Appendix A: Summary Resources

Resource statement

The Court’s Agency resourcing statement is shown below.

Table A.1 Agency Resource Statement, 2011-12

 

Actual available appropriation

Payments made

Balance remaining
 

2011-12

2011-12

2011-12
 

$’000

$’000

$’000
Ordinary annual servicesa      
Departmental appropriation      
Prior Year Departmental Appropriation

10,598c 

10,598

-
Departmental appropriation

53,538d

44,887

8651e
s31 relevant agency receiptsf

714

714

-
Total

64,850

56,199

8651
Administered expenses      
Outcome 1

878

57

-
Total

878

57

-
Total ordinary annual services

65,728

56,256

8651
SPECIAL ACCOUNTSb

 

 

 
Opening balance

-

-

-
Appropriation receipts

-

-

-
Total special accounts

-

-

-
Total net resourcing for agency

65,728

56,256

8651

a Appropriation Bill (No.1) 2011-12 and Appropriation Bill (No.3) 2011-12. This may also include prior year departmental appropriation and s31 relevant agency receipts.

b Special Public Money special accounts, Litigants Fund Special Account, Other Trust Moneys, and Services for Other Government and Non-Agency Bodies have been excluded from the above table, consistent with the Resource Statement for the 2011-12 Budget.

c Unspent Departmental Annual Appropriations for 2010-11 per Note 23 - Table B

d Departmental Appropriations for Ordinary Annual Services per Note 23 - Table A Appropriation Act (No.1 & No3) 2011-12

e Includes cash on hand at 30 June 2012.

f Section 31 Receipts per Note 23 - Table A

Expenses and Resources for Outcome 1

The table below shows the total resourcing for the Court’s Outcome on an expense basis.

Figure A.2 Resources for outcomes, 2011-12

Resources for Outcome 1
Outcome 1: To provide the Australian community with a simple and accessible forum for the resolution of less complex disputes within the jurisdiction of the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia.

Budget1

Actual expenses

Variation

2011-12
$’000

2011-12
$’000

2011-12
$’000
Program 1.1: Provision of a Federal Magistrates Court
Administered expenses
Ordinary annual services (Appropriation Bill No.1)

878

198

680
Departmental expenses
Departmental appropriation2

55,500

55,616

(116)
Expenses not requiring appropriation in the budget year3

43,126

48,540

(5414)
Total expenses for Outcome 14

99,504

104,354

(4850)
 
 

2010-11

2011-12

  
Average staffing level (number)

219

218

1. Full Year budget, including any subsequent adjustment made to the 2011-12 budget.

2. Departmental Appropriation combines “Ordinary annual services (Appropriation Bill No. 1 and No.3) and “Revenue from independent sources (s31)”.

3. Includes depreciation and amortisation, liabilities assumed by related entities for the Notional Federal Magistrate Pension Scheme (Invalidity), resources received free of charge for Australian National Audit Office Audit services, Family Court of Australia services, and Federal Court of Australia services.

4. Special Public Money Special accounts, Litigants Fund Special Account and other Trust moneys, have been excluded from the table above, consistent with the Resource Statement for the 2011-2012 budget.

Appendix B: Staffing Profile

At 30 June 2012, the Court had a total workforce of 165 employees covered by the Enterprise Agreement and AWAs (excluding judicial officers and casual employees).

Of the Court’s 165 employees:

  • 144 (87.3 per cent) were female and 21 (12.7 per cent) were male compared with 84.1 per cent and 15.9 per cent, respectively at 30 June 2011, and
  • 123 (74.5 per cent) were ongoing employees and 42 (25.5 per cent) were non-ongoing employees compared with 74.7 per cent and 25.3 per cent, respectively at 30 June 2011.

The following tables show staff statistics by location, gender, full-time and part-time status and ongoing and non-ongoing.

Table B.1 Staff by location

Level

ACT

NSW

NT

QLD

SA

TAS

VIC

WA

Total
APS 3  

1

        

6

  

7
APS 4

2

26

2

14

8

2

20

1

75
APS 5

2

23

1

12

7

2

18

1

66
APS 6  

2

        

1

  

3
EL 1  

5

1

2

1

1

1

  

11
EL 2  

1

        

1

  

2
SES 1            

1

  

1
Total

4

58

4

28

16

5

48

2

165

Table B.2 Staff by gender

Level Gender

ACT

NSW

NT

QLD

SA

TAS

VIC

WA

Total
APS 3 Female  

1

        

6

  

7
APS 4 Female

2

20

2

11

7

1

18

1

62
Male  

6

  

3

1

1

2

  

13
APS 5 Female

2

21

1

12

7

2

18

1

64
Male  

2

            

2
APS 6 Female  

1

        

1

  

2
Male  

1

            

1
EL 1 Female  

4

  

2

  

1

1

  

8
Male  

1

1

  

1

      

3
EL 2 Female            

1

  

1
Male  

1

            

1
SES 1 Male            

1

  

1
Total  

4

58

4

28

16

5

48

2

165

Table B.3 Staff by attendance status

Level Attendance

ACT

NSW

NT

QLD

SA

TAS

VIC

WA

Total
APS 3 Full-time  

1

        

5

  

6
Part-time            

1

  

1
APS 4 Full-time

2

26

2

14

7

2

19

1

73
Part-time        

1

  

1

  

2
APS 5 Full-time

2

22

1

12

7

2

17

1

64
Part-time  

1

        

1

  

2
APS 6 Full-time  

2

        

1

  

3
EL 1 Full-time  

3

1

1

1

1

1

  

8
Part-time  

2

  

1

        

3
EL 2 Full-time  

1

        

1

  

2
SES 1 Full-time            

1

  

1
Total  

4

58

4

28

16

5

48

2

165

Table B.4 Staff by location and ongoing and non-ongoing employment status

 

Ongoing

Non-ongoing

Total
Location

Female

Male

Female

Male

 
Adelaide

13

2

1

  

16
Albury

1

      

1
Brisbane

19

2

1

1

23
Cairns

3

      

3
Canberra

2

  

2

  

4
Dandenong

1

      

1
Darwin

2

1

1

  

4
Dubbo  

1

    

1
Hobart

1

    

1

2
Launceston

3

      

3
Melbourne

26

2

18

1

47
Newcastle

6

      

6
Parramatta

8

1

3

  

12
Perth

1

  

1

  

2
Sydney

19

5

8

4

36
Townsville

2

      

2
Wollongong

2

      

2
Total

109

14

35

7

165

Judicial Officers

At 30 June 2012, there were 21 female and 42 male federal magistrates.

Table B.5 Number of federal magistrates, at 30 June 2012

Location Federal magistrates
Australian Capital Territory 2
New South Wales 1 Chief Federal Magistrate
23 federal magistrates
Northern Territory 1
Queensland 12
South Australia 6
Tasmania 2
Victoria 15
Western Australia 1
Total 63

Workforce turnover

Table B.6 Workforce turnover

Employment type Reason Total
Non-ongoing employees Dismissed

-
5.26% Retirement age 60-65

-
  Retirement age over 65

-
  Inter department transfer

-
  Resignation

12
Total non-ongoing employees  

12
Ongoing Employees Retirement age 60-65

-
5.26% Retirement age over 65

1
  Inter department transfer

1
  Resignation

10
  Redundancy

-
Total ongoing employees  

12
Public office holders Deceased

1
0.43% Resigned

-
  Retirement

-
Total public office holders  

1
     
Total  

25

*Total staff numbers for the above table include all employees and public office holders as at 30 June 2012 (a headcount of 228).

Note: The above figures do not include non-ongoing employees whose actual period of engagement reached their non-ongoing contract date of expiry

Agreement making

Enterprise Agreement

Table B.7 Federal Magistrates Court employees covered by the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia and Family Court of Australia Enterprise Agreement 2011-2014

Level

Female

Male

Total
APS 3

7

-

7
APS 4

62

13

75
APS 5

64

2

66
APS 6

1

1

2
EL 1

8

3

11
EL 2

-

1

1
Total

142

20

162

Other agreements

Table B.8 AWA maximum salary ranges by classification

Classification Salary Range ($)
APS 4

-
APS 5

-
APS 6

79,800
EL 1

-
EL 2

153,081
SES 1

193,293

Table B.9 Employees covered by other agreements*

 

Australian Workplace Agreements

Determination 24 arrangements
Level

Female

Male

Total

Female

Male

Total
APS 3            
APS 4            
APS 5      

1

  

1
APS 6

1

  

1

1

  

1
EL 1      

1

1

2
EL 2

1

  

1

1

1

2
SES 1  

1

1

  

1

1
Total

2

1

3

4

3

7

* At 30 June 2012 there were three AWAs in place and each of these were supplemented by agency head determinations made under section 24 of the Public Service Act 1999. A further seven section 24 determinations supplemented the terms and conditions of staff covered by the Enterprise Agreement.

Table B.10 Classification structure and pay rates of staff covered by the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia and Family Court of Australia Enterprise Agreement 2011-2014

APS Classification and no. of staff *

Salary rates at
1 July 2011

Salary rates at
1 July 2012
APS 3 - 7 employees

$53,145

$54,740

$54,494

$56,129

$55,905

$57,583
APS 4 - 75 employees

$59,568

$61,356

$61,116

$62,950

$62,681

$64,562
APS 5 - 65 employees

$64,393

$66,325

$66,411

$68,404

$68,281

$70,330
APS 6 - 2 employees

$69,937

$72,036

$73,657

$75,867

$79,888

$82,285
EL 1 - 9 employees

$89,156

$91,831

$92,715

$95,497

$96,272

$99,161
EL 2 - 0 employees

$105,266

$108,424

$108,481

$111,736

$116,583

$120,081

$118,426

$121,079

$120,480

$124,095

$123,557

$127,264

 

Appendix C: Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information Act 1982 does not apply to any request for access to documents of the Court unless the document relates to matters of an administrative nature

No freedom of information applications were made to the Court for the period 1 July 2011 to 30 April 2012.

Agencies subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) are required to publish information to the public as part of the Information Publication Scheme (IPS). This requirement, in Part II of the FOI Act, has replaced the former requirement to publish a section 8 statement in an annual report. An agency plan showing what information is published in accordance with the IPS requirements is accessible from agency websites.

Information about FOI and the IPS agency plan for the Federal Magistrates Court can be found on the Federal Magistrates Court website at www.fmc.gov.au/html/foi.html

Access to information outside the Freedom of Information Act

Rule 2.08 of the Federal Magistrates Court Rules 2001 provides that a search of the Court’s records may be undertaken by: the Attorney-General (in family law proceedings), a party, a lawyer for a party, a child representative (in family law proceedings) or a person granted leave by the Court or a registrar. Leave may be granted if a proper interest is shown and may be subject to conditions. In relation to access to documents in general federal law proceedings, the Court applies the same rule as that prescribed by the Federal Court. This Rule identifies certain categories of court documents as being available for inspection without leave.

There are other legislative provisions which limit publication in various proceedings. For example; s121 Family Law Act 1975, s110X Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988 and s91 Migration Act 1958. In addition section 61 of the Federal Magistrates Act 1999 gives the Court general power to prohibit publication of evidence. The Government has indicated that they will be introducing model provisions to provide for consistency in the processes and grounds for seeking suppression and non-publication orders across Australian courts.

Enquiries concerning access to documents or freedom of information matters generally should be directed to:

Chief Executive Officer
Federal Magistrates Court of Australia
GPO Box 9991
CANBERRA ACT 2601

Categories of documents

The registries of the Family Court and Federal Court maintain the following categories of documents on behalf of the Court:

  • documents relating to matters heard by the Court including applications, affidavits, transcripts, orders and copies of judgments
  • registers and indexes of matters coming to the Court, and
  • general correspondence.

The Federal Magistrates Court maintains the following categories of documents:

  • general correspondence
  • documents concerning the development and implementation of policy, guidelines and procedures, and
  • documents concerning the Court’s administrative and financial operations.

Other documents

The Court holds and makes available on request a range of documents including brochures, fact sheets and general information leaflets. These are available on the Court’s website at www.fmc.gov.au and on the Family Law Courts website at www.familylawcourts.gov.au

Privacy

The Court holds personal information for two purposes, being to:

  • help resolve and, if necessary, determine matters before the Court (the judicial purpose), and/or
  • assist in administration (the administrative purpose).

Information used for judicial purposes is held in case files and the case management computer system (Casetrack). This information is exempt from the Privacy Act 1988 and Freedom of Information Act 1982. Other statutory provisions and non-publication powers of the Court, designed to protect parties and their children, are applicable to this information.

Information used for administrative purposes is collected as part of the day-to-day running of the Court. This includes information about:

  • employees of the Court
  • suppliers of goods and services to the Court, and
  • security matters.

The collection, storage and disclosure of this information is governed by the provisions of both the Privacy Act and the Freedom of Information Act.

Appendix D: Advertising and Market Research

Under section 311A of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, the Court is required to disclose particulars of payments of $11,900 or more (inclusive of GST) for advertising, market research, polling organisations, direct mail and media advertising.

The Court spent a total of $10,100 during the 2011-12 financial year in advertising and market research, comprising mainly payments to media advertising organisations for recruitment and tender notices.

During 2011-12, the Federal Magistrates Court did not conduct any advertising campaigns.

Appendix E: Ecologically sustainable development and environmental performance

The following information is provided in accordance with Section 516A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999.

Court activities and ecologically sustainable development

As noted in its Environmental Policy, the Court:

“…recognises the importance of implementing sound environmental practices in all court functions…”

This overarching commitment to ecologically sustainable development (ESD) was augmented in multiple ways by the Federal Magistrates Court during 2011-12 as detailed below.

Impacts on the environment

The Court impacts on the environment in a number of areas, primarily in the consumption of resources.

Table E.1 lists environmental impact/usage data where available. Data for the Federal Magistrates Court and Family Court cannot be accurately separated; therefore the data provided in Table E.1 is total combined data for both courts unless specified. Any data relating to Commonwealth Law Courts has been calculated using the occupation apportionment percentage allocated to the Court, as the Commonwealth Law Courts are shared by multiple jurisdictions.

Table E.1: Federal Magistrates Court and Family Court environmental impact/usage data, 2009-10 to 2011-12

  2009-10 2010-11 2011-12
Energy usage (stationary)

50,191 GJ (Gigajoules)

11,305 tonnes CO2-e*

48,538 GJ

10,758 tonnes CO2-e

 Data not available until October 2012
Paper usage 22,375 reams office paper 22,510 reams office paper 24,165 reams office paper
Water usage (Commonwealth Law Courts only) 25,680 kL (kilolitres) 24,519 kL 21,943kL

Transport

Vehicles

-energy usage

1,681 GJ (Gigajoules)**

113 tonnes CO2-e**

5,646 GJ

374 tonnes CO2-e

 Data not available until October 2012

Transport

Flights (estimated)

 Not available Not available

3,452,811 kms (kilometers)

975 tonnes CO2

* There was a data adjustment made to the figure published in the 2010-2011 Annual Report for Stationary emmissions.

**FMC transport was not included in the total figure in 2009-10.

Measures to minimise the Court’s environmental impact

Environmental Management System

The Court is currently developing a corporate Environmental Management System (EMS) to ensure an overarching and systematic approach to improving its environmental performance. The EMS is being developed to conform to the relevant Australian and international standard (AS/NZS ISO 14001:2004). A number of elements of the Court’s EMS have already been completed, and are reviewed and/or updated where relevant in accordance with the EMS standard. Elements completed to date include:

  • an environmental policy outlining the Court’s broad commitment to environmental management
  • an environmental risk register identifying significant environmental aspects and impacts for the Court and treatment strategies to mitigate them. This register has been reviewed annually since its development
  • an environmental legal register to identify any relevant environmental legal requirements for the Court (this register also includes other requirements such as applicable Federal Government policy requirements). This register has been reviewed annually since its development and is available on the intranet
  • an environmental annual plan ( environmental objectives, targets and programs) to identify environmental targets and associated performance indicators. The plan has since been reviewed and a revised plan is currently being developed
  • an EMS management review report has been submitted to ensure management is informed of the status of the EMS and to provide an opportunity for feedback, improvement and endorsement
  • an EMS manual outlining procedures for each element of the EMS as well as summary information on each element, and
  • a range of forms to accompany the EMS procedures and other requirements.

Other measures

During 2011-12, the Court worked within its EMS to minimise its environmental impact through a number of specific measures, either new or continuing, as follows.

Energy

  • An energy reduction project was completed in 2012. The project involved implementing feasible recommendations from energy audits conducted at several sites. Recommendations implemented included:
    • lighting upgrades at Newcastle, Darwin, Dandenong and Townsville registries to more energy efficient lights and more effective controls.
    • installation of supplementary air conditioning controls
    • timers reprogrammed in kitchen hot water units, and
    • rationalisation of electronic equipment such as printers.

Whilst it is difficult to accurately quantify savings from the measures, electricity data for the sites that received lighting upgrades indicate energy usage reductions of up to 30 per cent and savings of approximately $25,000 in 2011-12, and

  • Electricity contracts continue to be reviewed to ensure value for money. New energy supply contracts negotiated for the Commonwealth Law Courts and the Dandenong registry in 2010-11 resulted in estimated savings of $380,000 (Commonwealth Law Courts savings calculated as per occupation percentages apportioned to the Family Court and Federal Magistrates Court).

Information technology

  • An internal ICT sustainability plan was developed to address the requirements for the Federal Government ICT Sustainability Plan 2010-15. This plan has been incorporated into the environmental risk register. To date, ICT specific actions progressed have included:
    • a program to shutdown desktops automatically after hours (in test phase). In the meantime, staff are encouraged to shut down their desktops at the end of the day and regular site specific shutdown statistics are published on the intranet to assist with increasing staff awareness
    • e-waste is recycled or reused where possible, including auctioning redundant but still operational equipment
    • utilising whole-of-government procurement of IT equipment where available
    • ensuring ICT Sustainability Plan 2010-15 equipment standards are met when procuring new equipment
    • ensuring fully recyclable packaging where possible
    • replacing printers with more energy efficient models and rationalising where possible as part of national printer replacement project
    • introducing tablets (significantly more energy efficient) as an alternative to laptops, and
    • a national desktop and monitor replacement project. Existing equipment was replaced with more energy efficient models and rationalised where possible.
    • networking of the courts' 20 PABX systems was completed in 2011-12 allowing internal phone calls to be carried out by the courts' data network. This will lead to significant cost reductions for internal phone calls.

Paper

  • Paperless invoice processing was introduced by the Court’s finance section, allowing registries to forward invoices for payment electronically.
  • 50 per cent recycled content paper was implemented nationally from July 2011. This met a mandatory target of the Federal Government ICT Sustainability Plan 2010-15.
  • A working group was set up to investigate issues impacting on paper usage.
  • Secure paper (confidential etc.) continued to be shredded and recycled for all court locations. Non-secure paper recycling is available at 15 sites.

Waste/cleaning

  • A waste recycling (plastics, metal, cardboard etc.) program was implemented at the National Support Office in 2010. In 2010-11 approximately 25 per cent of waste previously sent to landfill was recycled. In 2011-12 this increased to approximately 50 per cent.
  • The number of sites with recycling facilities for printer toner cartridges increased by two to a total of 19.
  • Recycling facilities for staff personal mobiles have increased by one site to a total of 11 sites.
  • Electronic media (CDs, work mobiles etc.) continue to be securely shredded and components recycled where possible.

Corporate culture/communication

  • The Court’s Environmental Champions Network (ECN) continues to offer the opportunity for staff to provide their input to environmental matters for the Court. The volunteer membership has increased from five members in 2010 to 20 members representing 13 sites nationally in 2011-12. Projects to date have included:
    • Earth Hour
    • national recycling week
    • mobile muster campaign
    • Christmas electronic equipment shutdown drive
    • launch of environmental logo specific to the Court
    • ECN internal online national ‘community’ for interactive communication between members
  • An environmental management intranet page provides information on environmental issues for the Court.
  • Regular articles about the Court’s environmental status are included in the internal e-newsletter The Court Exchange.
  • The Court continues to be represented as a member on the (federal) Government Agency Environmental Network (GAEN); an interagency network facilitating the sharing of best practice environmental information. Its membership includes approximately 30 agencies. The Court’s Environmental Manager is currently chairing one of the GAEN subgroups (the Environmental Management System subgroup).

Property

Fitouts and refurbishments continue to be conducted in an environmentally responsible manner including by:

  • recycling demolished materials where possible
  • maximising reuse of existing furniture and fittings
  • engaging consultants with experience in sustainable development where possible, and
  • maximising use of environmentally friendly products such as recycled content in furniture and fittings, low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paint and adhesives, and energy efficient lighting and air conditioning.

Travel

Portable videoconferencing facilities have been upgraded at many sites nationally to improve accessibility. Whilst some travel is unavoidable due to the nature of the Court (e.g. travel required for circuit registries), improved access to videoconferencing provides an alternative option in some cases.

Review and improvement strategies

Environmental Management System

The primary tool used for reviewing and improving effectiveness of environmental impacts is the Court’s Environmental Management System (EMS). Whilst the EMS is still under development, elements of it (as detailed above) have established benchmarking and treatment strategies for identified environmental impacts.

At 30 June 2012, annual reviews of the following elements were completed or close to completion, helping ensure continual improvement of measures and effectiveness:

  • environmental risk register (significant environmental aspects and impacts)
  • EMS management review
  • environmental annual plan (objectives, targets and programs), and
  • environmental legal and other requirements register.

Other measures

External reporting requirements, such as under the Energy Efficiency in Government Operations (EEGO) Policy and the Australian Packaging Covenant, provide annual snapshots of the Court’s performance in areas associated with the environment. This enabled the Court to track its progress in areas such as energy use and identify areas of potential improvement.

Additional ESD implications

In 2011-12, the Court did not administer any legislation with ecologically sustainable development (ESD) implications nor did it have outcomes specified in an Appropriations Act with ESD implications.

Appendix F: Fraud Control Certification

In accordance with guideline 2.8 of the Commonwealth Fraud Control Guidelines 2011, issued by the Minister for Justice and Customs, pursuant to Regulation 19 of the Financial Management and Accountability Regulations 1997, I hereby certify that I am satisfied that:

The Federal Magistrates Court of Australia has prepared fraud assessments and has in place a fraud control plan that complies with the Guidelines.

Appropriate fraud prevention, detection, investigation and reporting procedures and process are in place.

Annual fraud data has been collected and reported that complies with the Guidelines.

[Signed in the paper version]

Richard Foster, PSM 
Acting  Chief Executive Officer 
Federal Magistrates Court of Australia
28 August 2012

Appendix G: Committees

Committees

Table G.1 provides details of the membership and functions of the Federal Magistrates Court committees (alphabetical order), at 30 June 2012.

Table G.1 Federal Magistrates Court Committees 30 June 2012

Title Members Terms of Reference
Audit and Risk Committee

Chris Doogan AM (external member) (chair)

Acting Chief Finance Officer (Grahame Harriott)

Registry Manager representative (Jamie Crew, Newcastle)

Representatives of the Family Court of Australia, ANAO representatives and the Court’s internal auditors also attend meetings as observers

Oakton Services Pty Limited, secretariat services

Monitor and where necessary, recommend improvements to:

  • risk management identification and amelioration
  • internal control processes (including fraud control)
  • the financial reporting process
  • the functioning of the Internal Audit Unit
  • the external audit process
  • processes for monitoring compliance with legislation, regulations and government policy
  • maintain an effective working relationship with the ANAO
Case Management Federal Magistrates Committee

FM Baumann (National Coordinator of Case Management)

FM Mead

FM Coker

FM Raphael (to Dec 2011)

FM Roberts

FM Walters (to Oct 2011)

FM Barnes (from Jan 2012)

FM Riethmuller (from Nov 2011)

FM Terry

FM Spelleken

FM Henderson

FM Altobelli (to Dec 2011)

FM Kemp (from Jan 2012)

Acting CEO (Richard Foster)

Acting Deputy CEO (Steve Agnew)

Principal Registrar (Adele Byrne)

Manager of Chief Federal Magistrates Chambers (Stuart Fenwick)

With support from Lucy Schodel (to Dec 2011)

With support from Halyee Hobbs (from Jan 2012)

 To assist the Chief Federal Magistrate and the National Coordinator of Case Management in the case management of the Court and to enhance the adoption of consistent case management practices throughout the Court.
Legal Committee

FM Baumann (chair)

FM Brewster

FM Driver

FM Phipps

FM Jarrett

FM Riethmuller

FM Cameron

FM Whelan

FM Foster

Principal Registrar, Adele Byrne (minutes)

 To consider and refer recommendations to the Chief Federal Magistrate on possible rule amendments and wider legal issues concerning the Court’s jurisdiction.

Judicial Committees

Title Members Terms of Reference

Policy Advisory Committee

 

CFM Pascoe

FM Baumann

FM Donald

FM Emmett

FM Riethmuller

FM Burchardt

FM Cassidy

FM Kelly

Acting CEO (Richard Foster)

Acting Deputy CEO (Steve Agnew)

Secretariat (Stewart Fenwick)

 To provide advice to the Chief Federal Magistrate in relation to the Court’s overall strategies and policies for the delivery of court services.
Research Ethics Committee

CFM Pascoe

FM Baumann

With support from Acting Deputy CEO 
(Steve Agnew)

 To consider, monitor and overview all research and evaluation proposals (whether internal or external) for approval and disseminate research papers/results as necessary.

Joint Committees

Table 2 provides details of the membership and functions of the joint committees (alphabetical order) of the Federal Magistrates Court at 30 June 2012.

Table H.2 Joint committees, 30 June 2012

Committee Members Terms of reference
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee

Justice Benjamin, FCoA (chair)

FM Donald

Executive Advisor, FCoA (Leisha Lister)

Stephen Ralph (Research Consultant)

 To examine the needs of Indigenous people in the Family Law Courts.
Chief Executive Officer’s Management Advisory Group

Acting CEO, FMC and CEO, FCoA (Richard Foster) (chair)

Acting Deputy CEO, FMC (Steve Agnew)

Acting Chief Finance Officer, FMC and Executive

Director Corporate, FCoA (Grahame Harriott)

Executive Director Client Services, FCoA 
(Stephen Andrew)

Principal Child Dispute Services (Pam Hemphill)

Acting Executive Director Information, Communication and Technology Services, FCoA (Phil Hocking)

Manager of Chief Federal Magistrates Chambers (Stewart Fenwick)

With assistance by the Executive Advisor to the CEO (Leisha Lister)

Executive Advisor, Client Services (Simon Kelso)

Regional Registry Managers

 To provide operational and policy advice to the Chief Executive Officer’s regarding key areas that are likely to be affected by the integration of the administrations of the Federal Magistrates Court and the Family Court.
Family Law Courts Advisory Group

CJ Bryant, FCoA

CFM Pascoe

Justice Watts, FCoA

FM Baumann

Acting CEO, FMC and CEO, FCoA 
(Richard Foster)

AGD representative (David Fredericks and Louise Glanville)

Assisted by Leisha Lister

 The Family Law Courts Advisory Group has a critical governance role in resourcing the Federal Magistrates Court and Family Court and coordinates various administrative relationships between the two courts.
Family Violence Committee

Justice Ryan, FCoA (chair)

Justice Collier, FCoA

Justice Stevenson, FCoA

FM Brown

FM Hughes

FM Altobelli

Principal Registrar, FCoA (Angela Filippello)

Family consultant (Diane Lojszczyk)

Senior Legal Research Advisor, FCoA (Kristen Murray)

 To complete the implementation of the courts’ Family Violence Strategy and provide advice to the Chief Federal Magistrate, Chief Justice of the Family Court and Chief Executive Officer on family violence issues.
Harmonised Bankruptcy Rules Monitoring Committee

Justice Greenwood, FCA (convenor)

FM Burchardt,

Principal Registrar, FMC (Adele Byrne)

Representatives from the FCoA

Representatives from the profession

 To monitor the operation of the Federal Court (Bankruptcy) Rules 2005 and the Federal Magistrates Court (Bankruptcy) Rules 2006 and identify such amendments as may be necessary to address any legislative or procedural changes, or to resolve any difficulties.
Joint Costs Advisory Committee (JCAC)

Justice Benjamin, FCoA (chair)

Andrew Phelan, Chief Executive and 
Principal Registrar, HCA

John Mathieson, Deputy Registrar, FCA

Adele Byrne, Principal Registrar, FMC

Angela Filippello, Principal Registrar, FCoA

 To advise the justices of the High Court of Australia, judges of the Federal Court of Australia, judges of the Family Court of Australia, and federal magistrates of the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia (annually) on variations in the quantum of costs for legal practitioners (including expenses and fees for witnesses) which may be fixed in the rules for which they are respectively responsible.
National Consultative Committee

CEO’s representative: Claire Golding 
(A/g Manager Human Resources) (Chair)

Members are selected by vote and represent:

National Support Office: Annie Fenn (HR Officer)

Associates: Emma Crutchfield (FMC, Brisbane)

Registrars: Debra Parker (Canberra)

Client Services: Carol McPherson (Lismore) 
and Chris Cole (Adelaide)

Family consultants: Louise Salmon (Sydney)

A representative from the Community and 
Public Sector Union is invited to attend

Consultative forum for staff about issues with a national perspective such as industrial democracy, security, the strategic objectives of the Court, equal employment opportunities, new technology, accommodation and amenities and personnel and staffing policies and practices.

Delegates present staff views on issues that affect the management and future direction of the Court and provide feedback and briefings to the workplace nationally.
Property Management Committee

Justice Dawe, FCoA (chair)

FM Donald

Acting CEO, FMC and CEO, FCoA (Richard Foster)

Executive Director Corporate, FCoA (Grahame Harriott)

Registry Manager representative

National Manager Contracts and Property 
(Akasha Atkinson)

 To plan and assess the current and future needs of the courts in relation to property services including contracting, refurbishment and construction activity.
Staff Development Committee

Claire Golding (A/g Manager Human Resources),(Chair)

Registry Manager representative: Brenda Field (Dandenong)

Child Dispute Services: Stacey McGuinness 
(FMC Sydney)

Registrars: Debra Parker

Client Services: Rupal Patal (NEC Parramatta), Haylee Hobbs (FMC Melbourne)

Information Technology and Communications Services: Sona Muradyan (Sydney)

Registry services team leader: Julie Greig (Adelaide)

HR representative, Workforce and Policy Manager: 
Deb McDermott (A/g)

 To identify and/or develop national training and development initiatives, policies and programs.

Appendix H: External Involvement

The Chief Federal Magistrate, federal magistrates and the Chief Executive Officer participate in a range of consultative and strategic forums including the following:

Australian Courts Administrators’ Group

The Acting Chief Executive Officer represents the Court at this forum which meets to progress issues surrounding courts administration across Australia and New Zealand. The group meets quarterly.

Family Law Council

The Family Law Council provides advice and recommendations to the Attorney-General on the workings of the Family Law Act 1975 and other family law legislation, legal aid in family law, and any other matters relating to family law. The Court was represented on the Council by Federal Magistrate Lapthorn with the Principal Registrar, Adele Bryne as an observer to the Council.

National Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisory Council

The National Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisory Council (NADRAC) is an independent body that provides policy advice to the Attorney-General on the development of alternative dispute resolution practices. The Court notes the significant emphasis it places on alternative dispute resolution (ADR) processes and recognised the range of beneficial outcomes ADR can deliver for parties.

Child Support Program

The Court’s Principal Registrar, Adele Byrne, is a member of the Child Support National Stakeholder Engagement Group which is a representative forum of key stakeholders with expertise and an interest in child support matters. The establishment of this group was in response to a recommendation of the Ministerial Taskforce report into child support, In the Best Interests of Children-Reforming the Child Support Scheme.

Social Security Appeals Tribunal

Regular liaison occurred during 2010-11 between the Social Security Appeals Tribunal and court representatives in order to facilitate appeal processes.

Insolvency and Trustee Service of Australia

During 2011-12, regular liaison meetings were held with representatives from the Insolvency and Trustee Service Australia (ITSA), the Federal Magistrates Court, and the Federal Court, with an update on recent trends and developments. This included an inspection of the National Service Centre in Adelaide which handles enquiries in relation to the Personal Property Securities (PPS) Register hosted by ITSA.

Zimbabwe Supreme Court

The Federal Magistrates Court and the Family Court, under a grant from AusAID, have been providing the Zimbabwe Supreme Court with family law expertise and advice as appropriate to stakeholders in the area of Australian family law, with a particular focus on alternate dispute resolution mechanisms, counselling for litigants, and the application of a Less Adversarial Trial (LAT).

National child protection and family law collaboration meeting

The Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department hosted two national child protection and family law collaboration meetings during 2011-12. Stakeholders from the Federal Magistrates Court, the Family Court, the Family Court of Western Australia and each of the state and territory child welfare authorities attended the meetings, the purpose of which was to:

  • provide an opportunity for stakeholders to share experience and learning
  • provide clarity and dialogue around the nature of current initiatives to improve outcomes for children and their families
  • identify impediments to change
  • identify possibilities for implementing new processes and practices, and
  • assist in developing agreed principles on protocols and/ or a Memorandum of Understanding between the child protection authorities and the courts.

The meetings were successful, with significant positive feedback received from stakeholders.

International visitors

Vietnamese - September 2011

The Federal Magistrates Court remains actively involved with the Vietnamese legal system. The Chief Federal Magistrate and other members of the Court attended a family law conference in Hanoi, Vietnam; and in October, a delegation led by the Chief Justice of Vietnam visited the Court in Sydney.

The Chief Justice of Vietnam was joined by several senior court administrators in his visit to Australia, which was coordinated by the Federal Court of Australia. Federal Magistrate Emmett hosted the delegation on behalf of Chief Federal Magistrate Pascoe. Federal Magistrate Emmet was joined by Federal Magistrate Kemp and Acting Deputy CEO Steve Agnew. In addition to learning about our family and general federal law jurisdictions, the guests heard first hand about the challenges of managing the Court’s operations.

One of the highlights of the visit was the invitation extended by Federal Magistrate Altobelli for the Chief Justice of Vietnam to join him on the bench. The visitors were also introduced to registry operations and were given a preview of the new courtrooms under construction on level three of the Lionel Bowen Building in Sydney.

Chief Federal Magistrate Pascoe delivered the opening address at the first Vietnam Family Law Conference in Hanoi. Federal Magistrates Sexton and Lapthorn also contributed as guest speaker and panel chair respectively. In his opening address, Chief Federal Magistrate Pascoe said that ‘the ties between Vietnam and Australia are growing stronger, making events like this conference both possible and desirable.’

He also outlined some of the demographic and cultural changes that have taken place in Australia during the past four decades, and noted the impacts that these changes have had on the practice of family law.

‘Issues of language, heritage and values are daily fare in the Court,’ he said. ‘In short, our work represents the dynamic and multi-cultural society which is Australia today.’

Appendix I: Federal Magistrate Activities

FEDERAL MAGISTRATE ACTIVITIES

Acronyms used in Appendix I

AAWJ Australian Association of Women Judges

AFCC Association of Family and Conciliation Courts

AIJA Australian Institute of Judicial Administration

AILA Australian Insurance Law Association

ALLA Australian Law Librarian’s Association

CLE Continuing Legal Education

CQLA Central Queensland Law Association

FM Federal Magistrate

FLBA Family Law Bar Association

FLS, LCA Family Law Section, Law Council of Australia

FLPA Family Law Practitioners Association

GDLP Graduate Diploma In Legal Practice

IARLJ International Association of Refugee Law Judges

IACA International Association for Court Administration

IAWJ International Association of Women Judges

IBA The Industrial Bar Association

JCA Judicial Conference of Australia

NJCA National Justice College of Australia

NQLA North Queensland Law Association

SSAT Security Appeals Tribunal

QLS Queensland Law Society

Federal Magistrate Conferences, presentations, papers and other activities to external organisations

Chief Federal 
Magistrate

John Pascoe 
AO CVO

Ceremonial Sittings

  • Federal Magistrate Ronald Curtain
  • Federal Magistrate Matthew Myers
  • Valedictory sitting for Federal Magistrate Keith Slack OAM

Professional Memberships

  • Judicial Conference of Australia
  • LawAsia
  • Internation Association for Court Administration

Conferences

  • New Zealand Family Court Judges Conference, Wellington, 3-5 August 2011
  • International Association for Court Administration Conference, The Hague, Netherlands, 13-5 June 2012

Presentations

  • LegalWise Vietnam Family Law Conference, Australian Family Law & Cultural Inclusion, Opening Address and Panel member on Meet the Judicial, Hanoi, Vietnam, 13-15 September 2011
  • 24th LawAsia Conference, ‘Asian Lawyers: Where are we and Where are we headed?’, ‘The rise of surrogate parenting: Family Law and Human Rights implications in Australia and Internationally’, Seoul, South Korea, 9-12 October 2011
  • Family Relationship Services Australia National Conference, Workforce and Innovation: Building Future Capacity, ‘Collaborative and Creative approaches to family dispute resolution: Perspectives from the Bench’, Gold Coast, 8-10 November 2011
  • Youth Health 2011: It’s totally important!, The 8th Australian and New Zealand Adolescent Health Conference, 3rd International Association for Adolescent Health Asia Pacific Congress, ‘Counting the cost of abuse’, Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, 9-11 November 2011

Facilitating

  • 24th LawAsia Conference, Judging of the Finals at the 6th LAWASIA International Moot Competition, Seoul, South Korea, 11 October 2011
FM Hartnett

Professional Memberships

  • International Association of Refugee Law Judges
FM Baumann AM

Presentations

  • JCA Colloquium 2011, ‘Innovations in Court Procedures’, Alice Springs, 16 October 2011
  • Family Law Intensive, Sydney, 11 February 2012
  • 2012 National Rural and Regional Law and Justice Conference, Coffs Harbour, 18 May 2012

Facilitating

  • Overseas Case Management Tour, May/June 2011
FM Scarlett

Presentations

  • 9th Annual Family Law Summitt, presented a paper titled ‘Getting it Right’, Brisbane, 6 June 2012
FM Coker

Professional Memberships

  • North QLD Law Association
  • North QLD Bar Association, judicial
  • QLD Law Society

Conferences

  • North Queensland Law Association Conference, Chaired and commentated upon papers, Mackay, 25-26 May 2012

Facilitating

  • Advocacy Course, James Cook University, Moot Court Judge and Commentator, Townsville, 18 June 2011, 6 weeks
FM Driver

Professional Memberships

  • Vice President of the International Association of Refugee Law Judges
  • Judicial Conference of Australia
  • NSW Bar Association

Conferences

  • International Association of Refugee Law Judges World Conference, Bled, Slovenia, 6-8 September 2011
  • Law Council Immigration Law Conference, Sydney, 10 March 2012
  • Learned Friends Conference, Lord Howe Island, 31 March-7 April 2012

Presentations/Papers

  • Presentation to Salvo’s Legal Launch, Sydney, 27 July 2011
  • Paper, ‘Over the Horizon - The Truth About Asylum Seekers and Refugees’, The Greek Conference, September 2011
  • Presentation to the International Association of Refugee Law Judges Regional Conference presentation, Melbourne, 3 February 2012
  • Paper on ‘Confusion and clarity across the Tasman - A comparison of the regimes for refugee status determination in Australia and New Zealand’, Learned Friends Conference, April 2012
  • Presentation to the Migration Law Presentation, Sydney, 16 April 2012

Facilitating

  • International Association of Refugee Law Judges and UNHCR Global Review, Geneva, 14-17 November 2011
  • ‘Country of Origin Information and Due Process Working Group Discussion, International Association of Refugee Law Judges, Procedures Working Party/COI Working Party, London, 22 May 2012
  • International Association of Refugee Law Judges Governing Council Meeting, Paris, 24 May 2012
FM Roberts

Professional Memberships

  • Judicial Conference of Australia
  • Family Law Section, Law Council Of Australia

Conferences

  • Family Law Practitioners Association, Launceston Tasmania, 26 May 2012

Presentations

  • Family Law Pathways Group, Burnie, 24 November 2011

Other external activities

  • Young Lawyers, Launceston, 4 August 2011
  • North West Coast Practitioners, 2 February 2012
  • Launceston Practitioners, 9 February 2012
FM Phipps

Papers

  • Paper on ‘Shared Parental Responsibility - What it means’, Victorian Legal Aid Community Seminar Family Maters, 21 October 2011
FM Walters

Conferences

  • Family Law Conference, New Zealand, 3-5 August 2012
FM Barnes

Professional Memberships

  • Australian Association of Women Judges
  • Internation Association of Women Judges

Conferences

  • International Association of Women Judges Conference, London, England, 2-5 May 2012
FM Coakes

Professional Memberships

  • NSW Bar Association
  • Law Council of Australia, Family Law Section
  • Hunter Valley Family Law Practitioners Association
  • Judicial Conference of Australia
  • The Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration
  • Relationships Australia

Conferences

  • Learned Friends Professional Education Conference, Vietnam, 7-14 January 2012

Presentations/Papers

  • Learned Friends Professional Education, ‘Is it always Black & White’, paper on Judicial Prejudice, Vietnam, 9 January 2012
  • Facilitating lunchtime lectures for the profession, Newcastle Family Law Courts, commencing 5 June 2012 and ongoing
FM Lindsay

Conferences

  • FM Plenary, Brisbane, 26-27 April 2012
FM Jarrett

Professional Memberships

  • Maritime Law Association of Australia and New Zealand

Conferences

  • Family Law Practitioners Association, Family Law Residential, 9 September 2011
  • Coffs Harbour Family Law Practitioners/Pathways Network Conference, 18 May 2012

Presentations

  • Queensland University of Technology Briefing, Drafting interim and final orders and applications, 16 August 2011
  • Family Law Practitioners Association, Family Law Residential, Presentation on contravention and contempt, RACV Royal Pines Resort, 9 September 2011
  • South East Queensland, Pathways Day, 13 October 2011
  • Briefing on the Federal Magistrates Court, Bar Practice Course, Queensland University of Technology, March 2012.
  • Opening speech, Coffs Harbour Family Law Practitioners, Pathways Network Conference, 18 May 2012

Facilitating

  • Advisor to Queensland University of Technology Oxford Intellectual Property Moot Team, February 2012
  • Mock hearing courts, Bar Practice Course, Queensland University of Technology, March 2012
  • Coordinator for Federal Magistrates Court, Brisbane, Queensland University of Technology Internship Program

Other external activities

  • Official Launch of the Child Protection Practitioners Association of Queensland, 13 September 2011
  • Editor, Reports, Queensland Lawyer, Thomson Reuters
FM Emmett

Presentations

  • Bar Association Readers Practice Course, Federal Court, October 2011
  • Vietnamese Judges Conference, October 2011
  • Bar Association Readers Practice Course, Federal Court, May 2012
FM Riethmuller

Professional Memberships

  • Law Council of Australia, Family Law Section
  • Judicial Conference of Australia
  • The Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand

Conferences

  • 9th International Association of Refugee Judges World Conference, Bled, Slovenia 7-9 September 2011

Presentations

  • 2011 Law Institute of Victoria Family Law Conference, Melbourne, 14 October 2011
  • Administrative Law Symposium, Melbourne, 14 October 2011
  • Legalwise Bankruptcy Essentials Seminar, Melbourne, 16 November 2011
  • Ballarat Family Law Pathways Network Event, The Workings of the Federal Magistrates Court, Ballarat, 7 December 2011
  • Relocation List Seminar with the Family Law Section (VicBar), Melbourne, 26 March 2012
  • Relocation List with the APS Family Law and Psychology Interest Group, Melbourne, 17 May 2012

Other external activities

  • Law Institute of Victoria Family Law Section Courts Practice Committee
  • Consultant Editor for Child Support Handbook and Federal Magistrates Court Handbook
  • Member of Editorial Board, Australian Journal of Family Law
FM Lloyd-Jones

Professional Memberships

  • Chairman, Advisory Board to the Centre of Media and Communications Law, Faculty of Law, University of Melbourne
  • Judicial Conference of Australia
  • International Association of Refugee Law Judges
  • Australian Corporate Lawyers Association
  • NSW Bar Association
  • Honorary Judicial Member, NSW Law Society
FM Sexton

Professional Memberships

  • International Association for Women Judges
  • Australian Women Lawyers Association
  • Australian Association of Women Judges
  • Family Law Section of the Law Society

Conferences

  • Legal Aid Conference, Sydney, 25-26 August 2011
  • Family Law Conference 2011, Hanoi, 13-15 September 2011
  • FM Plenary, Brisbane, 26-27 April 2012
  • International Association of Women Judges 11th Biennial International Conference on Keeping Safe, Keeping Well, 2012, London, 2-5 May 2012
  • Association of Family and Conciliation Courts 49th Annual Conference on Attachment, Brain Science and Children of Divorce: The ABCDs of Child Development for Family Law 2012, Chicago, 6-9 June 2012

Presentations/Papers

  • ‘Parenting Arrangements for the 0-4 Age Group’, presented at the National Legal Aid Conference, Sydney, 26 August 2011
  • ‘Parenting Arrangements for the 0-4 Age Group’, presented at Family Law Conference, Hanoi, 14 September 2011
  • ‘Tips on Appearing in the Federal Magistrates Court Duty List’ presented at Family Law Courts CLE Seminar Series, Sydney, 2 February 2012
  • ‘Judicial Officers Forum: Infants, Attachment and the Courtroom: Practical Guidelines for the Busy Judge’, AFCC 49th Annual Conference, Chicago, 7 June 2012
  • Paper on ‘Parenting Arrangements for the 0-4 Year Age Group’‘, Volume 22(2) Australian Family Lawyer Autumn 2012

Other external activities

  • Board Member and Member of Governance Committee of KU Children’s Services
FM Lapthorn

Professional Memberships

  • Family Law Council of Australia
  • Judicial Conference of Australia
  • Australian Institute of Judicial Administration
  • Association of Family and Conciliation Courts
  • Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia
  • NSW Bar Association
  • Bar Association of QLD

Conferences

  • Panel discussion on Observations from the Bench on property matters, Vietnam Family Law Conference, Hanoi, 13-15 September 2011
  • Chaired a session at the Queensland Law Society and Family Law Practitioners Association: 26th Annual Calabro SV Consulting Family Law Residential September 2011
  • Association of Family and Conciliation Courts Conference, Chicago, 6-9 June 2012
FM Henderson

Professional Memberships

  • NSW Bar Association

Conferences

  • Children’s Contact Service Conference, Albury Wodonga, 21 July 2011
  • New Zealand Family Court Judge’s Conference, Wellington, 3-5 August 2011
  • Family Law Pathways Network Conference, Albury Wodonga, 20 October 2011
  • Fundamentals of Family Law CLE Seminar Series, Client Wrangling, Parramatta, 8 February 2012
  • Fundamentals of Family Law CLE Seminar Series, What not to do in a property matter, Parramatta, 22 June 2012

Presentations

  • Greater Sydney Family Law Pathways Network Committee, Reflections on the 2006 Family Law Reforms, Parramatta, 22 March 2012
FM Hughes

Conferences

  • Witness Assessment Program, hosted by the National Judicial College of Australia, 17-18 May 2012

Presentations

  • ‘Family Law Legislation Amendment Family Violence and Other Measures Act 2011’, 31 May 2012

Other external activities

  • NSW College of Law Applied Family Law Advisory Committee
  • Judicial Officers Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Committee
  • Family Court of Australia and Federal Magistrates Court of Australia Family Violence Committee
FM Riley

Professional Memberships

  • International Association of Refugee Law Judges

Conferences

  • Attended and facilitated, International Association of Refugee Law Judges Australasian Chapter Regional Conference, The Refugee Convention and Beyond, 3 February 2012
FM Burchardt

Professional Memberships

  • The Industrial Bar Association
  • Intellectual Property Committee of the Law Council of Australia
  • The Maritime Law Association of Australia and New Zealand
  • Migration User Group Committee
  • Bankruptcy Listing Committee
  • Listing Working Group

Conferences

  • 9th International Association of Refugee Judges World Conference, Bled, Slovenia 7-9 September 2011
  • FM Plenary, Brisbane, 26-27 April 2012

Presentations

  • Paper on the ‘The Springboard Effect’ to LIV & Victorian Bar Family Law Residential Conference 26 August 2011.

Other external activities

  • Policy Advisory Committee Meetings, Brisbane, 26 April 2012, Melbourne August 2011
  • The Admiralty and Maritime Judges of the Federal Court of Australia conducted an Admiralty Judicial Education Day for the Judges to share and enhance their knowledge, 25 August 2011
  • FMs met with Dr Toussaint, Director of Innovation & Business Development, Interrelated, 5 September 2011
  • Professor Nicholas Bala ‘Parental Alienation and Family Law Presentation, 20 February 2012
  • Dr Debbie Kirkwoods Presentation, ‘Just say Goodbye, Parents who kill their children’
  • Thank Barristers for their Pro bono Contribution Awards, 15 May 2012
FM Halligan

Presentations/Papers

  • Change of Child’s Name, 2011 Fundamentals of Family Law Seminar Series, Parramatta, 20 April 2011
  • Recovery Orders and Location Orders, 2011 Fundamentals of Family Law Seminar Series, Parramatta, 20 April 2011
  • Expert Opinion Evidence in Family Law Proceedings, 2011 Fundamentals of Family Law Seminar Series, Parramatta, 20 April 2011
  • Presenting a Case at an Undefended Hearing, 2011 Fundamentals of Family Law Seminar Series, Parramatta, 22 June 2011
  • Enforcing an Order other than by Contempt or Contravention proceedings, 2011 Fundamentals of Family Law Seminar Series, Parramatta, 17 August 2011
  • Child Support, Court Remedies, 2011 Fundamentals of Family Law Seminar Series, Parramatta, 21 September 2011
  • Family Law Seminar Series, Parramatta, 21 September 2011
  • Court Remedies Available in Child Support Matters, The AustLaw Family Lawyers Meeting Sydney, 2 December 2011
  • A paper titled ‘The Family Violence Amendments to the Family Law ACT 1975’ for the 2012 Fundamentals of Family Law Seminar Series, Parramatta, 30 May 2012
FM Lucev

Professional Memberships

  • WA Bar Association, Honorary Judicial Member
  • State Indigenous Justice Committee

Presentations

  • Advocacy, Turning the Tide, Australian Labour and Employment Relations Association National Conference, Fremantle, 6-8 October 2011
  • The Federal Magistrates Court: jurisdiction, practice and procedure, Seminar for WA Court’s summer clerks, Perth, 13 December 2011
FM L Turner

Professional Memberships

  • Family Law Council
  • National Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisory Council
  • Family Law Pathways Network Alice Springs

Presentations

  • Presentation at the Indigenous Families in the Family Law System Forum, Alice Springs, 27-28 October 2011
  • Presentation by telephone to the NTLAC Family Advocacy training Darwin, 27 October 2011
  • Presentation to the 2012 Continuing Profession Development Workshop, Darwin, 23 January 2012

Other external activities

  • 2012 NJC, Judgment writing course, Adelaide 17-19 August 2011
FM Cameron

Professional Memberships

  • Australian Labour Law Association
  • Australian Insurance Law Association
  • Honorary Judicial Member, NSW Law Society
  • LawAsia

Conferences

  • Credit Law Conference, Brisbane, 28-30 September 2011

Presentations

  • Unions NSW Seminar, Presentation on the ‘Practice and Procedure in the Fair Work Division of the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia’, Sydney, 20 October 2011
  • Insurance Council of Australia Cross Liability Protocol Group, ‘The Civil Dispute Resolution Act 2011 (Cth), Genuine Steps to Resolve Disputes’; Sydney, 17 November 2011
FM Altobelli

Professional Memberships

  • Judicial member, Law Society of NSW
  • Family Law Section, Law Council of Australia
  • Family Issues Committee, Law Society of NSW
  • Association of Family and Conciliation Courts

Presentations/Papers

  • Dubbo Pathways Seminar, ‘Some issues confronting the Family Law sector’, 28 July 2011
  • Australian Psychological Society, ‘Has confidentiality in family law reached its used by date’, Melbourne, 11 August 2011
  • Legal Aid Commission NSW Annual Family Law Conference, ‘Issues Arising in Recent Parenting Cases’, Sydney, 26 August 2011
  • Family Law Practitioners Association, Queensland Family Law Residential, ‘When a child rejects a parent’, Gold Coast, 9 September 2011
  • Parramatta CLE series, ‘Differentiating family violence’
  • Fifth Annual National Family Law Conference, Gold Coast, ‘Ethical Dilemmas for the Family Courts and Lawyers: Clients who try to frustrate the family law process’, 27-28 October 2011
  • Family Pathways Network Conference, ‘Privilege and admissibility - legal perspectives’, Tamworth, 30 May 2012
  • AFCC 29th Annual Conference, ‘Neuroscience and Family Law’ and ‘Has confidentiality in family dispute resolution reached its use-by date?, Chicago, 6-9 June 2012
  • Paper on ‘Cyber-abuse: a new worldwide threat to children’s rights’ 2010 (39) Family Court Review
  • Paper on ‘When a child rejects a parent’ 2011 (25) Australian Journal of Family Law

Other external activities

  • Member, Editorial Boards, Australian Journal of Family Law, Australasian Journal of Dispute Resolution
FM Burnett

Professional Memberships

  • Insolvency Practitioners Association
  • Judicial Conference of Australia
  • Australian Chapter, International Association of Refugee Law Judges

Conferences

  • International Association of Refugee Law Judges, Bled, Slovenia, 7-9 September 2011

Other external activities

  • Deputy Judge Advocate General, Air Force
  • Board Member, Royal Flying Doctor Service
FM Coates

Professional Memberships

  • Judicial Conference of Australia
  • Bar Association of QLD

Conferences

  • Judicial Conference of Australia, Alice Springs, 15 October 2011

Presentations

  • Binding Financial Agreements and Family Violence, New York, USA, 29 June 2012
FM Kelly

Professional Memberships

  • Law Society of SA
  • Women Lawyers Association
  • Australian Association of Women Judges
  • Family Law Section, Law Council of Australia
  • Judicial Conference of Australia
  • National Justice College of Australia Indigenous Justice, SA Committee
  • Australian Association of Judicial Administration

Conferences

  • International Association of Women Judges, London, UK, 2-5 May 2012

Presentations

  • GDLP Session, 3 August 2011
  • Pathways Network, Family Law Inaugural Family Law Conference 'Social Media and the Family System', Adelaide, 4 August 2011
FM Terry

Other external activities

  • Panel member, ‘Theory into practice: the practicality of improving our work for children’ Family Law Pathways Conference, ‘Maintaining Child Focussed Responses in the Family Law System: Family Violence, Attachment Theory, Neurobiology and Childhood Trauma’, Newcastle, 8 June 2012
FM Simpson

Professional Memberships

  • Australian Institute of Judicial Administration
  • Judicial Conference of Australia
  • Honorary Member, Law Society of SA
  • International Association of Refugee Law Judges

Other external activities

  • Participation in field trip by Federal and South Australian judicial officers to the Anunga Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in far north west of South Australia, 29 August-3 September 2011
FM Neville

Professional Memberships

  • ACT Bar Association
  • St Thomas More Society

Presentations

  • Presentation to Independent Children’s Lawyer Program, Canberra, July 2011

Other external activities

  • Chair, Bench for ANU International Law Society 2012 International Humanitarian Law Moot, May 2012
FM Kemp

Professional Memberships

  • Anglo-Australasian Lawyers Society
  • NSW Law Society Honorary membership

Conferences

  • CatholicCare, Keeping Kids in Mind Program, Sydney, 14 July 2011
  • DibbsBarker Book Launch, An Introduction to Australian Law, Sydney 28 November 2011

Presentations

  • Presented and Panel member, Central West Family Law Pathways Network, Pathways through separation, Dubbo, 28 July 2011
  • Chair, FMC and Family Court presentation, Tips on appearing in a Duty List in the Family Court and the Federal Magistrates Court, Sydney, 2 February 2012
  • Led discussion group, Dubbo Aboriginal Community Justice Group, Family Law Pathways with the Indigenous Community, Dubbo, 2 March 2012
  • NSW Young Lawyers 2012 Annual one day Family Law CLE seminar, Appearing in the FMC Duty Lists and issues of interim hearings, Sydney, 10 March 2012
  • Seminar by the Sea, Co-presented with Federal Magistrate Foster, Appearing in the FMC Duty Lists and issues of interim hearings, Wollongong, 17 March 2012
FM Howard

Professional Memberships

  • Judicial Section, Bar Association of QLD
  • Judicial Association of Australia
  • Judicial Section, LawAsia
  • Ex Officio Council Member, LawAsia

Conference

  • 24th Conference, LawAsia, Session Chair, Children’s Rights and Family Law, Seoul, South Korea 9-12 October 2011
FM Purdon-Sully

Professional Memberships

  • Australian Association of Women Judges
  • International Association of Women Judges
  • Women Lawyers Association of Qld Inc
  • Association of Family and Conciliation Courts
  • International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
  • Judicial College of Australia

Conferences/Papers

  • AAWJ Conference and discussion paper, Brisbane, 6 August 2011
  • FM Plenary, Brisbane, 26-27 April 2012

Presentations

  • Collaborative Law, Queensland Law Society, 25 July 2011
  • AAWJ Conference, Do women judges have a public role in responding to human rights abuses? The implications of speaking out, Brisbane, 6 August 2011
  • Ethics and the Law, Asian Pacific Law Conference, Hamilton, New Zealand, 2 June 2012

Other external activities

  • Member, Committee of AAWJ
  • Member, Humanitarian Sub-Committee AAWJ
  • Member, Supreme Court of Queensland Library Selections Committee
  • Member, Women in Cricket Committee, Queensland Cricket
  • Woman Lawyer of the Year Award Dinner, Brisbane Club, 9 September 2011
  • Lecture of The Hon Keith Mason ACQC, 20th Anniversary of Queensland Court of Appeal, 24 October 2011
  • Meeting with the Gold Coast profession, Southport, 19 April 2012
FM Cassidy

Professional Memberships

  • Women Lawyers Association of QLD
  • Bar Association of QLD
  • Judicial Association of Australia

Conferences

  • PAC Meetings, 23 February 2011, 24 April 2012, 28 June 2012
  • QLD Family Law Residential, Gold Coast, 25th Annual Calabro SC Consulting Family Law, Conference Chair 7B Advocacy Stream, Gold Coast, 9-10 September 2011
  • Judicial Conference of Australia Colloquium 2011, Alice Springs, 14-16 October 2011
  • Central Queensland Law Association Annual Conference, 21-23 October 2011
  • FM Plenary, Brisbane, 26-27 April 2012

Presentations

  • ‘Advocacy in the Federal Magistrates Court’, Drawing the Appropriate Material, QUT Law School Masters Program Guest Lecture, 8 October 2011.
  • ‘Advocacy in the Federal Magistrates Court’, Central Queensland Law Association Annual Conference, 21 October 2011.
FM Bender

Conferences

  • FM Plenary in Brisbane, 26-27 April 2011

Presentations/Papers

  • Independent Children’s Lawyer Training Program, paper delivered, 'An Overview of the Role of the Independent Children’s Lawyer', 18 August 2011
  • Eight Annual Family Law Conference, paper delivered, ‘Family Violence Amendments to the Family Law Act 1975’, 20 March 2012
  • Family Law Section Intensive, paper delivered, ‘Parental Responsibility’, 5 May 2012
FM Demack

Professional Memberships

  • Family Law Practitioners Association
  • QLD Bar Association
  • Family Law Section, Law Council of Australia

Conferences

  • Australian Association of Women Judges Conference, Brisbane, 6-7 August 2011
  • Family Law Residential, 9-11 September 2011
  • CQLA Conference, Rockhampton, 22 October 2011
  • Queensland Law Society Symposium, 31 March 2012
  • International Association of Women Judges Conference, London UK, 2-5 May 2012
  • North Queensland Law Association Conference, Mackay, 26-27 May 2012

Presentations

  • Presented paper, CQLA Conference, Rockhampton
  • Presented paper, NQLA Conference, Mackay
FM Walker

Professional memberships

  • Family Law Section, Law Council of Australia
  • LawAsia

Conferences/Papers

  • Presented ‘The relationship between the Court Expert and Independent Children’s Lawyer’ at Legal Aid NSW Child Representation conference themed ‘Future Directions in Child Representation', Sydney, 26 May 2012.
  • FM Plenary, Brisbane, 26-27 April 2012
FM McGuire

Presentations

  • Presentation to the North West Young Lawyers Committee on Federal Magistrates Court procedure, Tasmania, May 2011
  • Presentation given to visiting Zimbabwe Justice Delegation on the Dandenong Pilot Project, 17 November 2011
  • Presentation to the Victorian Family Law Bar Association on the Melbourne Relocation List Pilot Project, 26 March 2012

Other External Activities

  • Participated in the Dandenong Pilot Project, 2011
  • Participation in Melbourne Relocation List Pilot Project, commencing March 2012
FM Dunkley

Professional memberships

  • Family Law Section, Law Council of Australia

Conferences

  • Lexis Nexis Advocacy Seminar, Mini Workshop Family Law Stream: Practice to master the art of advocacy, 14 October 2011
  • FM Plenary, Brisbane, 26-27 April 2012

Presentations/Papers

  • Presentation at the Family Law Pathways Network, on Self represented litigants and challenges for family lawyers, Central Coast NSW, 27 October 2011
  • Presentation and panel member, Legal Aid New South Wales ICL training on the Role of ICL at final hearings, 19 October 2011
  • Orana Law Society, paper on ‘principles of relocation matters and handling contravention applications’, Dubbo, 22 February 2012

Other external activities

  • Meeting with Aboriginal Community Justice, Group Dubbo, 9 February 2012
  • CLE Parramatta, How to draft an Affidavit, legal practitioner continuing training, 16 May 2012
FM Baker

Professional Memberships

  • Family Law Practitioners Association, Tasmania

Presentations

  • Informal Session Family Law Practitioners Association, Family Violence, 13 June 2012
  • Moot Court Legal Practice, 4 May 2012
  • Presentation at Legal Practice , Practice and Procedure in the FMC, 4 April 2012
FM Monahan

Professional Memberships

  • International Bar Association
  • Family Law Section, Law Council of Australia.
  • Law Society of NSW

Conferences

  • International Bar Association, Annual Conference, Dubai, UAE, 30 October-4 November 2011

Other External Activities

  • Judges Forum, International Bar Association committee member and Communications Officer
  • Family Law Review, Editor - Recent Cases and Editorial Board member
FM Cole

Professional Memberships

  • Judicial Conference of Australia
  • Law Society of SA
  • Law Society of WA
  • Australian Institute of Judicial Administration
  • Family Law Section, Law Council of Australia
  • Family Law Practitioners Association WA and Qld
  • Family Law Council, Family Law Section

Conferences

  • WA Family Law Practitioners Association Conference, Perth, September 2011
  • Family Court of WA Conference, Perth, November 2011
  • Family Law Seminar, Darwin, January 2012
  • Family Law Intensive, Perth, March 2012
  • Family Law Conference, Convenor, Bali, June 2012,

Presentations

  • Pathways Conference, Adelaide, August 2011
  • WA Family Law Practitioners Association Conference, Property Hypothetical, Perth, September 2011
  • Family Law seminar, Co-ordinator and presenter, Darwin, January 2012
  • Port Augusta Pathways, Launch Dreaming DVD, FRC Port Augusta, March 2012
  • Family Law Intensive, Parenting Orders, Adelaide, May 2012
FM Willis

Professional Memberships

  • Qld Bar Association
  • Family Law Section, Law Council of Australia
  • Family Law Practitioners Association
  • Association of Women’s Judges
  • Australian Association of Women Judges

Conferences

  • NQLA Conference, Townsville 27-28 May 2011
  • Family Court Triennial Judges Conference, Wellington, New Zealand, 1-5 August 2011
  • International Association of Women Judges Conference, London, 2-4 May 2012
  • Concurrent Judicial Education Session, Hobart, 11-12 October 2012

Presentations/Papers

  • Presented a paper with Justice Watts, FLPA Cairns Conference, 19 March 2011
  • FLPA Cairns , Conducted training session to Cairns FLPA group, ‘Mock Contravention’, 21 July 2011
  • Qld Law Society, North a Queensland Symposium, Presented a paper 'Practice and Procedure 2011’, 19 November 2011
FM Whelan

Professional Memberships

  • Industrial Relations Society VIC
  • Australian Labour Law Association
  • International Association of Women Judges
  • International Association of Refugee Law Judges

Presentations

  • LIV Workplace Relations Accredited Specialists Breakfast, 19 August 2011
  • National Independent Children’s Lawyer Training Day, 20 August 2011
  • Australian Labour Law Association, Victorian Chapter, ‘Workplace Litigation in the Federal Magistrates Court’, 3 November 2011
  • ACTU Lawyers and Industrial Officers Training Day, ‘Appearing in the Federal Magistrates Court’, 26 March 2012
FM Foster

Memberships

  • American Bar Association, Family Law Section and Judicial Division
  • Law Council of Australia
  • Family Law Section of the Law Council of Australia

Conferences

  • Hunter Valley Family Law Practitioners Association CLE Weekend, Port Stephens NSW, October 2011

Presentations

  • ‘Advocacy Case Theory’, Hunter Valley Family Law Practitioner Association Annual Conference, Port Stephens, October 2011
  • ‘Advocacy Case Theory’, Law Society of NSW, Young Lawyers Section Advocacy Weekend, September 2011
  • ‘Developments: Federal Magistrates Court Wollongong & Mediation’ Wollongong & District Regional Law Society, Wollongong, March 2012
  • ‘The Role of Family Consultants’ presentation to Family Consultants, FMC Wollongong, July 2011
  • ‘The New Violence Amendments’, presentation to practitioners, FMC Wollongong, June 2012.
  • Advocacy Training Seminar Skills Workshop, Australian Advocacy Institute presentation to Legal Aid Queensland, Brisbane, August 2011

Other external activities

  • Board member, Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators
FM Myers

Presentations/Papers

  • Presented paper on Family law mediation for Indigenous parties to the Family Law Pathways Network, Newcastle, March 2012
  • Before giving the presentation in Taree, talked to 25 aboriginal students and their parents about the role of the FMC and the importance of the students staying on at school and pursuing higher education
  • Presented at the Central Coast Family Law pathways network before talk was delivered by Ryan J about the Role of Family Law Pathways Networks
  • Presented to the graduates of the Indigenous Financial Counseling Course and presented certificates of attainment at the awards dinner, 29 June 2011

Other External Activities

  • Member of the Steering Committee for the Central Coast Family Law Pathways Network
  • Member on the Advisory Council for Centacare
FM Curtin

Professional Memberships

  • Judicial Conference of Australia
  • Family Law Section
  • Victorian Bar, Judicial List
  • Family Law Bar Association

Appendix J: Court Locations

Family law registries

National Enquiry Centre

Telephone enquiries:

TTY/Voice calls

International:

Email:

1300 352 000

Contact the National Relay Service on 133 677 or Speak & Listen contact 1300 555 727

+61 2 8892 8590

enquiries@familylawcourts.gov.au

Australian Capital Territory

Canberra

Nigel Bowen Commonwealth Law Courts Building Cnr University Avenue and Childers Street, Canberra ACT 2600

New South Wales

Albury

Level 1, 463 Kiewa Street, Albury NSW 2640

Dubbo

Cnr Macquarie and Wingewarra Streets, Dubbo NSW 2830

Lismore

Westlawn Building, Level 2, 29-31 Molesworth Street, Lismore NSW 2480

Newcastle

61 Bolton Street, Newcastle NSW 2300

Parramatta

Garfield Barwick Commonwealth Law Courts Building 1-3 George Street, Parramatta NSW 2150

Sydney

Lionel Bowen Commonwealth Law Courts Building 97-99 Goulburn Street, Sydney NSW 2000

Wollongong

Level 1, 43 Burelli Street, Wollongong NSW 2500

Northern Territory

Alice Springs

Level 1, Centrepoint Building, Hartley Street, Alice Springs NT 0870

Darwin

TCG Building, 80 Mitchell Street, Darwin NT 0800

Queensland

Brisbane

Harry Gibbs Commonwealth Law Courts Building 119 North Quay, Brisbane QLD 4000

Cairns

Commonwealth Government Centre, Level 3 and 4, 104 Grafton Street, Cairns QLD 4870

Rockhampton

Virgil Power Building, Ground Floor 46 East Street, Cnr Fitzroy Street, Rockhampton QLD 4700

Townsville

Level 2,Commonwealth Centre, 143 Walker Street, Townsville QLD 4810

South Australia

Adelaide

Roma Mitchell Commonwealth Law Courts Building 3 Angas Street, Adelaide SA 5000

Tasmania

Hobart

Edward Braddon Commonwealth Law Courts Building 39-41 Davey Street, Hobart TAS 7000

Launceston

ANZ Building, Level 3, Cnr Brisbane and George Streets, Launceston TAS 7250

Victoria

Dandenong

53-55 Robinson Street, Dandenong VIC 3175

Melbourne

Owen Dixon Commonwealth Law Courts Building 305 William Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

General federal law registries

All enquiries should be directed to the relevant registry, contact details follow. TTY/Voice calls - Contact the National Relay Service on 133 677 or Speak & Listen contact 1300 555 727

Australian Capital Territory

  

Canberra

Nigel Bowen Commonwealth Law Courts Building
Cnr University Avenue and Childers Street 
Canberra ACT 2601

Phone: (02) 6267 0566
Fax: (02) 6267 0625
Email:  actman@fedcourt.gov.au

New South Wales

  

Sydney

Law Courts Building
Level 17, Queens Square
Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: (02) 9377 5600
Fax: (02) 9377 5600
Email:  nswdr@fedcourt.gov.au

Northern Territory

  

Darwin

Level 3 Supreme Court Building
State Square
Darwin NT 0800

Phone: (08) 8941 2333
Fax: (08) 8941 4941
Email:  ntreg@fedcourt.gov.au

Queensland

  

Brisbane

Level 6 Harry Gibbs Commonwealth Law Courts Building
119 North Quay 
Brisbane QLD 4000

Phone: (07) 3248 1100
Fax: (07) 3248 1260
Email:  qldreg@fedcourt.gov.au

South Australia

  

Adelaide

Level 5 Roma Mitchell Commonwealth Law Courts Building 
3 Angas Street 
Adelaide SA 5000

Phone: (08) 8219 1000
Fax: (08) 8219 1001
Email:  sareg@fedcourt.gov.au

Tasmania

  

Hobart

Edward Braddon Commonwealth Law Courts Building
39-41 Davey Street
Hobart TAS 7000

Phone: (03) 6232 1715
Fax: (03) 6232 1701
Email:  tasreg@fedcourt.gov.au

Victoria

  

Melbourne

Owen Dixon Commonwealth Law Courts Building
305 William Street 
Melbourne Vic 3000

Phone: (03) 8600 3333
Fax: (03) 8600 3281
Email:  vicreg@fedcourt.gov.au

Western Australia

  

Perth

Peter Durack Commonwealth Law Courts Building
1 Victoria Avenue
Perth WA 6000

Phone: (08) 9268 7100
Fax: (08) 9221 3261
Email:  waregistry@fedcourt.gov.au

Appendix K: Contact Details

Chambers of the Chief Federal Magistrate

Chief Federal Magistrate John Pascoe AO CVO
GPO Box 9991
Sydney NSW 2000

Phone: (02) 9234 0002
Fax: (02) 9234 0052

Office of the Acting Chief Executive Officer

Mr Richard Foster PSM
GPO Box 9991
Canberra ACT 2601

Phone: (02) 6243 8725 
Fax: (02) 6243 8737

National Enquiry Centre

The National Enquiry Centre (NEC) is the entry point for all telephone and email enquiries on Family Law Court (Family Court and Federal Magistrates Court) matters. The NEC provides information and procedural advice, forms and brochures, and referrals to community and support services. NEC staff cannot provide legal advice.

Opening Hours: 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday
Phone: 1300 352 000
International: +61 2 8892 8590

Postal Address: PO Box 9991, Parramatta NSW 2124

TTY/voice calls: Contact the National Relay Service on 133 677 or for Speak and Listen calls contact 1300 555 727
Email:  enquiries@familylawcourts.gov.au

Websites

www.fmc.gov.au

www.familylawcourts.gov.au

Commonwealth Courts Portal - www.comcourts.gov.au

Email

customer.service@federalcircuitcourt.gov.au

enquiries@familylawcourts.gov.au

Commonwealth Courts Portal - support@comcourts.gov.au

Communication enquiries - communication@familylawcourts.gov.au