An alternative process would see applicants to FRCs/courts have an intake process which canvassed issues and assessed risks. When allegations of abuse or use of violence are made, the records held by police, corrections, health, education, child protection on the parties should be sought and an extended family assessment made focussing on children's and adults' safety from further harm. This should guide all decision-making and be constantly reviewed.
Professionals in the system need to be educated to 'zero tolerance' of abusive, controlling and violent behaviour with clear escalating, sanctions for offenders. Such behaviour is a choice - and if it is NOT a choice then the problem is apparently one of COMPULSIVE violent offending which may require additional medical containment responses. Currently men's violent displays tend to be viewed by legal professionals as 'provocation' (caused by her) and by psych types as 'grief' (caused by her), not intimidatory displays designed to elicit compliance - which works on them. Judges have been bombed and every family lawyer has a 'mad dad' experience of mayhem, stalking, threats, assaults so they comply, blame her, hand over the children and shut the door and go home. Research learning is that past conduct predicts future conduct. A history of violent/abusive conduct predicts future violent/abusive conduct without significant and sustained intervention to change the behaviour. Currently the system supports abusers, sacrifices children to them and punishes protective parents. A sick system.

Hi again mog

I agree totally. We must change the general culture and way of thinking of the professionals involved. I have been treated badly and patronized by my highly paid advisers and the Family Consultant because I have a dysfunctional family. I didn't have the funds or the courage to protect my own children from their violent father, and now one of these children is condoning abuse in their own home, excluding me from contact, and the Family Court endorses this.

The violence in our home commenced after the children were born. I did not have sufficient insight to predict it and I now realize that I would not have been believed if I had tried to involve the authorities.

Education generally and education about the causes of child abuse, do not seem to be enough to prevent it from being repeated in the next generation. Mental illness, personality disorders and over-emphasis on a harsh form of religion are often involved.

An integrated, compassionate approach towards those who are able to overcome their shame and report child abuse, is essential.

A social worker friend in UK warned me that I would not be granted contact, partly because there (in UK) it is assumed that all grandparents' reports of child abuse are malicious. I hoped that Australia was different.

If anyone has any lingering doubts about just how the Family Court (and court expert and JIRT) treats disclosures and concerns about child sexual abuse then read Stamos & Mariakis (2008) FamCA 727 and despair.

If..child enacting abuse, clearly disclosing abuse, having physical signs of abuse, showing behaviours indicative of abuse. What possible evidence is left?

Many thanks to all of you caring and sharing such strong emotions about your children. I found this forum 2 hours ago & have just finished reading everything.I believe as its the whole spectrum of bodies earning their living off the distress of families at risk that are letting us down, it may be time to bring in the United Nations. They were here earlier in the year to investigate the state of equality of women (which is parlous). As there is no bench mark of Human Rights signed by Australia, what prevents any of those PAID to protect the rights of the most vulnerable from abusers (of any sex)from abusing their own powers of authority? Noteably, in reading about the UN investigation into the Women's Inequality, NSW seemed to come off worse. NOW reading about the abuse by DOCS, the Police, Legal Aid Solicitors (see James Wood QC Enquiry to be published 30 September 2008)it appears to be the same state. Australian Bureau of Statistics website not often current., But:- it all reads like a comfortable BOYS OWN CLUB, except most of these Perpetrators are women. Where is "Parents for Justice in Australia" set up? There are only 21,000,000 people (UK has 64million)- and much nicer people making much nicer families I think. So, get the UN in, make a united stand ourselves, get known, have the courage of our convictions, and make sure the money paid to these entities is properly/honestly earned. There's not really any point in hiding our identities as the Federal and State police don't prosecute hackers. Our perpetrator regularly fishes about in my account, removing any evidence he feels necessary, and letters from the Long Arm of the Law say "So what".
The main Perpetrator is rapidly becoming that which poses as the FCA with the enablers of DOCS, COPS, AND MENTAL HEALTH TEAMS.
Enough is enough and our kids are losing their childhoods, futures, and sanity. Its our responsibility to be adult and tackle the government head on for a proper justice system for families.

It is very important to note, and pertinent,in this discussion on the alleged high calibre of,according to CJ Bryant herself,of the "Expert" evidence in her court-rooms,that another of the "experts" the FC relied on,(and the CJ confirmed that they relied on),SUSAN DE CAMPO,who also gave allegedly "expert" evidence in the matter referred to by Koch on the front page of "The Australian" article, entitled "Family Court:Putting Children Last",and then responded to by CJ Bryant herself,in a Courier-Mail article on 09 /09 /2005, by Leanne Edmistone, entitled "Court lifts lid on custody battle to answer critics" has I understand, from the Psychologist's Board, had to be formally advised as has Channel 9, that she does not hold any formal registration as a psychologist,as has been claimed for many, many months now,if not more,on Channel 9's Brisbane "Extra" programme and website(including details of deCampo's business, where she alleges,the last time I looked,to be the head of a group of "consultants" in these matters,)where deCampo, has also been giving her allegedly "expert" advice, for a sustained period,to no doubt thousands of viewers.Channel 9 state that they are "taking the matter seriously."
The recent changes in Medicare, which allow patients to access, for the first time,the services of psychologists,(real ones),on Medicare are also to be noted here.

Anyone ever heard of punctuation, or even paragraphs?