2025 marks one of the most significant years of reform in Australian family law, with substantial amendments to the Family Law Act 1975 reshaping how courts approach the intersection of parenting disputes and property disputes involving allegations of family violence. These legislative changes place the safety of children and victim-survivors at the forefront of judicial consideration, while recent decisions have begun to illuminate how the courts are interpreting and applying the new framework in practice.
This presentation will unpack what the reforms mean in practice. Drawing on recent cases, it will highlight how judges are now approaching family violence in parenting matters, the challenges families face in raising and proving allegations, and what these developments mean for professionals working alongside victim-survivors.
By critically examining legislative intent alongside judicial application, this session aims to provide both a roadmap of current developments and a discussion of what may lie ahead for family law and the protection of victim-survivors of domestic and family violence.