Type:	Journal Article
Title:	An analysis of domestic violence presenting to FRCs at intake and assessment
Other Titles:	Australasian Dispute Resolution Journal
Authors:	Signal, T Taylor, N Rice, S Washington, P
Keywords:	Family law;Screening;Legal issues;Post-separation violence;Regional rural and remote areas
Year:	2012
Publisher:	Thomson Reuters
Citation:	23 (2), 2012
Notes:	The appropriateness of using mediation in post-separation matters involving domestic violence has remained contentious since changes to the Australian family law system in 2006 saw a shift towards the use of family dispute resolution. This pilot study examined the use of screening and assessment tools designed to identify domestic violence prior to mediation. The study examined the presentation of domestic violence clients at three family relationship centres based in Mackay, Townsville and Rockhampton in regional Queensland. It analysed data from 20 client forms randomly selected from each centre in order to determine clients' experiences of domestic violence, their safety needs and the effectiveness of the intake and assessment form in identifying this information. The study found that the vast majority of clients reported some experience of domestic violence (53/60 clients) but that overall this did not appear to affect their reported sense of safety in attending the family relationship centre or willingness to participate in mediation. The study also found that there was some inconsistency in the participants' responses to different questions in the intake and assessment form. The authors concluded that, although the current assessment tool is able to capture information about domestic violence and clients' safety needs, it must be used appropriately and consistently in order to be effective.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/13363
ISSN:	14417847
Appears in Collections:	Journal Articles

Items in ANROWS library are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.