Family Reports
Dr. Jerome Caspersz is an experienced Family Report Writer who can be commissioned, by you or your lawyer, to complete a Family Report for your family.
Jerome is an industry recognised expert in child-development & family dynamics & has over 10 years experience in various roles as a Clinical Psychologist with children, youth and families. Jerome’s experience particularly relevant to Family Report writing includes over 10 years working with children, teenagers and families in assessment & counselling roles. Further, Jerome has over 7 years experience as a court-appointed Family Consultant and Court Child Expert for the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia producing Family Reports, providing expert-witness testimony to the Courts and delivering child-focussed interventions for separated families.
Jerome conducts Family Reports in Sydney, Melbourne, Byron Bay and Gold Coast, with office locations in Sydney CBD, Melbourne CBD, Gold Coast & Byron Bay.
Upon, Jerome’s services being commissioned to conduct a Family Report, parties will be provided with all the relevant details and more specific information regarding the process that will take place.
Read below for further general information about Family Reports and the process involved.
Please nominate Jerome to your Lawyer as a prospective Family Report Writer or contact Jerome directly via email: [email protected] should you need to discuss your needs or queries.
What is a Family Report?
A Family Report is a thorough, independent family assessment that provides information that can assist decision-making about children.
Ultimately, the purpose of a family report is about identifying and making recommendations about what is in the best interests of the children within the family dynamic.
Who can conduct a Family Report?
A Family Report can be prepared by a suitably qualified professional (typically a psychologist or social worker) with expertise in child and family matters. Such persons can be sometimes referred to as a ‘Family, Consultant’, ‘Single-Expert’ or ‘Family Report Writer’.
What type of information is gathered and communicated in a Family Report?
In preparing the report, the family consultant considers a variety of information including, the children’s relationships, experiences and development, the family circumstances and any other issues relevant to the matter. The family report writer provides in the report an evaluation of the situation and makes recommendations for parenting arrangements that will likely best meet the children’s future care, welfare and developmental needs.
What is the process of commissioning a Family Report Writer?
Typically, Family Reports are usually ordered by a judge or a registrar under under Chapter 15 of the Family Law Act. Parties can either agree by consent to appoint the Family Report Writer or a Judge can appoint the Single-Expert in a court order.
It is a requirement that the Family Report Writer is provided with a Joint letter of instruction from the parties (usually their legal representatives), which outlines any specific information sought from the report.
Following this, dates and times for the assessment will be organised between the Family Report Writer and parties.
What is the assessment process involved in a Family Report?
The Family Report Writer will initially be provided with relevant information from both parties regarding the situation (that each party has access to).
On the scheduled day of the assessment, typically, the parents will be interviewed at least once. Other parties who will have significant involvement in the care of the children (e.g. current partners) will also be interviewed. The children will be observed with each parent separately. The children will be interviewed if they are deemed to be of a suitable age. A decision is also occasionally made by the Family Report Writer as to whether any other party could add relevant information to the assessment. It is expected that parties allow for a full day for the assessment process to be complete.
Some Family Report Writers may also implement the use of additional assessment tools/materials for the parties and or children to complete.
Following this, the parties may be contacted for a follow up interview if required.
The report is then compiled by the Family Report Writer and when completed will be released to the court, to the parties directly, or their legal representatives.