Call for Family Court stories for new website to
inform Family Court Review

Parents, couples, caregivers, and families who have been subject to New Zealand Family Court proceedings have been invited to submit their experiences in writing, in preparation for the introduction of a new website that will work to inform the upcoming Family Court Review in September 2011.

Steve Taylor, Director of 24-7 Ltd, a Counselling and Family Mediation service in Auckland, came up with the idea of a website dedicated to personal Family Court experiences in time for the Family Court Review, because the voices of those most deeply affected by such experiences were often not adequately heard in the public arena.

“The premise behind the website is neither pro or anti the Family Court – it is simply a vehicle for people to tell their stories to the public and to those who will be in positions of influence when the Family Court Review occurs in September 2011. It will be interesting to see what themes and trends within these first-person reported experiences may develop, and these themes and trends will become self-evident over time. It is hoped that such Practice-based-evidence will be meaningfully considered as part of the Family Court Review process” says Mr Taylor.

“There is already some significant lobbying being prepared by a number of interest groups (e.g. Lawyers, Psychologists, Counsellors, and Social Workers) for the Family Court Review, yet no obvious lobby group exists for consumers of the very service that is being reviewed – the website will be an attempt to address this imbalance”.

The website is currently under construction, and anyone who wishes to submit their Family Court experience in writing may do so by emailing a copy to Steve Taylor at www.24-7.org.nz

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