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Evaluation of Family Dispute Resolution service and mandatory self-representation : qualitative research findings Research and Evaluation Team, Ministry of Justice

By: New Zealand. Ministry of Justice.
Material type: materialTypeLabelBookPublisher: Wellington, New Zealand : Ministry of Justice, 2015Description: electronic document (44 pages); PDF file: 2.02 MB.Subject(s): CONTACT (ACCESS) | CHILDREN | EVALUATION | FAMILY COURT | FAMILY DISPUTE RESOLUTION | FAMILY LAW | MEDIATION | PARENTING | QUALITATIVE RESEARCH | NEW ZEALAND | FAMILY VIOLENCEOnline resources: Click here to access online | Access the website Summary: In March 2014 changes were made to how the family justice system (FJS) works. The Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) service is one of the major features of these changes. This service supports separating parents to reach mediated parenting agreements out-of-court. Another major feature is mandatory self-representation in the early stages of some Family Court proceedings. This report presents findings from an evaluation of the FDR service and mandatory self-representation one year after their implementation and includes information on improvements1 suggested by evaluation participants. From March to July 2015, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 67 parents who had been to at least one session of FDR mediation (referred to in the report as FDR parents). Interviews were also undertaken with 28 FDR mediators and providers of preparation for mediation (FDR professionals), 10 FLAS lawyers and 11 representatives of FDR accreditation or supplier organisations (organisation representatives). This means that the qualitative data about FDR does not provide information on the experiences of those parents who either did not have any involvement with FDR or who did have some contact but did not attend a mediation session. The sampling method and sample size mean that the evaluation findings cannot be generalised across all parties and practitioners in the family justice system. In addition, interviews were held with 16 parents who had been required to represent themselves in the Family Court (self-represented parents), five Family Court Judges and nine Family Court staff members (legal/court professionals). (From the website). Record #4928
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In March 2014 changes were made to how the family justice system (FJS) works. The Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) service is one of the major features of these changes. This service supports separating parents to reach mediated parenting agreements out-of-court. Another major feature is mandatory self-representation in the early stages of some Family Court proceedings. This report presents findings from an evaluation of the FDR service and mandatory self-representation one year after their implementation and includes information on improvements1 suggested by evaluation participants. From March to July 2015, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 67 parents who had been to at least one session of FDR mediation (referred to in the report as FDR parents). Interviews were also undertaken with 28 FDR mediators and providers of preparation for mediation (FDR professionals), 10 FLAS lawyers and 11 representatives of FDR accreditation or supplier organisations (organisation representatives). This means that the qualitative data about FDR does not provide information on the experiences of those parents who either did not have any involvement with FDR or who did have some contact but did not attend a mediation session. The sampling method and sample size mean that the evaluation findings cannot be generalised across all parties and practitioners in the family justice system.

In addition, interviews were held with 16 parents who had been required to represent themselves in the Family Court (self-represented parents), five Family Court Judges and nine Family Court staff members (legal/court professionals). (From the website). Record #4928