1. Listening to Women’s Voices Conversations with Women about Domestic Violence and Family Law

2. Questions How long was/is your involvement in Family Law? How long was/is your involvement in Family Law? What were you hoping the outcome would be? What were you worried about? What were you hoping the outcome would be? What were you worried about? Many women going through Family Law have experienced domestic violence. This may include behaviour such as physical assault, harassment, intimidation, financial control, emotional abuse and sexual assault. Did you experience domestic violence in your relationship? If yes, is there an AVO? Who does it cover? Many women going through Family Law have experienced domestic violence. This may include behaviour such as physical assault, harassment, intimidation, financial control, emotional abuse and sexual assault. Did you experience domestic violence in your relationship? If yes, is there an AVO? Who does it cover?

3. Questions (cont) When you began the Family Law process, did anyone ask you about your experience of domestic violence? When you began the Family Law process, did anyone ask you about your experience of domestic violence? Did you experience mediation as part of the Family Law process? Did you experience mediation as part of the Family Law process? How did you feel about mediation? How did you feel about mediation? In what ways did the Family Law Court prioritise your safety during mediation? In what ways did the Family Law Court prioritise your safety during mediation?

4. Questions (cont) What effects do you think the Family Law process had on your children? What effects do you think the Family Law process had on your children? Did you have concerns regarding contact between your ex-partner and your children? If so, what were they? Did you have concerns regarding contact between your ex-partner and your children? If so, what were they? Did you notice a difference in your children’s behaviour before and/or after contact? If so, what was it? Did you notice a difference in your children’s behaviour before and/or after contact? If so, what was it?

5. Questions (cont) In what ways did the Family Law Court prioritise your children’s safety during the process? In what ways did the Family Law Court prioritise your children’s safety during the process? What professionals were involved with you and your family during the Family Law process? What professionals were involved with you and your family during the Family Law process? Who did you find helpful/unhelpful? What did they do that was helpful/unhelpful? Who did you find helpful/unhelpful? What did they do that was helpful/unhelpful? Is there anything else you would like to say that hasn’t been covered? Is there anything else you would like to say that hasn’t been covered?

6. Family Violence is… “Conduct, whether actual or threatened, by a person towards, or towards the property of, a member of the person’s family that causes that or any other member of the person’s family to fear for, or to be apprehensive about, his or her personal well-being or safety” (Section 60D Family Law Act) “Conduct, whether actual or threatened, by a person towards, or towards the property of, a member of the person’s family that causes that or any other member of the person’s family to fear for, or to be apprehensive about, his or her personal well-being or safety” (Section 60D Family Law Act)

7. Elements of Family Violence “Family Violence covers a broad range of controlling behaviours, commonly of a physical, sexual, and/or psychological nature, which typically involve fear, harm, intimidation and emotional deprivation. It occurs within a variety of close interpersonal relationships, such as between spouses, partners, parents and children, siblings and in other relationships where significant others are not part of the physical household but are part of the family and/or are fulfilling the function of family.” (Te Rito, New Zealand Family Violence Prevention Strategy, February 2002, p8). “Family Violence covers a broad range of controlling behaviours, commonly of a physical, sexual, and/or psychological nature, which typically involve fear, harm, intimidation and emotional deprivation. It occurs within a variety of close interpersonal relationships, such as between spouses, partners, parents and children, siblings and in other relationships where significant others are not part of the physical household but are part of the family and/or are fulfilling the function of family.” (Te Rito, New Zealand Family Violence Prevention Strategy, February 2002, p8).

8. Themes Safety Safety Children Children Mediation Mediation Concerns and fears Concerns and fears Powerlessness Powerlessness On going violence and intimidation On going violence and intimidation