Parenting arrangements after separation study: Evaluating the 2014 family law reforms : Family justice professionals' perspectives. Research report for the New Zealand Law Foundation. Nicola Taylor, Megan Gollop and Nicola Liebergreen
By: Taylor, Nicola J
.
Contributor(s): Gollop, Megan | Liebergreen, Nicola.
Material type: 
BookPublisher: Dunedin, New Zealand : Children's Issues Centre, University of Otago, 2019Description: electronic document (443 pages) ; PDF file.Subject(s): CONTACT (ACCESS) | FAMILY COURT | FAMILY LAW | JUSTICE | LAW REFORM | SEPARATION | CONTACT (ACCESS) | NEW ZEALANDOnline resources: Click here to access online | Research summary Summary: The reforms introduced on 31 March 2014 were intended to shift the emphasis in New Zealand’s family justice system away from in-Court to out-of-Court processes. In 2014 the
New Zealand Law Foundation generously funded an independent two-phase research
project to evaluate these reforms. Phase One (2014-2015) involved the initial scoping, consultation and planning for implementation of the Phase Two nationwide mixed methods
study undertaken during 2016-2019.
In Phase Two, an online survey for professionals who had worked in the family justice
system since the reforms took effect was open for two months from May to July 2018 on the
study website. This ascertained their experiences of, and satisfaction with, the reforms four years following their implementation and with the current family justice system. The survey was completed by 364 family justice professionals including lawyers, psychologists, counsellors, Parenting Through Separation (PTS) providers, Family Dispute Resolution (FDR)
providers, Community Law Centre and Family Court personnel. Many had more than one role. Lawyers (including those providing advice and representing parties, Lawyers for the
Child and FLAS providers) comprised the largest group of survey respondents. Just over a fifth (21%) were FDR mediators, 12% were counsellors, 10% were mediators in private practice, and 9% were Parenting Through Separation providers/facilitators. The majority of
the family justice professionals were female (76%). Most (95%) had a tertiary qualification. They worked across all regions of New Zealand and many worked across multiple regions.
The largest proportion (26%) worked in the Auckland region, followed by Canterbury (16%) and Wellington (15%).
One hundred (27%) of these 364 family justice professionals also participated in a telephone interview with a member of the research team. [1] The majority were legal practitioners.
However, the proportion of mediators was higher in the interview sample than in the survey sample. Otherwise, the interview sub-sample of family justice professionals was generally representative of the survey sample. (From the Executive summary). Parents' and caregivers' perspectives are reported in subsequent reports Part 1 (#6775 & Part 2 (#6776) completed in 2020. A research summary is also available. Record #6777
| Item type | Current location | Call number | Status | Date due | Barcode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Access online
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Family Violence library | Online | Available | ON20080014 |
Published September 2019
The reforms introduced on 31 March 2014 were intended to shift the emphasis in New Zealand’s family justice system away from in-Court to out-of-Court processes. In 2014 the
New Zealand Law Foundation generously funded an independent two-phase research
project to evaluate these reforms. Phase One (2014-2015) involved the initial scoping, consultation and planning for implementation of the Phase Two nationwide mixed methods
study undertaken during 2016-2019.
In Phase Two, an online survey for professionals who had worked in the family justice
system since the reforms took effect was open for two months from May to July 2018 on the
study website. This ascertained their experiences of, and satisfaction with, the reforms four years following their implementation and with the current family justice system. The survey was completed by 364 family justice professionals including lawyers, psychologists, counsellors, Parenting Through Separation (PTS) providers, Family Dispute Resolution (FDR)
providers, Community Law Centre and Family Court personnel. Many had more than one role. Lawyers (including those providing advice and representing parties, Lawyers for the
Child and FLAS providers) comprised the largest group of survey respondents. Just over a fifth (21%) were FDR mediators, 12% were counsellors, 10% were mediators in private practice, and 9% were Parenting Through Separation providers/facilitators. The majority of
the family justice professionals were female (76%). Most (95%) had a tertiary qualification. They worked across all regions of New Zealand and many worked across multiple regions.
The largest proportion (26%) worked in the Auckland region, followed by Canterbury (16%) and Wellington (15%).
One hundred (27%) of these 364 family justice professionals also participated in a telephone interview with a member of the research team. [1] The majority were legal practitioners.
However, the proportion of mediators was higher in the interview sample than in the survey sample. Otherwise, the interview sub-sample of family justice professionals was generally representative of the survey sample. (From the Executive summary). Parents' and caregivers' perspectives are reported in subsequent reports Part 1 (#6775 & Part 2 (#6776) completed in 2020. A research summary is also available. Record #6777
