Have mine on 27/09/06.

With Britton Psychological Services P/L on Wickham tce, being conducted by Tony Robinson.

Any Qld'ers had their report written by this person or the Co?

Will let you know how it all goes

What the hell is a family report, i have seen it mentioned a few times on step family forums, please explain.

It is a report made by a Psychologist on the interaction of X & I, X & kids, Me & kids, & seperate interviews. Judge makes his decision based a lot on this report

Hello, I do not know anyone who has had a Family Report prepared by the person you mentioned.
The two writers I have read reports by are Valma Johnston and Susan Lewis. Susan Lewis is very good, but Valma seems to be somewhat in favour of primary care remaining with mothers.
As for what is a Family Report. It is an interview process whereby mother, father, children, new partners and sometimes grandparents are interviewed by a Social Worker. It is ordered by the Children's Representative and generally paid for by Legal Aid. Depending on your finances you may be asked to contribute to costs. You and your ex will be interviewed alone and so will your child/children. You will both also be interwieved and observed with the child/children present (but generally not your ex present)If you or your ex have formed a new family, you will be interviewed together (including any new children you have)
Surviving the report is CRITICAL as the Court rarely goes against what the report writer advises.
Some tips for having the report writer say nice things about you are:
Do not badmouth your ex or their new partner. If you said nasty things in your affidavit recant them saying you were upset at the time .
If your ex is saying nasty things about you this is wonderful because by not throwing it back at them you are the good guy, the ex is the bad guy.
Do not get defensive, express sadness that your ex is saying such nasty things. Be appologetic if you have said bad things about your ex.(even if it makes you feel sick)
Appreciate the issues for your ex and try to see the issues in dispute from their point of view.
Be willing to negotiate, pointing out how unwilling to negotiate your ex has been.
Do not say anything bad about your ex in front of your children. Tell the report writer how much you believe that it is important not to badmouth the other parent and that you understand it is important that you put your own issues aside and work together with your ex for the benefit of your children.
Find good things to say about your ex's parenting. Focus on the good points in your marriage not the bad ones. Do not give the impression however that you want your ex back.
Do not involve your children in any conflicts between you and your ex or use them as spies or messengers.
Above all, be peaceable, reasonable, calm, empathetic and insightful
Hopefully your ex will be manipulative, controlling, dominating, a liar and will denigrate you to all who will listen and want to deny contact.
You will then have your case made easy

G'day Godders,

How did you go with a male family reporter?

My daughter is two and a half years old.

I went to the (supposedly) best and fairest Family Repoter around. I could go on and on but the crux of the matter was that she often misquoted me and my request for 45/55% time was knocked back. This was on the basis of believing the ex's lies and her own outdated sexist views on the child spending too much time away from the mother. Time away from the father seems to count for nothing.
All this is decided at a two hour meeting (and three grand). How on earth this person is able and indeed allowed to make a decision with so little infomation is beyond belief. Unless she ruled in my favour of course!
For example four days a week child care is prefered to two of those days being with me or my mother, both with exemplary records of care and conduct.
I was told by all and sundry not to say anything negative (which of course is plenty) and the ex's negativaty would go against her. Instead I got all the ex's rubbish thrown over me by the reporter.
Now I am further behind the eight ball than where I started. I now have to find a psychologist somewhere who actually believes in (almost) shared time and of course a barrister to attempt to prove this lady wrong.
I ask if anyone knows a psychologist around Brisbane who has a better understanding of a child and fathers needs.

I dispare but nothing another six months in court and fifty grand won't fix, Time wounds all heels.

HI TIME WOUNDS ALL HEALS

Mate, you are no ' HEEL' , YET I THINK YOU HAVE DONE YOURSELF AND OTHER READERS A FAVOUR , BY VENTING THE ANGER YOU FEEL !

It is a wise move and a place you can vent, as I have in the past. If you can't call a spade a backhoe here at 'home' where you can be listened to, where can you.
It often gives us time to view the matter on a quiet evening read , when relaxed.
I have yet to find the Court System always fair , if they were we would lose an endless line of useless solicitors who may make their fortune on the basis that their are too many Laws.

I don't mind paying a Brain Surgeon to charge a fortune for the removal of my worthless extra attachments .
Yet I detest scalpel JOBS on men and women via the short-cuts they seem to make as they detour and impressively avoid and neglect their fundamental PROFESSIONAL KINDERGARTEN HOMEWORK, with little or no concern for the future ,and present of the C.H.I.L.D.

And for those Solicitors who often contact me,.......with a word of encouragement, please assist your clients in helping them with their needful, and often difficult tasks.

This way we keep more parents living, and children from three way trauma.
Now this is how I gripe Twah !

Keep us posted or .....nail me to one if you will. The 'said' paperwork is a blessing.

More of the best of you to come,... in loving your DAUGHTER,.. DAD.

Daughters can richly bless you as well as Sons.

Take care of yourself as well. Good to hear from and of you.
Colin

Buyer beware -

Some advise to Parents:
some Lawyers will try to befriend you..... Be suspicious.

Things to remember - Lawyers talk to lawyers. They walk in the same circles more than likely they also discuss cases in detail with their peers.

There WILL BE a scratch my back and I will scratch yours. Like Doctors they will try to cover for each other for what ever political motivations they have. Especially when it could cost them their bar status

I am not saying dont use them. By all means do so. But take into account that what you tell them will more than likely be disclosed to your competitor.

When you engage the lawyer ask them what they know about the other Lawyer. Socially and also work wise... If they know too much and it makes you feel uncomfortable it you may have good cause.

If you have a complaint with a lawyer from a legal firm go above them.... but make sure that you have all the documentation supplied to you as you go in the case. Last thing you want is for them to cost you extra $$ by withholding information from you.

Yes that is the truth unfortunately dealing with the laws of the ' Lawyers' they just use the laws as it suits the client , verbally, whilst getting the boring case out of the way in a busy office. AND MY SINCERE APOLOGY TO THE SOLICITOR WHO IS PROUDLY AND HONESTLY DOING HIS/HER BEST !

Yet, find the correct people by asking those who are happy to have used a Solicitor.
Unfortunately , buying a used cars from a used car salesman can have the same needs. To find one who has changed the oil is difficult, on the lower end of the market especially. Forgive me when I speak from the view that Solicitors,
Car Salesmen , Builders and Estate Agents .Who can trust them?Having deal with EACH , if you are reading this and I speak from longterm experience,...I mean who trusts you? Please tell us why we ought to !

Quote:

have yet to find the Court System always fair , if they were we would lose an endless line of useless solicitors who may make their fortune on the basis that their are too many Laws.

Thanks for the Post and a reminder, especially when ones who's emotion's are walking ahead and the fog of grief has set in. Where life is like looking through a glass window, life is going on, yet you cannot quite connect to life. This is surely the time to seek good honest dependable help.

Take care and ask for all the help one needs.

Colin S