Child protection in family law services: How much do we choose to know?

Abstract

This paper presents case examples which active engagement with children in Family Relationship Centres (FRCs) has meant they no longer have to live in fear of abuse. These are cases in which a protective parent was unaware of the abuse and of their children’s fear as a result of the children wanting to protect their parent; or in which, due to minimising the violence because of parental fear of retribution from the abuser, children were being placed into potentially dangerous and fearful positions. The cases illustrate the need for an unequivocally proactive stance by FRCs and related family law services when violence or abuse are alleged or suspected It is suggested that practitioners have a duty of care to act towards children with watchfulness, attention, caution and prudence; and that not listening carefully to children in situations where risk factors such as family violence are suspected or have been identified can in fact lead to them remaining in what can be quite unsafe situations.