FEDERAL CIRCUIT COURT OF AUSTRALIA
Federal Circuit Court of Australia
Telephone: (03) 8600 4450
Co
mmonwealth Law Courts
Facsimile: (03) 8600 4445
30
5 William Street
Melbourne Vic 3000
24 October 2017
Mr Watt
(sent by email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx)
Dear Mr Watt
Freedom of Information request
I refer to your below emailedl Freedom of Information (FOI) request in which you ask for supply of
Family Court Consultants in the Wollongong area, and their publicly listed contact details. You go on
to refer to Regulation 7 of the Family Law Regulations 1984. Accordingly my response is confined to
those Family Consultants appointed pursuant to Regulation 7 who undertake work in the
Wollongong area. By way of background I confirm that the work of Family Consultant falls under the
responsibility of the Courts Child Dispute Services (CDS) area which offers expert clinical services that
provide assessments and advice to judges of the Family Court and Federal Circuit Court of Australia.
CDS comprises around 80 internal Family Consultants and a number of external (regulation 7)
consultants in each state and territory (excluding Western Australia).
Family consultants are psychologists and/or social workers who specialise in child and family issues
after separation and divorce. More information on the role of Family Consultants (including
Regulation 7 appointees) can be found on the Court's website:-
http://www.familycourt.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/fcoaweb/reports-and
publications/publications/child+dispute+services/family-consultants
Authority
I am authorised under section 23 of the
Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) to make decisions
on behalf of the Federal Circuit Court in relation to an FOI request.
Scope of request
In your email you state:-
Under Regulation 7 of the Family Law Regulations 1984, the Federal Circuit Court and the Family
Court of Australia appoint family consultants. Please supply a list of Family Court Consultants in the
Wollongong area, and their publicly listed contact details.
Accordingly, I have confined my response to those Family Consultants appointed pursuant to
Regulation 7 who undertake work in the Wollongong area.
Decision
Although the Federal Circuit Court is a 'prescribed authority' under the FOI Act, this Act only applies
to documents of the Court 'of an administrative nature'. The names of persons who are engaged by
the Court pursuant to Regulation 7 is one I consider falls within the term 'matters of an
administrative nature' as it pertains to the management and administration of resources of the
Court.
Accordingly I have set out a list of those persons currently engaged to undertake work pursuant to
Regulation 7 of the Family Law Regulations in the Wollongong area. Each have their 'publicly listed
contact details' available on their website details which you can obtain via a websearch.
Dr Anne Hollingworth
Linda Campbell (while Sydney based also undertakes some work in the Wollongong area)
Dr Lucia Vardanega (while Sydney based also undertakes some work in the Wollongong
area)
The Court is awaiting the appointment of another Regulation 7 provider who will, when appointed,
be available to undertake work in the Wollongong area
Yours sincerely
Adele Byrne - Deputy Principal Registrar
Federal Circuit Court of Australia
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