Victoria Legal Aid

Working with First Nations families

We support families going through separation to make decisions about parenting arrangements and finances in a safe and supportive environment, with the help of lawyers.

Supporting families to resolve disputes

Our Family Dispute Resolution Service can help with family law disputes, in both children’s and property cases. Our focus is on children and their best interests. Our goal is for children to maintain relationships with important people in their lives and to their culture.

We support families to manage separation issues. We can help with things like referrals or finding legal assistance, leading to better outcomes for children. We aim for decisions to be made by parents and carers rather than a judge in court. Dispute resolution is very effective if accessed at an early stage.

Providing culturally secure and safe dispute resolution

We acknowledge that First Nations communities experience significant disadvantage. For many reasons, including past and present injustices, First Nations people may be reluctant to use legal and government services. There are many reasons for this reluctance. We understand that communities may have complex legal needs that are not being met.

Our goal is to provide family dispute resolution that is culturally safe and secure for all families. This framework helps guide our services and approach. We will continue to review and implement the framework and welcome feedback on it and our services, including from Aboriginal-controlled services we work with, like DjirraExternal Link and the Victorian Aboriginal Legal ServiceExternal Link .

Read the framework and our other resources

More information

Read more about family dispute resolution at Victoria Legal Aid.

Disclaimer: The material in this print-out relates to the law as it applies in the state of Victoria. It is intended as a general guide only. Readers should not act on the basis of any material in this print-out without getting legal advice about their own particular situations. Victoria Legal Aid disclaims any liability howsoever caused to any person in respect of any action taken in reliance on the contents of the publication.

We help Victorians with their legal problems and represent those who need it most. Find legal answers, chat with us online, or call us. You can speak to us in English or ask for an interpreter. You can also find more legal information at www.legalaid.vic.gov.au

Reviewed 24 January 2024

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