Multidisciplinary seminar on 'Shared parental responsibility in Australian family law and the impact on children'

13–15 April 2008

This special multidisciplinary seminar was held at the Civic Gallery on Level 3, Hawke Building, University of South Australia's City West Campus on Sunday evening 13 April (registration, cocktails and Art Exhibition) and all day Monday and Tuesday, 14–15 April 2008 at the Bradley Forum on Level 5, Hawke Building, University of South Australia's City West Campus, North Terrace, Adelaide.

The seminar examined in depth the consequences for children of some of the recent changes to the Australian Family Law Act. Presenters focused on the most current theories, research, practice wisdom and parental experiences in relation to the emphasis given to shared parenting and associated decision making after separation and divorce. The main focus was on the outcomes of the changes for Australian children, including those children who have been, or are at risk of being, exposed to high-level parental conflict, violence and child abuse.

Seminar papers

Keynote speakers

Chief Justice Bryant, Family Court of Australia
Professor Carol Bruch, Distinguished Research Professor of Law and Professor Emeritus, University of California (see her article in the Family Law Quarterly, Vol 40, Number 2, 2006 - 'Sound Research or Wishful Thinking in Child Custody Cases: Lessons from Relocation Law'.)
Professor Thea Brown, Department of Social Work, Monash University, Victoria

Speakers

Ms Susan Aydon, clinical psychologist, Queensland
Associate Professor Dale Bagshaw, School of Social Work & Social Policy, UniSA
Dr Alan Campbell, School of Social Work & Social Policy, UniSA
Ms Marie Hume, Convenor, National Abuse Free Contact Campaign
Dr Daryl Higgins, Australian Institute of Family Studies, Victoria
Associate Professor Carolyn Quadrio, School of Psychiatry, UNSW
Dr Elspeth McInnes AM, School of Education, UniSA
Ms Julie Redman, family lawyer and mediator, South Australia
Dr Sunita Shaunak, family law consumer, Queensland
Dr Amanda Shea Hart, School of Social Work, University of Central Queensland
Dr David Wood, Director, Paediatric Services, Mater Children’s Hospital; Chairman, Abused Child Trust, Queensland
Professor Rick Sarre, Professor of Law, UniSA, commentator

Conveners

Associate Professor Dale Bagshaw and Dr Alan Campbell
Centre for Peace, Conflict and Mediation, Hawke Research Institute for Sustainable Societies
School of Social Work & Social Policy
University of South Australia
St Bernard's Road, Magill, South Australia 5071
Email: dale.bagshaw@unisa.edu.au
Mobile: 0408 805 641
Email: alan.campbell@unisa.edu.au
Mobile: 0417 557 609
Seminar coordinator: Roopa Howard roopa.howard@unisa.edu.au

Additional reading

The Law Report (ABC Radio National) on Shared Parenting

We are grateful for the support we have received from the Hawke Research Institute and the Division of Education, Arts and Social Sciences at the University of South Australia.

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