Who Are Family Consultants? Deborah Bruinsma

Who are Family Consultants?

The Family Court may determine that a Family Report or Single Expert Report is required to advise on your children’s best interest.

Family Consultants, like myself, provide independent assessments and reports to the Court and families to reach child focused agreements.

Family Consultants are qualified social workers or psychologists, with extensive skills and experience working with children and families.

We conduct a range of Court ordered assessments, including Family Dispute Mediations (FDR), Child Impact Reports (CIR), Single Expert (SI) and Family Reports (FR).

As Court Expert Witnesses, Family Consultants provide expert evidence on children’s matters in the event of a Trial.

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Do you need a Family Report or Single Expert Report?

What Is a Family Report or Single Expert Report?

A Family Report or Single Expert Report is an assessment process and report that assists the Judge to determine your child’s best interests.

Family Reports assess and evaluate a families’ circumstances and provide parents and judicial officers with recommendations to enable child focused agreements.

My family assessments include individual, face to face interviews with adults and children, and an observation of children’s relationships with their parents. All documents, including subpoenas are read, and children’s schools, childcare and therapists are often interviewed. Interviews can occur over one or several days.

The process involves:

- Exploring historical and current dynamics.

- A risk assessment of family violence, drug and alcohol, mental health and child abuse.

- Assessment of the parent/child relationship, parent sensitivity, and the parent’s capacity to support their children’s relationship with the other parent.

- An evaluation of the co-parenting communication and relationship.

- Consideration of the children’s developmental needs.

- The children’s views, and the weight the Court may wish to give those views.

Who pays for a Family Report or Single Expert Report?

When appointed by the Court (62G) the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia funds the Family Report or Single Expert Report. The Court may order for the parents to share the cost of the report. In this event the parent's solicitors will jointly appoint a Family Consultant.

Releasing the Report

The Regulation 7 (62 G) Family Reports are formally released by the Court to parties and their lawyers. Privately funded reports are released to the parent’s solicitors once full payment has been received.

Who can read the Report?

Once released, the report cannot be shown to anyone other than the parties of the matter and their lawyers. It cannot be shared with professionals, friends or family without permission from the Court.

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Other Court ordered services

Private Child Impact Reports

A private Child Impact Report involves interviewing parents and children separately. It provides the Court with insights into the child's perspective. The weight given to the children’s views will depend on the child's age, development, maturity and exposure to parental conflict.

Co-Parenting Counselling

Developing healthy boundaries following a separation can be a difficult process. Co-parenting counselling assists separated parents to communicate effectively and amicably to reduce children’s exposure to conflict. Appointments are usually individual, however, if the parents feel comfortable and there are no significant safety concerns, interviews can occur together. Co-parenting counselling occurs in person or on Zoom across Australia.

Court Ordered Reunification

When children become estranged from one parent, the Court may order reunification counselling. This process is to support parents to encourage their children to have healthy relationships with both parents. The Court may order a report regarding the progress of reunification.

Court Ordered Supervision

In Court ordered supervision, I supervise time spent between a parent and their child/children. Court ordered supervision can be office based, from the parent's homes, or a public venue such as a playground or play café. Following the supervision, a report is provided to the Court.