Beyond Litigation: The Journey to Safety
Description
Domestic and family violence (DFV) remains one of the world's most complex and persistent social challenges. In Australia and other Western countries, DFV is a leading contributor to death, disability and illness among women aged 25 to 44. For separated families engaged in litigation over family law disputes, the risk of DFV-related harm is significantly higher, underscoring the need for effective interventions and evidence-based responses.
In this webinar, Bouverie researchers will present findings from a longitudinal study conducted in partnership with the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. Funded by the Australian Research Council, the research examines the Lighthouse Program, and evidence for how safety can be enhanced for families at high risk of family violence during family law proceedings.
Participants will gain insights into:
The effectiveness of family violence risk screening and triage processes at court entry.
Predictors of safety outcomes for litigating parents during the first year after filing.
Court management pathways associated with improved safety
The health, legal and economic impacts of improved safety.
Young people’s voices – what creates safety in a separated, litigating family?
This session will be of particular interest to family law professionals, researchers, policymakers, mental health and allied practitioners and anyone seeking to understand how evidence-based approaches can strengthen safety and wellbeing for families affected by domestic and family violence.
Presenters
Professor Jenn McIntosh AM (Centre Director, The Bouverie Centre)
Jenn is Director and Professor of Systemic Practice (Family Therapy) at the Bouverie Centre, La Trobe University and is a clinical and developmental psychologist, family therapist, and researcher. She has a particular interest in research translation and making developmental theories “user friendly”, enabling parents, carers and professionals to consider the experience of children more sensitively in the context of family trauma. Jenn has a strong publication and category 1-4 grant track. In 2019, Professor McIntosh was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for her contribution to child developmental psychology. Over 36 years, Jenn has completed extensive training and research programs for the Australian Attorney General’s Department, the Family Court of Australia, Department of Health and Human Services, Office for the Status of Women, and national family services including Relationships Australia and Anglicare. Her interests as a researcher and educator in parenting and childhood trauma arise from a blend of clinical and research experiences. Studies and work in Australia, the UK and the USA have focused on the experiences of children subject to attachment trauma and loss, particularly examining the effects of parental deprivation and conflict in early childhood and the experiences of children in foster care Jenn is also Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Deakin University, where she led the perinatal science stream of the Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, and was a Fellow of the Murdoch Children's Research Institute 2015-2019. In that role, she directed the Australian Temperament Project Generation 3’s Melbourne Attachment and Caregiving Lab (the ATP MAC Lab).
Dr. Felicity Painter - Senior Research Fellow (The Bouverie Centre)
Dr Felicity Painter is a post-doctoral research fellow at the Bouverie Centre, La Trobe University. Felicity holds a PhD in developmental psychology, specialising in research on parenting, child adjustment and family functioning. Working collaboratively with clinicians, community partners, and government stakeholders, Felicity contributes to the development of evidence-based practice for family therapy and work in family trauma contexts. Through integrated, mixed methods research this work generates new knowledge about the early identification of relational and developmental risk within families, informing clinical practice and early intervention efforts.
Elizabeth Evans – Senior Registrar, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
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