Family Reports

A comprehensive assessment for long-term parenting arrangements, built on evidence and centred on the child.

What this service is

A family report is a comprehensive assessment prepared when parents are unable to reach an agreement about long-term arrangements for their children. Trea meets with all significant adults in the children's lives, usually the parents, and, where relevant, grandparents or other important adults, together with the children themselves. In-person observations of the children with each parent or household form a standard part of the assessment.

A family report also draws on a substantially broader evidence base than a child impact assessment. In addition to the material filed in proceedings, records from police, hospitals, treating psychologists and psychiatrists, general practitioners, probation and parole, corrective services, schools and allied health providers can be subpoenaed by the Court and provided to Trea for review. This breadth of material enables the report to address long-term parenting arrangements with confidence and withstand the scrutiny of a final hearing.

Who it's for

Parties in the later stages of family law proceedings, where the court requires detailed, well-evidenced information to determine the arrangements that will best meet the children's needs.

When it's typically used

Family reports are generally prepared in advance of a final hearing, and typically after children have been living under interim orders for some time. Solicitors rely on them to assist parents in reaching parenting orders through negotiation or mediation and, where agreement cannot be reached, at the final hearing itself.

Dr Trea Sanson-Fisher

The Process

1. Referral

Engagement begins through solicitors and the Court. Each party's solicitor typically provides a list of professionals; once the parents agree on one, the Court orders the assessment and names the chosen professional. A joint letter of instruction and a copy of the court orders are required before Samara Psychology accepts the matter. Once the joint letter is received, an interview date is confirmed; invoices and appointment invitations are issued when supporting documents have been provided.

2. Reviewing the material

This is where a family report differs most from other assessments. Alongside everything filed in court, Trea can access subpoenaed material from the Court, including information from police, hospitals, psychologists and psychiatrists, GPs, probation and parole, corrective services, schools and occupational therapists. Reading this material thoroughly takes time, and it matters. It's what allows the report to speak to long-term arrangements with confidence.

3. Interviews and observations

Trea meets with all the significant adults in the children's lives, along with the children. Other people interviewed may include partners and grandparents. Children are seen in a way that suits their age, development and communication style, and it's always their choice how much they share. Children are also observed with each parent, if consistent with orders and safe to do so.

4. Writing the report

The report sets out what Trea found, her reasoning, and formal recommendations about parenting arrangements. Every recommendation is explained. If it's in the report, the reasoning for it is too.

5. Delivery

The completed report is provided to the court and the parties within four weeks.

FAQs

  • No. Everything Trea sees, hears, or reads during a family report may be included in the report and may be used as evidence in court. Trea may also be asked to give evidence about the process. She explains all of this clearly to everyone involved, adults and children alike, before anything begins.

  • Usually. Exceptions are: if a child does not consent to an observation occurring, if there has been no time occurring between the child and a parent, there is a current protection order protecting the child from the adult and/or if there are no current orders regarding the child spending time with the parent.

  • The same guidance applies as for any assessment: keep it simple and low-key. They'll be meeting someone to talk about how things have been. Trea explains everything else directly to them, in a way that suits their age, and the choice about what to share is always theirs.

  • A family report is broader and later. It involves all the significant adults in a child's life, includes observations, draws on records a child impact assessment can't access (schools, GPs, hospitals, police and more), and makes formal recommendations about long-term arrangements.