The truth about family reports and the people who write them
Family law proceedings in Australia often include a request or requirement by the Court for a family report to be written. Let’s explore what this involves. If you have feedback about a good or bad family report writer, you can provide it here.
What is a Family Report?
A Family Report is a document prepared by a court-appointed family consultant during family law proceedings in Australia. It provides an independent assessment of the issues affecting the family, particularly focusing on the best interests of the children involved.
The report is used by the court to assist in making decisions about parenting arrangements, custody, and other matters related to the welfare of the children.
The family consultant may interview parents, children, and other significant figures in the child’s life. The report typically includes observations, opinions, and recommendations based on these interviews and the consultant’s professional expertise.
How is a Family Report Writer Appointed?
In family law cases in Australia, a report writer, also known as a family consultant, is appointed by the court. The appointment typically occurs when the court decides that an independent assessment would be helpful.
The report writer is usually a psychologist, sometimes a child psychologist, or social worker with specialised training in family law matters.
The court either selects the report writer from a pool of approved professionals or may accept recommendations from the parties involved in the case. Once appointed, the report writer’s role is to provide an unbiased evaluation of family dynamics, parental qualities, and child vulnerabilities.
Are Report Writers Fair?
“No” is the short answer. Report writers are human beings, and like all people, they are subject to normal human biases. While they are meant to be impartial and professional, their assessments are influenced by their own experiences, beliefs, and the environment in which they work.
In the context of family law, report writers often rely on the family court for ongoing work, which influences their evaluations. They tend to align with the prevailing culture and practices of the court system, which has a profound bias against fathers.
Systemic bias can affect the content and recommendations of Family Reports, leading to outcomes that do not fairly reflect the interests of all parties involved and which are ultimately harmful to children.
Guidelines for Posting an Anonymous Review
Your feedback helps parents deal with the family law system. Both positive and negative reviews help others make informed decisions.
- No Identifying details. Avoid names, case numbers, or specifics that could identify individuals.
- Focus on experience. Share how the report writer handled your case, without violating privacy.
- Be respectful. Offer constructive feedback without using defamatory language.
- Follow family law rules. Under Australian law, you must not disclose specific details of family court proceedings, including names and identifying information.
Marie
The consultant had not read our affidavit, nor the memorandum from child protection, and accused my partner of not even writing an affidavit! Her attitude was hostile and biased but sympathetic to the mother who hadn’t bothered with the child for years. The child was not interviewed but made it clear she wanted to stay with her dad and couldn’t even remember the mother. The consultant accused the dad of stalking and having extreme thoughts. Everything was based on the mother’s affidavit, which was full of lies with no evidence to back it up. We have cared for the child for 5 years, and this woman’s nasty report has seriously damaged our case. Consultant from WA Family Court. Now the ICL has taken the mother’s side, again no evidence, and we are left unsure of what to do. It’s wrong that the child is thriving without the mother, and the mother is a drunk, that she is now being forced to have contact with a woman she doesn’t even know.
Lynette
Is it possible to see if a particular Family Report Writer has had complaints. My grandchildren, daughter and family are in the fight of our lives with custody matters. The whole process through the Court has been horrendous because of a Family Report Writer. It is an Independant Family Court Writer. Whilst in the Magistrates Court defending a manufactured IVO, Legal Aid Lawyers asked who the Family Court Writer was and they smirked and said “she is known as a woman hater” This has been 2 years of financial and emotional abuse because of a false Report
Dr Andrew Lancaster
No – sorry, there’s no way to look up past complaints about Family Report Writers. That’s partly the reason for this page, which allows for identification of bad writers (if done carefully). Please share your experience here when you’re ready, but avoid including details that identify your child.
Here’s the current situation:
You can file a complaint with the court or organisation that appointed the Family Report Writer. Courts have processes for handling professional conduct issues. If the writer is a psychologist or social worker, you can also complain to their professional body, like AHPRA for psychologists.
If the report is inaccurate or biased, your lawyer can challenge it in court or ask for a new Family Report Writer. Judges can consider these concerns during proceedings.
These are the main options available right now. Lawyers and judges tend to back each other against complaints and I assume the same applies to family report writers. You are free to aggressively question “experts” in court proceedings if there is evidence of a lack of professionalism and impartiality.
Childs Pleas Ignored
[Moderation Note: This comment has been reviewed and modified by AI to better conform with legal and ethical requirements.]
Comment:
Lizanne Pllu, found at https://www.lizannesocialwork.com, was the report writer in my case. In my view, her reports omitted key information that went against the narrative of certain parties. Her previous connections to the women’s protection agency in Southport raise concerns about impartiality.
My child, in late primary school, pleaded to remain in my care due to fears for their safety. Despite these pleas, the report supported an outcome that left the child vulnerable. Serious harm has since occurred, both physical and emotional, which I believe could have been avoided. Parents should be aware of these risks when dealing with family report writers.
Kindman
This happened in Canberra a while ago and I forget the consultant’s name but my memories are clear. The report writer gave weakly based recommendations for my kids to be mainly left in the care of their mother. I intended to cross-examine the consultant but, luckily, the mother finally agreed to even care arrangements before I got the chance.
One major problem is that the interview with the kids was scheduled during the mother’s care time. The mother told my young daughter that she wouldn’t be able to see her (the mother) much unless she said that she was the preferred parent.
The report writer was a psychologist and stupidly gave this test with questions such as, when you get angry, do you (a) lash out or (b) remain calm. The mother aced the test of course, as anyone with half a brain would.
I paid several thousand dollars for this damned report at the court’s request. I would recommend to any father to avoid these reports if possible as the report writers are part of the system and unlikely to help you and your children.