Preferred supplier newsletter — May 2024
This month:
Family law amendments
The Family Law Amendment Act 2023 (Cth) includes significant amendments to the framework for making parenting orders and new obligations in legislation for independent children’s lawyers (ICLs), with most measures taking effect on 6 May 2024.
Grants
In response to these amendments, Legal Aid Queensland (LAQ) has reviewed its family law guidelines to ensure they align with current legislation.
The definition of a dispute about a substantial issue has been updated to include disputes concerning:
- the safety of the child and their protection from family violence, abuse, neglect or other harm, or
- the denial of the child’s right to have a safe and beneficial relationship with their parents and other significant people, or
- the denial of the child’s right to enjoy their Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture.
LAQ has made changes to the Grants Handbook and will update the checklists in Grants Online soon.
The grants of aid available for solicitors and ICLs were reviewed in March 2024 with additional hours applied, taking into account changes in court processes. It is not expected the new amendments will have a significant impact on current court processes.
The amendments include a requirement for ICLs to meet with the child, however LAQ has for some years included provision in grants of aid for the ICL to attend to this step, where necessary. Additional funding is available for travel time and expenses to meet this requirement where a personal attendance is assessed as being appropriate.
These changes will apply to grants of aid issued on or after 7 May 2024, other than where a matter is currently in trial or has been adjourned part heard.
If you have any questions, please contact your Grants team.
Webinars
The Family Law Pathways Network has conducted a series of webinars discussing the Family Law Amendment Act changes. These can be accessed here:
The federal Attorney-General’s Department has also developed two factsheets that help explain the changes:
New court drug and alcohol diversion referral form
The Magistrates Court has a new drug and alcohol diversion programs referral form.
The referral form for Illicit Drugs Court Diversion Program (CDP) and Drug and Alcohol Assessment Referral (DAAR) now includes information to accommodate the changes to the expanded Police Drug Diversion Program.
LAQ anticipates there being less CDPs following the Police Drug Diversion expansion. However, it is hoped more DAARs will be made because there are no specific substance quantities or charges required for a DAAR and there can be alcohol related offending for DAAR.
For more information about the expanded Police Drug Diversion Program, visit the QPS’ Police Drug Diversion Program web page.
New Drug Diversion Legal Advice Line
LAQ has a new Drug Diversion Legal Advice Line to support adults who police have spoken to about a minor drug offence and drug diversion as an option.
People can call 1300 004 924 for free and confidential drug diversion legal advice, seven days a week.
Visit LAQ’s website to find out more about the Drug Diversion Legal Advice Line and Police Drug Diversion Program.
If you would like to order factsheets, wallet cards or posters about the service, please email publications@legalaid.qld.gov.au.
LAQ secure file sharing
LAQ is now using a secure file sharing system, Kiteworks, which allows the sharing of confidential and sensitive information belonging to LAQ with external parties.
The first time you receive a shared file from LAQ, you will be prompted to create a secure Kiteworks account to access shared files (this should only take a moment). See the user guide for more information.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the LAQ Secure File Sharing Project Manager, Regina Copeland on (07) 3917 0121 or at regina.copeland@legalaid.qld.gov.au.
LAQ library: free access to caselaw databases
LAQ’s in-house library offers a wealth of resources to support your valuable work. This includes access to six specialised caselaw databases:
- Criminal judgments
- Comparable sentencing decisions (adult and juvenile)
- Domestic and family violence decisions
- Counselling Notes Protect decisions
- Family Law Property Decisions
- Child Protection Decisions.
These databases provide essential information for legal research and case preparation. You can access the databases and other helpful resources under the Information Resources tab on Grants Online.
Not sure how to navigate these databases? LAQ’s library team is here to help. You can email library@legalaid.qld.gov.au for advice and training on how to make the most of these resources.
Continuing professional development (CPD)
Looking for professional development opportunities to boost your CPD points? Many of LAQ’s CPD seminars are recorded and available on Grants Online under the Information Resources tab.
Social Deprivation at Sentencing – Bugmy and onwards
Date: Tuesday, 11 June 2024, 1–2pm (1 CPD point).
The invitation and registration link will be landing in your inbox shortly.
May CPD wrap up
May was Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month. LAQ presented several Community Legal Education sessions which were open to preferred suppliers and eligible for CPD points.
- 10 May 2024 – Cracking the Code on Domestic and Family Violence Perpetrator Behaviour. Feedback on this evidence-informed presentation by US- based organisation The Family Peace Initiative was overwhelmingly positive. While this session was not recorded, you can explore the Education & Training page on their website.
- 24 May – Domestic and family violence – Hearing children's voices in different jurisdictions (recording available – 2 CPD points).
- 29 May - Engaging with young people – Changing attitudes and behaviours towards violence against women (recording available – 1 CPD point).
The 24 and 29 May recordings will be available on LAQ’s YouTube channel in the ‘Webinars for community, health and education workers’ playlist in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, you or your support team may be interested in LAQ’s webinar series for community, health and legal education workers. You can view the April session, on the topic of Therapeutic pathways within the criminal courts - Queensland Drug and Alcohol Court and Court Link here.
Publications and resources
LAQ produces more than 100 publications and resources from factsheets to posters, brochures, wallet cards and comprehensive legal information guides on a range of topics. You can check out the publications on the LAQ website and they can be ordered online at no cost.
For more information about our publications or to order copies of the duty lawyer session report form, email publications@legalaid.qld.gov.au
Suggestions about this newsletter
As preferred suppliers you play an important role in helping us to provide quality legal services to disadvantaged Queenslanders. To provide comments or suggestions on what you would like to see in this newsletter, please email psupp.coordinator@legalaid.qld.gov.au.
Other feedback
To provide feedback on LAQ services, policies, processes or staff members, you can complete a contact form or email LAQ at complaints@legalaid.qld.gov.au at any time. A senior staff member investigates all issues thoroughly and LAQ also analyses all feedback regularly to improve our policies, processes, and services. View our Feedback and Complaints Policy.