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The ACT’s Domestic and Family Violence Risk Assessment and Management Framework (DFV-RAMF) was meant to align agencies, improve safety, and standardise responses to family violence. But it’s become a closed-loop system — one that often pre-decides outcomes , omits evidentiary balance, and lacks any form of external scrutiny. Reform doesn’t need to be radical. It needs to be competent, transparent, and measurable. Here are five immediate steps that would make the DFV-RAMF con

If you only know one line about family violence in Australia, make it this: at least one in three victims is male. That’s not a slogan; it’s a summary of multiple official datasets and peer-reviewed studies. The reality is complex, often uncomfortable, and it demands policy responses that support all victims, regardless of gender. Why this article Public policy should follow evidence, not narratives. Below is a concise review of key statistics on male victimisation, with link

<This is general information, not legal advice.> Most men are blindsided by an allegation or an interim Family Violence Order (FVO/AVO/IVO). One minute you’re living your life; the next, you’re served papers, locked out of your home, and facing restrictions you don’t fully understand. The first 48 hours matter. What you do (and don’t do) in those early moments can decide the outcome months down the track. 1. Stay Calm and Stay Polite Shock and anger are normal, but how you ha

The ACT Government’s Domestic and Family Violence Risk Assessment and Management Framework (DFV-RAMF) claims to be an evidence-based system for identifying and managing family-violence risk. But on inspection, the so-called “ Practice Guide 1: Screening for Adults ” and “ Fact Sheet 7: Risk Management Conversation Guide ” operate less like diagnostic tools and more like ideological scripts . They cannot return a “no risk” result , they direct workers to “proactively name th

An expert review has revealed that the ACT Government’s Domestic and Family Violence Risk Assessment and Management Framework (DFV-RAMF) is not fit for purpose . In plain English: it’s a mess — one that mixes ideology with guesswork and breaches the ACT Government’s own mandatory risk management standards. You can read the DFV-RAMF yourself on the ACT Government site: act.gov.au/DFVrisk . You might want to download it now before they take down this shameful document. A Frame

If you’ve ever been blindsided by a lawyer’s letter or a last-minute court move, you know what it feels like to be reacting instead of leading. It’s exhausting, demoralising, and expensive. The solution? Learn to operate inside your ex’s OODA loop — a concept borrowed from military and aviation strategy that applies beautifully to high-stakes family disputes. What’s the OODA Loop? Developed by U.S. Air Force Colonel John Boyd, the OODA loop stands for: Observe – Gather inf

Now that you know how to use ChatGPT to write a legal letter, let’s talk about the actual prompts that work best. You don’t need to be a lawyer or an AI whisperer. You just need a clear structure and five minutes of focus. 1. Before You Start When you open ChatGPT: ✅ Use the GPT-4 model (available in the $20/month plan). ✅ If possible, use a Custom GPT you’ve set up for your case — it remembers your correspondence, tone, and key facts. ✅ Always paste or attach your previo

If you’ve ever spent $400 on a “short” lawyer letter, (and been underwhelmed with the result or timeframe) this one’s for you. You can now draft clean, professional, and well-structured legal correspondence using ChatGPT — and it’s easier than you think. When the relationship falls apart, and we start exchanging legal correspondence, most of us are caught by suprise. To use a volleyball metaphor, we are standing at the baseline flat-footed and waiting for the next ball (lett

In a blistering November 2023 judgment, Judge W.J. Neville of the Federal Circuit and Family Court took aim at the soaring cost of Australian family-law litigation, describing it as “effectively a licence to print money.” The case — Renner & Renner [2023] FedCFamC2F 1499 — involved a simple dispute about children’s passports that somehow generated $26,287.80 in legal fees .  The Court found that 11 different lawyers and paralegals had billed the mother for the same narrow

Family law in Australia has become less about resolution and more about revenue. Behind the polite emails, mediation invitations, and “we’re here to help” slogans lies a machine that feeds on conflict — a sprawling ecosystem of firms, counsellors, experts, and consultants whose livelihoods depend on keeping families at war. When relationships collapse, the system doesn’t reward peace; it rewards persistence. The longer the fight, the larger the bill. How the Cycle Works It st

He’d spent weeks assembling every document—tax returns, bank statements, property valuations, and debt schedules—ready to finalise disclosure. Then the email arrived. “Our client requires urgent support. Unless you agree to pay $800 per week in interim spousal maintenance and $100,000 by way of interim property settlement, our client will commence proceedings immediately.” The letter was polished and polite, but the message was blunt: pay now, or be dragged through court . Th

A Field Guide to the Tactics You May Encounter in Family Court Family law is supposed to deliver justice, not strategy. Yet, some legal representatives have developed a pattern of tactics that—while technically lawful—tilt the process in their client’s favour by stretching time, evidence, and emotion to breaking point. Understanding these moves doesn’t make you paranoid. It makes you prepared. Below is an anonymised summary of recurring patterns seen across Australian Family

Overview The percentage of family violence allegations against men that are proven false in Australia is generally estimated to be between 5% and 9% , according to a range of studies and official reports. While individual research varies slightly, the consensus among experts — including judicial and academic reviews — is that intentionally false allegations are rare , occurring in roughly 1 in 20 cases . False Allegation Rates (Proven False) Most cited figures place the rate

An evidence-based approach This report addresses and refutes the assertion that the mere presence of licensed firearms in the custody of a respondent to a family violence (FV) allegation provides a statistical basis for inferring elevated risk. Furthermore, it comprehensively argues that punitive measures such as automatic firearm removal and a 10-year prohibition imposed solely on the basis of an unproven allegation represent an unwarranted breach of proportionality and huma

It’s finally happening. After years of silence, stonewalling, and systemic failure, the global pushback against family court injustice is building momentum —and it’s not just talk. This week, American reformer Robert Garza announced that his 3 Strikes Law —already gaining traction across the U.S.—is heading to Australia . This legislation cracks down on repeated breaches of custody orders. No more slaps on the wrist. Fines. Jail time. Real accountability. It’s exactly what A

Risk assessments play a vital role in family law, especially in issuing AVOs and FVOs. But what happens when the frameworks used aren’t backed by real evidence or best practice? Main points: What a real risk framework looks like. ISO 31000 outlines clear steps: define risk, measure likelihood and consequence, apply controls, and review regularly. DFV-RAMF skips nearly all of this . Subjective judgment replaces hard data. DFV-RAMF and MARAM rely heavily on practitioner “intu

The Victorian Government’s MARAM framework is often cited as best practice in family violence risk assessment. But is it really a robust risk tool—or just a values-based policy disguised as one? Main points: What MARAM gets wrong. MARAM defines risk levels using vague terms like “at risk” or “serious risk” without any evidence-based thresholds. It prioritises subjective fear over calibrated analysis . No audit trail. No accuracy metrics. Unlike ISO 31000, MARAM offers no..

When an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) or Family Violence Order (FVO) is issued, it’s meant to protect lives. But what if the tools guiding those decisions—like the ACT Goverment's Domestic and Family Violence Risk Assessment and Management Framework (DFV-RAMF) —aren’t up to standard? Main points: DFV-RAMF isn’t actually a risk framework. It lacks core elements like calibrated risk scales, control measures, and auditable metrics. In short, it’s a set of practice guides pr