Community meetings Facilitators used a generic case study based on the Twenty-five community meetings were held and the journey of a family experiencing conflict and eventually strategies employed revolved around the concept of ‘the violence to demonstrate how different agencies might best interests of the child’. The bilingual educators respond to a case. Meetings were conducted verbally to facilitated the development of knowledge, awareness, counter any issues of poor literacy. Bilingual community trust and acceptance of family law in Australia among educators disseminated information they had acquired in new and emerging refugee communities from the community’s own language. Afghanistan, Iraq, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan Many of the refugees had been accustomed to significant and Somalia. support from extended family members and especially At the meetings, the facilitators provided the participants from community elders in their countries of origin. with explanations of various aspects of the law, an over Without these support networks they experienced view of state and federal laws and agencies, and an feelings of isolation. This stress contributed to a high outline of the roles of the Family Court, the Local Court, incidence of family violence and increased the Department of Community Services and New South intergenerational conflict, divorce and dropping out of Wales Police in relation to family breakdown or school. difficulties. Agency partners also provided representatives at each meeting.
Community meetings Twenty-five community meetings were held and the strategies employed revolved around the concept of ‘the best interests of the child’. The bilingual educators facilitated the development of knowledge, awareness, trust and acceptance of family law in Australia among new and emerging refugee communities from Afghanistan, Iraq, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia. At the meetings, the facilitators provided the participants with explanations of various aspects of the law, an over view of state and federal laws and agencies, and an outline of the roles of the Family Court, the Local Court, the Department of Community Services and New South Wales Police in relation to family breakdown or difficulties. Agency partners also provided representatives at each meeting. Facilitators used a generic case study based on the journey of a family experiencing conflict and eventually violence to demonstrate how different agencies might respond to a case. Meetings were conducted verbally to counter any issues of poor literacy. Bilingual community educators disseminated information they had acquired in the community’s own language. Many of the refugees had been accustomed to significant support from extended family members and especially from community elders in their countries of origin. Without these support networks they experienced feelings of isolation. This stress contributed to a high incidence of family violence and increased intergenerational conflict, divorce and dropping out of school.
23-families-and-the-law-australia_access.docx