Inside Family Law with Zoë Durand

“a voice, not a choice”, child inclusive mediation with Shelby Timmins at Pacifica Congress, Adelaide. Child inclusive models of practice. Parental conflict. The importance of children being heard. Historically we shut children out of the process and were talking behind closed doors. It is important (age appropriately) for children to have a voice. Shelby does not in general think children should...

“Sensitive information”, parenting apps with Cassandra Soliman at Pacifica Congress, Adelaide. Cassandra Soliman from OurFamilyWizard discusses why they have consistently sponsored Pacifica Congress for years. OurFamilyWizard centralises all information. Supporting parents to have a more respectful dialogue. They have never had a data breach. Cassandra notes that parent are exchanging “sensitive i...

“The mystique”, unpacking the loaded history of “parental alienation” with Dr Zoe Rathus AM at Pacifica Congress, Adelaide. Parental alienation. Controversial issue in family law. Parental alienation can be used by perpetrators to further abuse survivors of family law. Richard Gardner invented term and it is “highly laden with gendered ideas and assumptions” “Has never been able to shed the baggag...

“They learn it today”, Healing trauma with Dr Tiff at Pacifica Congress, Adelaide. ” Dr Tiffany De Sousa Machado (Dr. Tiff), is one of Australia's leading experts in wellbeing, postpartum health and corporate wellness.  Healing intergenerational trauma. When parents are learning skills at the same time as teaching their children. Unique approach that integrates Eastern approaches. Mind, body and s...

“The Third Party” - Clare Rowe & Chanel Hughes Importance of in between chats at conferences. Child inclusive mediation. What it is, different approaches. Bringing the child’s experiences, views into mediation via a child consultant. Including the views of children. Clare: “Not everyone can jump into that space and sit with a 6 year old.” A child consultant must be qualified and an expert in t...

"The Hidden People", discussing keeping the focus on children in family law with Jackie Brady at Pacifica Congress, Adelaide. Jackie is the Executive Director at Family and Relationships Services Australia. Sponsors of Pacifica Congress and why sponsor. How to keep children front and centre in the family law process. The forgotten people. Jackie talks about the importance of child inclusive mediat...

Prof BRUCE SMYTH – Bruce comes from a data analyst perspective. Children's between home transitions. "The in between space" third space as a “floating space.” Moving people, objects, locations. How can we make the transition easy gentle, smooth and safe. Children don't witness conflict, they experience  it and internalise. Bruce says “People think changeover is just an A to B move but really they...

Why Parker Coles Curtis are sponsoring this Conference. Moving beyond the terminology of “alienation” or “estrangement”. “Resist and refuse to attend.” Importance of early therapeutic intervention. “Finding out why” a child is refusing to see a parent rather than assuming. “Language totally matters.”

The Honourable Simon Moncrieff & Zoë Durand talk candidly at The 2025 Pacifica Congress Conference in Adelaide APRA complaints. What makes a good Family Report? Potential idea of a statement of agreed facts to experts. Talking across disciplines at conferences. Resourcing. Caution when using AI in family law. His Honour’s views regarding the value of “Actual Intelligence”.

Neurodivergence in family law. Both clients and practitioners. How to move from othering neurodivergence to it being more seen and open in family law. Wellness in family law.

Beyond the dichotomy of alienation and estrangement. A must listen for lawyers with matters where a child is rejecting a parent. And also compassionate problem solving approaches in family law.

Challenging valuations and value to owner valuations.

Launch event of the film with filmmaker Zoe Durand interviewed by Clare Rowe   Launch event of the film with filmmaker Zoe Durand interviewed by Clare Rowe and with speeches by The Hon Peter Rose AM QC and Judge Dale Kemp on the evening. And also featuring Stephen Foley (Legal Ready), Anthony Marchese (Marchese Property Valuations), Katrene Halteh (Urban Family Lawyers), Anthony Strik (barrister),...

"A foundation of kindness" - Perpetua Kish on kindness in law at the 2024 FLENA conference.  Intention and purpose as a family lawyer. "A foundation of kindness" in what we do. Rule of law vs Role of law" from combat to kindness and what Pepe spoke about at the conference. What is the purpose of this email/ letter etc -  is it going to move the matter to resolution? Mindset. Suspicious mindset vs...

"Level the playing field" - Jack O'Donnell on funding in family law matters and their latest survey results at the 2024 FLENA conference. Jack O'Donnell on his career and role as co founder and co CEO of JustFund. The goals of JustFund to level the playing field and assist parties that would otherwise struggle to pay legal fees. The outcome of a recent survey by JustFund. Around 40% of clients cha...

"Intelligent questions" Paul Psaltis on how clients providing information actually is the beginning of engagement at the 2024 FLENA conference. Context to Paul's career at Settify (CEO of Settify). The forms that Settify provide for clients to fill in and how the types of questions adapt depending on what clients fill in. These are "intelligent questions" adapted to the client.  Data on how client...

"How that might impact their children" - Laura Donnelly on social media at the 2024 FLENA conference. Context to Laura's career and work. Anti publication laws and social media. Posting on social media. Common mistakes clients may make in disclosing on social media.  How lawyers use social media to look up the other party etc. Children's social media.   Reach Laura Donnelly at https://www.holmesdo...

"That's sort of magic" - Christian Beck on how AI can resolve many pain points for family lawyers at the 2024 FLENA conference. Leaps products the include AI Matter AI Law AI The prompts AI in Leap uses. Rapid uptake of AI by Leap users, around 25% are using Matter AI.  How the AI works with the file to locate documents and save hours of time. AI works to locate for example letters that relate to...

"Cognitive empathy" - Lara Wentworth on the space between clients and lawyers at the 2024 FLENA conference. History of Lara's career. Coaching Advocates. Talk at the FLENA conference and emotional boundaries. Risk of being too connected to clients and overwhelmed by their situation VS not connecting enough and being cold, clinical.  Emotional empathy VS cognitive empathy. What is next for Coaching...

"Clients are going to expect it" - Fiona Kirkman on AI in family law at the 2024 FLENA conference. By 2027, 44% of our work in family law will have been altered by AI. History of Fiona Kirkman's work in family law technology. Soon clients will expect lawyers to have some understanding of how and when to use AI.  Matter AI and the legal prompts it uses and how the AI technology works. Reach Fiona K...

"Divorce done differently" - Shelby Timmins on different approaches to family law at the 2024 FLENA conference. History of Divorce Done Differently - one of the first models for one place where lawyers and clients could access quality alternative dispute resolution services.  Shelby's views on burnout, work life balance. Collaborative approaches in family law. The future of ADR and interdisciplina...

"For what purpose, at what cost?" Grant Herbert on burnout in the legal profession at the 2024 FLENA Conference. Grant's experience with burnout. What is burnout? what causes it? How to heal from it? For what purpose at what cost. When to say yes and no. The soft no. Make your energy a resource that you value. You don't just give away your energy. Making mindful decisions about where to place time...