Identifying and responding to family violence and child safety concerns: Findings from the AIFS evaluation of the 2012 family violence amendments

The RFV Study indicated that the 2012 family violence amendments were perceived positively by a majority of family law system professionals, with strongest support evident among non-legal professionals compared with lawyers and judicial officers and registrars. While there was a greater emphasis on identifying family violence and child abuse, the SRSP 2014 data did not suggest that this translated into more parents reporting that their concerns were dealt with appropriately after the 2012 amendments. The ESPS samples and Court Files Study together with the RFV Study suggest that these amendments have had a greater influence on identification and screening practices than on patterns in parenting arrangements. As foreshadowed at the outset of this article, these findings reflect practice some two years after the 2012 family violence amendments were implemented, and it is likely that greater effects will be identified as practice continues to evolve over time.