Web resource:	http://www.ag.gov.au/FamilyLawCouncil/Publications/ReportstotheAttorneyGeneral/Documents/CALD-clients-in%20the-family-law-system.pdf
Type:	Unrecognised
Title:	Improving the family law system for clients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
Authors:	Family Law Council
Year:	2012
Publisher:	Attorney-General's Department
Notes:	This report provides a response to the Attorney-General's request that the Family Law Council (Council) considers the extent to which the family law system meets the needs of clients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and strategies for improvement in this area. Australia has one of the most ethnically diverse populations in the world, with around 27 per cent of the present estimated resident population of Australia (6 million people) born overseas, and approximately 16 per cent of the population speaking a language other than English at home. Since July 2006, some 40,500 refugees and humanitarian entrants have been resettled in Australia. Recent research confirms that the process of resettlement in Australia places significant pressures on family relationships, and suggests that family members in new and emerging communities may be at heightened risk of family breakdown and family violence. Clients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who need the assistance of the family law system are faced with a series of barriers, particularly those in new and emerging communities. Family law practitioners indicate that people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are likely to need multiple services, including legal, counselling and family dispute resolution services, and indicate the need to provide clients with a seamless service. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship provides a range of settlement support services to eligible humanitarian entrant families, but since family breakdown and family violence are not recognised as settlement issues, migrant settlement services are not funded to deal with these issues. The family law system's services which are funded to deal with these issues are not experienced in dealing with the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Council identified the need for legal education and information programs tailored to the needs of different communities and a need to improve the diversity and cultural competency of service personnel and the cultural responsiveness of services. There is also a need for greater integration, information-sharing and collaboration between the family law system's services and those in the migrant settlement service sector, and for more flexible service designs informed by consultation with ethnic communities. (Executive summary, edited.)
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/21560
ISBN:	9871922032065
Appears in Collections:	Educational tools, guidelines & resources

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