Family Court: Navigating through the Changes

National Seminar Series

Social Service Providers Aotearoa (SSPA) and Ebborn Law are inviting providers who deal with domestic violence, and the wider social services and government sector, to a series of workshops to review the changes to the Family Justice System.

Following successful pre-Family Court reform workshops in Canterbury last year, social service providers approached Ebborn Law and SSPA and asked for an update for the sector. The result of that October 2014 meeting was a series of three intensive workshops in Christchurch on 16 February 2015 attended by over 150 people.

The workshops addressed how the reforms had evolved, Family Dispute Resolution, Parenting through Separation courses, types of Court documents and forms, domestic violence and issues for seniors. Information on the Non-Contact Orders available under the Victims of Violence Act and current and planned changes to the Children, Young Persons and their Families Act was also presented.

“The success of the workshops has triggered interest in a similar series being run for providers in Invercargill, Cromwell and Dunedin next week 11 – 13 May 2015. The changes to the Family Law system have had significant impact on families and service providers, and partnering with Ebborn Law who are subsiding and facilitating the free workshops has been both timely and rewarding”, says Tara D’Sousa, National Manager SSPA.

Ebborn Law employs six lawyers and is a major provider of Family Legal Advice Service (FLAS) and legal aid, and works closely with the social services to provide a holistic service to their clients. Jarrod Coburn, Chief Executive of Ebborn Law, says the workshops are an example of the law profession embracing the type of holistic practice that has been undertaken in the social services sector for many years.

“Working alongside the team from SSPA was a real pleasure. I know from experience the tensions that arise from NGO-Private partnerships, often caused by financial inequity and differing world views. There is potential for such partnerships to bring benefits to everyone – especially mutual clients”, says Jarrod.

This seminar will give practitioners valuable knowledge on how to support their clients, break down barriers and empower vulnerable families. They will provide information useful for social service practitioners, how changes to the Care of Children Act have rolled-out, the role of lawyers in the Family Court, an update on the Family Dispute Resolution Service and new measures around domestic violence, vulnerable children and victims of violence.

FREE WORKSHOP DATES & VENUES:

Invercargill - Monday 11 May 2015, 1.00 – 5.00 pm, Family Works -Takitimu Room,

183 Spey Street,

Cromwell – Tuesday 12 May 2015, 1.00 – 5.00 pm, Cromwell & Districts Presbyterian Church Hall,

10 Elspeth Street

Dunedin – Wednesday 13 May 2015, 12.00 noon – 4.00 pm, Otago Museum – Barclay Theatre, 419 Great King Street, Dunedin

ENDS

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