Family Law Pathways Network - Vision & Structure

Lower Mid North Coast Family Law Pathways NetworkBranch Location: 5/1-5 Merrymen Way, Port Macquarie NSW 2444 and 146 Victoria Street, Taree NSW 2430Supporting and resourcing a network of organisations and professionals operating within the broader family law system to achieve the best outcomes for separating families in our region spanning from Taree to Kempsey.Our vision is a connected family law system that minimises conflict and supports the best interests of children. We seek to achieve the vision by encouraging professionals from the legal sector and the non-legal sector to work together, and by providing opportunities to learn and share information.Our purpose is to create a clear pathway for families making their way through the family law system.Links to useful services and resources to enhance the capacity of professionals in the legal and non-legal sector to assist families post-separation.  Become a member of the Lower Mid North Coast Family Law Pathways Network and contribute to creating a more collaborative family law system. There are no membership fees, the only criteria is that you work in the family sector. Our vision is a connected family law system that minimises conflict and supports the best interests of children.We seek to achieve this vision by encouraging professionals to work collaboratively, and provide opportunities to learn and share information.We aim to:• Establish and maintain professional relationships;
• Raise the understanding of the role and expertise of all professionals in the family law system; and
• Provide training in a multi-disciplinary way to network members.Our StructureFamily Law Pathways Networks are managed by a local steering committee which draws expertise across government, non-government and legal organisations. The Network is the primary organisation that brings all public, community and private service providers together including the Family Law Judiciary, Family Relationship Centre providers, Therapists, Private Legal Practitioners, Legal Aid NSW and Community Legal Centres. A Project Officer is employed to coordinate the day to day operations of the Network.Our PurposeOur purpose is to create a clear pathway for families making their way through the family law system. In order to provide a clear dispute resolution pathway for separating families, the family law system depends on cooperation between a range of service providers: the community sector, the Family Law Courts, government agencies and departments, the legal profession and the research sector.We also recognise that families may require services such as police, drug and alcohol, mental health, housing, parenting education and family violence organisations as part of the dispute resolution process.For family law practitioners this necessitates:• An awareness of all available post-separation services;
• An understanding referral processes;
• Keeping abreast of changes in the way services are provided;
• Access to family law specific professional development and Mandatory Continuing Legal Education opportunities;
• Keeping up to date with current changes to family law, regional Family Court information and legal issues at a federal and local level.For other service providers this necessitates:• An improved understanding of legal/court processes;
• Understanding requirements of courts and lawyers; and
• Keeping up to date with changes in the substantive law.