“A voice not a choice” – The Honourable Diana Bryant AO QC (former Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia) on what is working well, what could work better and ideas for reform. AFCC series.

• The Hon Diana Bryant’s career path in family law.
• Family law reform. ALRC report and Diana’s personal views about family law reform.
• Education for parents and also possible education for children at school about divorce and separation. Increasing awareness about how to be child focused during separation.
• Importance of incorporating the children’s voice in a better way in family law.
• Need for standardisation of the way Court Appointed Independent Children’s Lawyers work.
• Importance of children having “a voice, not a choice” and importance of children knowing that their voices are heard and respected.
• Diana’s discussion with school students about their experiences through the family law process.
• Diana’s view that the Government should focus on education for parents more broadly about how conflict can damage children. “The government should get into the space and have a campaign.”
• Better streaming and triaging of matters and categorisation of lists – ie simpler and more complex matters.
• ICL’s, mediation and ADR in family law.