Thread by @DrWilliams

A thread 🧵 #trigger #FamilyCourt

1/ This week I made a submission to the Attorney Generals Dept looking at how we can improve the competency & accountability of Family Court Reporters…
@custodypeace @NataliePage31 @LynAnge11 @sally_stevensxn @davtw2 @DMckateface @CCCBuryStEd

2/ Family Court Writers are the people who are given unwavering support by the Family Court to provide an ‘expert opinion’ on custody of children…often after having only met them once or twice. @DrEmmaKatz @ManjulaOConnor @AbigailBoydMLC @DLulabele @TheACECC @engenderedpod

3/ This unwavering support comes from a number of strongly held FALSE beliefs including the ideas that
@TheblueTake @AustralianLobby @age_no_barrier @thecrimeanalyst @bradchilcott @DrAsthaTomar @catherine_falc @JaneCaro

4/ …“Family Report Writers are exempt from having biases & are totally objective”

Except that the research demonstrates that they do. And that personal beliefs are the single biggest predictor of whether a child will have contact with an abusive parent.@TamePunk @ncdvtmh

5/ Studies show that family report writers often view victims of violence as unreliable, poor parents, liars, ‘crazy’ & ‘unstable’. And even acts such as providing a child a mobile can be interpreted can be seen as being vexatious & alienating. @kellyanntansley @kelly_pages

6/..Family Report Writers always have the relevant skill set to make decisions in the best interest of the child”

Except that they often don’t.
@grantwyeth @jessradio @SDDivorceCoach

A survey of psychiatrists showed almost half had less than 2 hrs of family violence training

7/ ..And there is more evidence that the many available trainings do nothing to change outcomes, then there is evidence that it does ‘something’
Then there’s the belief..

8/ that Family Report Writers always act in the best interest of the child.”
Except that they really don’t.
In fact studies shows the majority are very pro-contact, regardless of whether there’s allegations of abuse. Reflecting a personal belief that the right to contact trumps

9/ the child’s right to safety ….

This is despite the fact that research shows children feel HAPPIER and more SECURE not having contact with their perpetrator.@MFWitches @mike_salter @noplaceforsheep @WCS_CEO @GeraldineBilst1

10/
“Family reporters can be left alone to ensure they have up-to-date training or CPD without any oversight from a regulatory body”.

Except that, studies have reported that the clinicians themselves often don’t think family violence is relevant.
So why would they choose ..

11/ to upskill in their understanding of family violence , abuse and trauma…
If their own belief is that family violence is not relevant now that there is a “separation” ?

12/ Which is yet another myth to dispel …
The violence doesn’t stop here.

The truth is that abuse is very likely to continue unchanged …Or escalate.
Abuse of the mother is statistically likely to go hand-in-hand with abuse of the child @SaxonAdair .#DomesticViolence

13/ Witnessing abuse is harmful.
If the mother is unsafe in the presence of the abuser- then so is the child. @ninafunnell @ChrisMinnsMP @scarlettrfranks @HannahD15
@FairAgenda @WomensJusticeN @OlderWomenNetAu @womensmarchsyd @georgiedent @bri_lee_writer

14/ These are cultural and social beliefs that need to change.
Training won’t help if we do not address the core beliefs & social attitudes that form the foundation of a system that actively mistreats survivors of family & sexual abuse. @georgiedent @BrittHiggins_ @nikhilautar1