Recent Family Court Initiatives

Recent initiatives by the Family Court to promote the best interests of children and foster supportive courtroom environments

A child’s interaction with the judicial system during parental separation is inherently impactful. Recent Family Court initiatives aim to mitigate this impact and uphold the paramount consideration of the child’s best interests through the introduction of the Kids’ Corner and Kids’ Charter. Further, the introduction of the Court Dog Program may further promote the child’s best interests by creating a supportive courtroom environment.

Launched in October 2025, the Kids’ Corner is a section of the Family Court’s website that aims to educate children on:

• The nature of proceedings;
• The role of the Independent Children’s Lawyer (ICL);
• Changing families;
• Questions children may have;
• Kids’ stories;
• Emotions children may feel; and
• A glossary of terms.[1]

The Kids’ Charter is located within the Kids’ Corner and outlines the Court’s guiding principles to uphold the child’s best interests. The Charter states that the Court:

1. Believes that children are the top priority;
2. Cares what children think;
3. Wants children to know what is happening; and
4. Wants to make Court feel safe for children.[2]

The introduction of the Court Dog Program may further uphold the best interests of the child by creating a supportive courtroom environment for children. Within NSW, the program now operates in the Family Court in Sydney, Parramatta and Newcastle and aims to:

• Encourage open communication in the Court;
• Provide emotional support;
• Provide a calm distraction (particularly in relation to trauma responses); and
• Mitigate courtroom formality.[3]

While available to all members of the community, the program has huge potential to benefit children by reducing stress and anxiety associated with Court proceedings.[4] Further, the presence of a support dog within the courtroom may alleviate hostility and formality, helping to create a warm environment where children feel safe to express themselves.

At the time of launch, the Honourable Justice Kylie Beckhouse, Judge of the Family Court, asserted that the “informative and empowering” resources place “children at the centre of decision-making” and strengthen the Court’s commitment to children. [5]

Chief Justice of the Family Court the Honourable William Alstergren AO, stated that by “creating an environment where children feel confident and cared for”, children can “understand the changes happening in their lives” and feel respected. By treating children this way, judges can strengthen “access to justice and trust in our legal system.” [6]

The new initiatives of the Family Court represent a positive step towards upholding the best interests of the child within family law proceedings and courtrooms.

[1]  https://www.fcfcoa.gov.au/kids

[2] https://www.fcfcoa.gov.au/kids/kids-charter

[3] https://www.fcfcoa.gov.au/innovations/fl/court-dog-faq

[4] https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/26338076241252699

[5] https://www.fcfcoa.gov.au/news-and-media/media-release/mr211025

[6] https://www.lawyersweekly.com.au/biglaw/43179-kids-at-centre-of-new-fcfcoa-charter

The contents of this publication are for reference purposes only. This publication does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as legal advice. Specific legal advice should always be sought separately before taking any action based on this publication.