News and media centre

The FCFCOA hosted a successful public launch of the Lighthouse initiative in Sydney on Monday 5 December 2022. A media package can be viewed from the Courts' YouTube channel.

Webinars are scheduled for 22 and 24 November that are designed to inform the family law profession about the how the expanded Lighthouse model and associated case management processes will work.

New court reform focused on the safety of children and their families by identifying and addressing issues of family violence and other risks.

The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia has become aware of an email impersonation scam which is being sent to members of the public.

This update focuses on Lighthouse risk screening, including Family DOORS Triage, what happens when an eligible proceeding is filed and what happens next.

The Chief Justice has issued the Special Measures Information Notice – Hearing Protocol to replace the Special Measures Information Notice – COVID-19 Hearing Protocol, with effect from Monday, 7 November 2022.

Following Tuesday’s budget announcement, and FCFCOA media release, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) (the Courts) have been working on the expansion of the Lighthouse model to 15 family law registries

Substantial funding announced last night as part of the 2022-23 Budget has been welcomed by the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia

Judges of the FCFCOA visited the Supreme Court of Indonesia in July 2022 to continue discussions under the Memorandum of Understanding between the courts that focuses on improving the quality of services and judicial decisions in family law cases affecting women and children. 

The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia welcomed the announcement of $63.8 million of additional resources (over the four years to 2025-26) to enhance the ability of the Courts to respond to family violence and other risks to vulnerable

From 1 April 2022, parties to family law property settlement proceedings can apply directly to the Court to request information about the other party’s superannuation information held by the Australian Taxation Office.

Information about transferring of proceedings from Family Court of Australia to Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Division 2 to Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia Division 1 and jurisdictional

The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia welcome substantial funding announced last night as part of the 2022-23 Budget and the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children.

Due to flood damage and the rectification work required to bring the building back to a safe level, the Court’s Lismore registry will remain closed until after the Easter period, with re-opening anticipated to be 19 April 2022 (to be confirmed).

There are a number of procedural changes regarding the conduct of Migration proceedings in the Federal Circuit Court and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) that will apply from 29 November 2021. Migration applications filed in the FCFCOA in all registries from that date will no longer be allocated a First Court Date (FCD) listing.