Submission Regarding the Joint Select Committee on Australia’s Family Law System
FECCA’s submission to the Joint Select Committee on Australia’s Family Law System highlights the barriers Culturally And Linguistically Diverse (CALD) individuals face when interacting with the legal system, particularly in cases involving family violence and custody disputes. Critical issues are language barriers, limited cultural awareness among court personnel, and a lack of access to affordable legal aid. FECCA emphasises the need for fully accredited translators, cultural awareness training for judicial officers and staff, and improved diversity in the judiciary to better reflect Australia’s multicultural population. The submission also stresses the importance of tailored support for migrant women facing family violence, particularly those on temporary visas, who often experience threats of deportation and loss of custody.
FECCA calls for systemic reforms to ensure equity in the family law system. These include providing free interpretation services, appointing cultural liaison officers, and increasing funding for legal aid and migrant-specific domestic violence services. Recommending integrating cultural competency into court procedures and offering multilingual resources on legal rights and processes. FECCA also highlights the economic challenges faced by CALD families during family disputes, advocating for more accessible legal support to prevent disadvantaged individuals from being further marginalised. These measures aim to create a fairer and more inclusive legal system for all Australians.
