National Child Protection Week

National Child Protection Week

This week is National Child Protection Week, launched on Father’s Day in Brisbane by Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan and Brisbane Broncos Coach Wayne Bennett, highlighting that there were over 58,000 cases of child neglect and abuse nationwide reported last year.

The slogan this year is “Children See. Children Do” which clearly sets out how children copy their parents’ behaviour.

I was particularly drawn to this phrase. Recently I attempted (poorly) to explain to a friend about how violence can be transmitted from one generation to the next, when she looked at me and summed it up in 4 words: “Monkey see. Monkey do.”

Things to Read, Watch & Listen

Forced Marriage

On November 1st 2023, Accredited Family Law Specialist and Page Provan Director Stephen Page presented a paper at the Brisbane Zonta Club about forced marriage. I acknowledge the Jagera and Turrbal peoples, on whose lands we meet today, their elders, past, present and emerging. Ruqia Hidari was aged 21 and living in Victoria, when, according to police,… Read More »Forced Marriage

ACT Government Surrogacy Bill

The ACT Government has today introduced a bill to amend the ACT’s surrogacy laws. The proposed changes are more incremental than fundamental. They include allowing a single person to undertake surrogacy, for the surrogate to be single if needed, a requirement for legal advice and counselling beforehand, a written agreement being required, that traditional surrogacy is… Read More »ACT Government Surrogacy Bill

Planning to resolve: ADR in ART

ADR can help resolve disputes in ART cases. ADR is not limited to mediation and arbitration. Other types of informal dispute resolution can resolve disputes. When assisted reproductive treatment cases go off the rails, they can have the next level of bitterness and volatility. There can be a keen sense of betrayal when things don’t… Read More »Planning to resolve: ADR in ART