Keynote Address
Exploring how reform and frontline practice intersect to support safer outcomes for families navigating increasingly complex circumstances
Abstract:
Recent reforms to the Family Law Act 1975 have sharpened the focus on safety in family law matters, particularly in parenting decisions and in the growing recognition of the economic consequences of family violence in property disputes. These changes come at a time when matters encountered across the family law system are becoming increasingly complex, often involving multiple and intersecting dynamics.
Importantly, this complexity is not unique to courts. It is also experienced by professionals across the broader family law system, including those working in mediation, contact services and family support contexts, who frequently respond to high‑risk and vulnerable families.
This presentation explores how courts are responding to these evolving challenges, including how legislative reform is being applied in practice. While these developments represent significant progress, safer outcomes ultimately depend on how effectively the system operates as a whole.
The session will also highlight the importance of closer collaboration between courts and FRSA‑aligned services, inviting practitioners to consider how more coordinated, safety‑focused approaches can better support families, as well as the professionals working alongside them.
Biography
Judge Kylie Beckhouse is a Judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2). Prior to her appointment to the Bench, she amassed extensive experience across the family law system, most notably as the Director of Family Law at Legal Aid NSW. In that role, she was responsible for Australia’s largest lawyer assisted family dispute resolution program.
An accredited specialist in family law, Judge Beckhouse also brings a distinguished history of representing children in complex parenting proceedings. Her commitment to elevating the voice of children has been a defining feature of her career.
Judge Beckhouse is nationally recognised for her leadership in addressing family violence within the justice system. She played an instrumental role in establishing family violence legal services across New South Wales and was pivotal in the development of the national Family Advocacy and Support Service. She now serves as Chair of the FCFCOA Family Violence Committee, contributing to policy, education, and court wide initiatives that enhance the courts’ response to family violence and improve safety for children and vulnerable litigants.
In 2017, she was named NSW Woman Lawyer of the Year for her contributions to women and the law. As a Churchill Fellow, she conducted international research into the design and administration of child legal representation schemes, producing a report that has informed policy and practice.
Judge Beckhouse is a respected authority in family law, frequently presenting at national and international conferences and contributing to academic and professional publications. She is a former member of the Family Law Council of Australia and the NSW Children’s Court Advisory Committee, and has served on both the Family Law and Children’s Law committees of the Law Society of NSW.