Members of the Family Law Council are appointed by the Attorney-General under subsection 115(2) of the (the Act). Appointment is for a period of up to 3 years Family Law Act 1975 and members may be re-appointed. Under the Act, Council shall consist of a Judge of the Family Court and any such judges, persons appointed or engaged under the officers of the Public Public Service Act 1999, Service of a State, family counsellors, family dispute resolution practitioners and other persons as the Attorney-General thinks fit. The Act does not specify the number of members of Council. It has been the policy of successive governments that Council membership attempts to encompass equity and diversity in gender and cultural background and cover a range of geographical locations. Members of the Family Law Council during the year 2014-2015 were as follows: Name Position Date of current Expiry of term appointment Professor Melbourne Law School, 9 July 2013 8 July 2016 Helen Rhoades University of Melbourne, Victoria Judge Federal Circuit Court, 9 July 2013 8 July 2016 Kevin Lapthorn Queensland Dr Rae Kaspiew Senior Research Fellow, 9 July 2013 8 July 2016 Australian Institute of Family Studies, Victoria Mr Jeremy Culshaw Partner, Culshaw Miller 9 July 2013 8 July 2016 Lawyers, Western Australia Ms Kylie Beckhouse Executive Director, Family 7 June 2012 6 June 2015 Law, Legal Aid NSW, New Extended to South Wales 30 June 2016 Justice Family Court of Australia, 7 June 2012 6 June 2015 Robert Benjamin Tasmania Extended to AM 30 June 2016 Ms Jennie Hannan Principal Clinician, Family 7 June 2012 6 June 2015 Law Services Consultant, Extended to Anglicare WA, Western 30 June 2016 Australia Ms Colleen Wall Director, Nguin Warrup 7 June 2012 6 June 2015 (Black Drum) Ltd, Extended to Queensland 30 June 2016 Observers There are no provisions in the Act relating to the appointment of observers on Council. However, the Attorney-General has approved observers from agencies relevant to family law,
Members of the Family Law Council are appointed by the Attorney-General under subsection 115(2) of the Family Law Act 1975 (the Act). Appointment is for a period of up to 3 years and members may be re-appointed. Under the Act, Council shall consist of a Judge of the Family Court and any such judges, persons appointed or engaged under the Public Service Act 1999, officers of the Public Service of a State, family counsellors, family dispute resolution practitioners and other persons as the Attorney-General thinks fit. The Act does not specify the number of members of Council. It has been the policy of successive governments that Council membership attempts to encompass equity and diversity in gender and cultural background and cover a range of geographical locations. Members of the Family Law Council during the year 2014-2015 were as follows: Name Position Date of current appointment Expiry of term Professor Helen Rhoades Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne, Victoria 9 July 2013 8 July 2016 Judge Kevin Lapthorn Federal Circuit Court, Queensland 9 July 2013 8 July 2016 Dr Rae Kaspiew Senior Research Fellow, Australian Institute of Family Studies, Victoria 9 July 2013 8 July 2016 Mr Jeremy Culshaw Partner, Culshaw Miller Lawyers, Western Australia 9 July 2013 8 July 2016 Ms Kylie Beckhouse Executive Director, Family Law, Legal Aid NSW, New South Wales 7 June 2012 6 June 2015 Extended to 30 June 2016 Justice Robert Benjamin AM Family Court of Australia, Tasmania 7 June 2012 6 June 2015 Extended to 30 June 2016 Ms Jennie Hannan Principal Clinician, Family Law Services Consultant, Anglicare WA, Western Australia 7 June 2012 6 June 2015 Extended to 30 June 2016 Ms Colleen Wall Director, Nguin Warrup (Black Drum) Ltd, Queensland 7 June 2012 6 June 2015 Extended to 30 June 2016 Observers There are no provisions in the Act relating to the appointment of observers on Council. However, the Attorney-General has approved observers from agencies relevant to family law,
FamilyLawCouncilAnnualReport2014-2015.docx