Some children being “torn apart” by shared care: expert
Wednesday June 4, 2008

Some children being “torn apart” by shared care: expert

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

I previously reported on research being undertaken by former Family Court judge Richard Chisholm and by psychologist Dr Jennifer McIntosh into shared care.

Now the ABC’s 7.30 Report has highlighted the research which deals with the impact of the 2006 amendments to the children’s provisions of the Family Law act. Dr McIntosh said:

I think the spirit of the new legislation is right, but the devil’s in the detail and what it’s inadvertently done, I think, is fanned the flames of conflict….
[The parents] loathe and detest each other and that spills over on to the child. The child knows full well that my parents aren’t friends, in fact they hate each other.

Stephen Page, Harrington Family Lawyers, Brisbane spage@harringtonfamilylawyers.com 61(7) 3221 9544

Request an Appointment
Fill in the form below to find out if you have a claim.
Request an Appointment - Stephen Page
Things to Read, Watch & Listen
Australia's Surrogacy Law Reform: A Lawyer's Wish List for National Consistency

My Surrogacy Reform Wish List for Australia

Australia’s surrogacy framework is fragmented, outdated and producing avoidable harm for intended parents, surrogates and, most importantly, children. A clearer, fairer and nationally consistent approach to surrogacy law reform would reduce cost, stress and legal uncertainty while better protecting human rights and minimising exploitation. Below is a practical wish list for reform that focuses on… Read More »My Surrogacy Reform Wish List for Australia

Harmful proceedings orders

A change that was made to the Family Law Act 1975 in 2024 was to allow the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and the Family Court of Western Australia to make a harmful proceedings order. This is to stop the never ending cycle of abusive court proceedings, which often stretch on for a decade, and… Read More »Harmful proceedings orders

Practical Family Law Drafting: Stephen Page’s Legalwise Intensive Paper

Stephen Page, Director at Page Provan Family and Fertility Lawyers, presented at the Legalwise Practical Family Law Drafting Intensive on 25 February 2026, delivering expert guidance on drafting interim property and maintenance applications. As Australia’s leading surrogacy lawyer and an Accredited Family Law Specialist since 1996, Stephen brings decades of frontline experience to family law… Read More »Practical Family Law Drafting: Stephen Page’s Legalwise Intensive Paper

Family Law Section Law Council of Australia Award
Member of Queensland law society
Family law Practitioners Association
International Academy of Family Lawyers - IAFL
Mediator Standards Board