From 21 October 2025, the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) introduced two major initiatives designed to put children at the centre of family law matters:

• The Courts’ Children’s Charter, and
• Kids’ Corner, a new child-friendly online resource.

These reforms mark a cultural shift in how the Court listens to, supports, and protects children during separation and parenting disputes.

Why these changes matter

The Children’s Charter: Giving children a real voice.

The Charter sets out ten guiding principles that place a child’s safety, dignity, and
participation at the forefront of every decision.

In simple terms, the Charter recognises that:

• children have a right to express their views or, choose not to
• their wellbeing must be the priority
• the process should be accessible, respectful and trauma-informed

For many families, this means a shift away from a parent-driven approach to one where a child’s needs and feelings are central to the Court’s considerations.

Kids’ Corner: Helping children understand what’s happening

Alongside the Charter, the Court launched Kids’ Corner, a website designed to help children understand the family law process in a safe, age-appropriate way.

Through videos, guides and simple explanations, children can learn:

• what the Court is
• what their rights are
• how decisions are made about living arrangements
• how to process big feelings during separation
• what their voice means in legal decisions

This recognises what many psychologists, advocates and families have said for years: children often feel powerless during family disputes even though they are the most affected.

Why the Court made these changes

Findings from the Whitlam Institute (2021) showed that many children involved in family court matters described feeling confused, anxious or unheard.

These reforms reflect global standards, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which requires that children understand and are included in matters that shape their lives.

National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollands called the reforms “an important step toward ensuring children’s views are listened to and respectfully considered.”

Judge Kylie Beckhouse of the FCFCOA said the changes represent “an important milestone in our Courts’ ongoing commitment to children and young people.”

What this means for separating parents

These reforms may impact your family law matter by:

• increasing opportunities for your child to express their feelings or concerns
• improving the Court’s focus on long-term emotional wellbeing
• creating a more transparent and supportive environment for children
• giving parents clearer guidance about how their actions affect their children

At VRT Lawyers, this approach aligns deeply with the way we already practice ensuring matters remain child-focused rather than conflict-driven.

We welcome these changes and the stability, safety and respect they aim to bring to families navigating separation.

If you're currently navigating a parenting matter…

These reforms may raise questions such as:

• How will my child be involved?
• What if my child doesn’t want to express a view?
• How will this affect the way a judge makes decisions?

Every family situation is unique and understanding how these changes apply to your case can make a significant difference.

If you’re unsure how these reforms affect your matter, we’re here to help you
talk through it. Contact us to book an appointment.