Family Law 4 Kids aims to make parental separation easier for children

The project’s key advisors were those with firsthand experience: 41 children and young people (aged 10 to 19) from across Queensland, NSW and Victoria, including Gianna, whose parents separated and accessed the family law system.

“Court has such intimidating and negative connotations. Expecting children to walk into this scary environment without any information is terrifying for them,” said Gianna.

“The website is colourful, engaging and approachable. It is the perfect balance of giving children enough information to feel more settled, without overwhelming them with unnecessary details.”

The toolkit was officially launched by Anne Hollonds, Australia’s National Children’s Commissioner, at Southern Cross University on Thursday October 23 during the University’s second Children’s Rights and the Law Conference to mark National Children’s Week.

The initiative is led by researchers from Southern Cross University, with funding support and specialist advice from child rights organisation 54 reasons (which delivers Save the Children’s programs in Australia) and Youth Law Australia, a children's and youth legal service.

Family Law 4 Kids project leader Associate Professor Georgina Dimopoulos of Southern Cross University said the need for a resource emerged from a research project that found many children feel ignored and in the dark about family law processes.

“Family Law 4 Kids responds to the repeated call from children that they want to be included in fundamental decisions about their lives, like who they live with and spend time with when their parents separate,” Professor Dimopoulos said.

“The toolkit is about equipping children with information about their right to have their say in family law processes, in ways that are meaningful, safe and tailored to their unique needs. It aims to help children navigate the complexity of the family law system, including who they might speak to, why, and what they can do if they feel they haven’t been heard.”

Professor Dimopoulos said the Family Law 4 Kids toolkit helps adults – including parents, carers and family law professionals – to better support children’s participation in family law.

“We hope it will promote a much-needed cultural change, so children are not only seen and heard, but also listened to in the family court,” Professor Dimopoulos added.

Artwork from the Family Law 4 Kids toolkit.

54 reasons Executive Director, Vicki Mau, said child participation was key:

“For children to have real agency in decisions that affect them, they must be listened to and taken seriously. This is particularly important when it comes to decisions about responsibility and care for children when parents separate,” she said.

“By enabling children's participation and supporting their voices to be heard, the Family Law 4 Kids toolkit is looking to genuinely uphold children’s rights and create better outcomes for families — outcomes that are truly in the best interests of children.”

Matthew Keeley, Executive Director of Youth Law Australia, said: “Every year, hundreds of children reach out to Youth Law Australia asking how they can have a say in their family law matters.

“Too often, they are excluded from participating in the family law decisions that will shape their lives. The Family Law 4 Kids toolkit, co-designed by children and young people, is a significant achievement and a step toward a future when child-friendly participation is seen as an everyday part of the Australian family law system, and the right of children to participate if they choose is respected.”