-kit

FINANCIAL COUNSELLING

Family Mediation Centre
Financial difficulties arise for a whole range of reasons including separation or inability to manage figures or face conflict. FMC’s financial counselling service is free, confidential and delivered by professionals.
mediation.com.au/how-we-can-help/financial-help/financial-counselling-2/

INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT (HELPLINES)

Beyond Blue
This website includes information and support to help members of the community to achieve their best possible mental health. It provides contact information for targeted national helplines and websites as well as support groups and online forums.
beyondblue.org.au/get-support/national-help-lines-and-websites

Lifeline
This website provides information for those experiencing a personal crisis and gives access to 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services. It also provides tool kits and referrals to online peer support forums.
lifeline.org.au

LEGISLATION

Austlii
This website provides access to legislation and Rules, including:

• Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) – the main legislation covering family law disputes
• Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Act 2021 (No. 12, 2021) (Cth) 
• Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Family Law) Rules 2021 (Cth) – rules governing the court process in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
• Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2)  Rules 2021 (Cth) – rules governing the court process in Division 2 of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
• Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 (Cth) – legislation about the calculation of child support
• Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1989 (Cth) – legislation about the collection of child support
• Family Violence Protection Act 2008 (Vic) – legislation dealing with family violence and intervention orders

For more information go to: https://www.fcfcoa.gov.au/lawyers/lawyers/legislation

austlii.edu.au

LGBTIQ SUPPORT SERVICES

Gender Help for Parents
Website to help parents find information and services for issues relating to children’s gender identity.
genderhelpforparents.com.au

Drummond St – Queerspace
Services provided include individual, couple, and whole of family counselling, relationship and parenting support services, and assistance to victims of family violence for LGBTIQ people.
ds.org.au/our-services/queerspace

Qlife
A national counselling and referral service for LGBTIQ people. It offers a support line as well as web-counselling through an online chat.
qlife.org.au

OTHER USEFUL LINKS

PROFESSIONAL BODIES

SUPERANNUATION AND
SUPERANNUATION INFORMATION
REQUEST FORMS

SURROGACY