Acknowledgements
Project Leader
Senior Writer & Researcher
Website Designer
Professor Heather Douglas
Melbourne Law School
The University of Melbourne
Kate Chapple 2015-17, 2019
Hannah Ehler 2020-23
Kath Kerr 2024
Stephen Meadowcroft
2015-19, 2021-23
Dean Wilson 2020
Open Law 2025
Funding Partners
The Attorney-General’s Department, (Commonwealth) co-funds this Bench Book with states and territories.
Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration,
in particular Professor Greg Reinhardt, Alison MacDonald and Kate Thomas
Research Assistants (2015–2024)
Hannah Anderson
Lauren Bellamy
Lyndal Bubke
Marissa Carroll
Samara Cassar
Isabella Conte
Jessica Downing-Ide
Emma Fell
Renita Fernadez
Freya Hallahan
Sophie Hondros
Annabelle Jones
Balawyn Jones
Isabelle Keen
Sarah Kendall
Deylan Kilic-Aidani
Rebekkah Markey-Towler
Ciara Lavender
Elissa Morcombe
Jennifer Ngo
Manasa Pappu
Sophie Philip
Imogen Reithmuller
Emily Rudz
Louise Scarce
Dr Gabrielle Simm
Madeleine Skeen
India Taylor
Kate Thomas
Daniel Trigger
Juliet Walker
Gareth Ward
Jasmine Zamprogno
Charlie Hock
Advisory Committee (2015–2017)
Assistant Commissioner Lammers, Australian Federal Police, ACT.
Victor Martin and Megan Sparke, ACT Justice and Community Safety Directorate
Station Sergeant Joanne Cameron, ACT Police
Caroline Poulton, Legal Policy Officer to Victims of Crime Commissioner, ACT
Meredith Day Deputy Chief Executive Officer Department of the Attorney-General and Justice, Northern Territory
Dr Rae Kaspiew, Dr Rachel Carson and Kelly Hand Australian Institute of Family Studies.
Dr Heather Nancarrow and Dr Mayet Costello, Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS)
Yasmin Gunn - Queensland Courts /Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney-General.
Sgt Sherril Handley, Victoria Police (Prosecutions Division, Legal Services Department)
Mandy Angus, Victoria Department of Justice and Regulation Attorney Generals Department, Victoria, Senior Legal Policy Officer, Criminal Law Policy Criminal Justice Division
Detective Sergeant Rebecca Davis, Safe Families Coordination Unit, Tasmania Police
Susannah O'Reilly, Domestic Violence Specialist Solicitor, Legal Aid NSW
Matthew Weatherson, Judicial College of Victoria, Victoria
Nathan Goetz, Department of Justice and Regulation
Lisa Eldridge, Magistrates' Court of Victoria
Megan Andison, Magistrates' Court of Victoria
Jennifer Hoffman, Commissioner for Victims of Crime Western Australia
Detective Inspector Sue Young Western Australian Police
Wendy Kayler-Thomson, Chair of Family Law Section of Law Council of Australia
Judicial Reference Group (2015-2019)
Family Court of Australia: Justice Hilary Hannam
Federal Circuit Court of Australia: Judge Joe Harman
Northern Territory: Local Court Chief Judge Elizabeth Morris
Local Court Judge Sarah McNamara
NSW: Deputy Chief Magistrate Jane Mottley
Queensland: Deputy Chief Magistrate Leanne O’Shea
South Australia: Magistrate Jay McGrath, Magistrate Lynette Duncan
Tasmania: Magistrate Simon Brown
Victoria: Ms Cathy Lamble, Former Magistrate of Victoria, Magistrate Francis Zemljak
Western Australia: Magistrate Deen Potter
AIJA Advisory Committee for Consultation Project (2021-2022)
AIHA’s expertise on the NDFVBB has been informed by the AIJA’s Advisory Committee for Consultation Project (2021-2022), which included:
Justice Murray Aldridge, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, Division 1
Justice Judy Ryan, Family Court of Australia (ret.)
Justice Helen Wood, Supreme Court of Tasmania
Magistrate Pauline Spencer, Magistrates Court of Victoria
Thanks also to all judicial officer and stakeholder confidential contributors to the research informing the NDFVBB coercive control report.
The development of materials benefits from the ongoing input of a wide range of people, as necessary. Particular thanks to date to:
Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS)
Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS)
Associate Professor Lee Aitken, formerly The University of Queensland
Matilda Alexander
Lara Anstie, Clairs Keeley, Perth
Kerryne Barwick
Susan Beattie, Domestic and Family Violence Death Review Unit, Qld Dept of Justice and Attorney-General
Laura Berta, Dept of Attorney-General and Justice, NT
Lauren Boyer, Administrative Appeals Tribunal of Australia
Dr Jacoba Brasch QC
Deputy Magistrate Felicity Broughton (Magistrates Court Victoria)
The Honourable Diana Bryant AO QC, Former Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia
Anna Butler
Deborah Byrne, Brain Injury Association of Tasmania
Grazia Catalano
Caxton Legal Service
David Ceccon
Margaret Chandler
Catherine Clemow, SA Magistrates Court Associate
Jordan Cotter, Domestic and Family Violence Death Review Unit, Qld Dept of Justice and Attorney-General
Associate Professor Molly Dragiewicz, Griffith University
Jessica Evans, Special Advisor, WA Attorney-General
Federal Circuit Court of Australia
Dr Caitlin Goss, The University of Queensland
Professor David Hamer, University of Sydney
Associate Professor Bridget Harris, Monash University
Sarah Holloway
Louise Hunter, Lander & Rogers, Melbourne
Judge Eugene Hyman, Former judge Superior Court of Santa Clara County
Immigrant Women’s Support Service
Rhona James-French
His Honour Marshall Irwin, Former Judge of the District Court of Queensland.
Sue Lloyd
Yasmin Kennedy
Andrix Lim, formerly Judicial College of Victoria
Angela Lynch, AM, Former President and CEO, Womens’ Legal Service Queensland
Maryanne May
The Honourable Michelle May AM, Former Judge of the Family Court of Australia
Kathryn McMillan QC
Dana McMullen, Legal Aid New South Wales
Principal Registrar David Monaghan, Family Court of Western Australia
Paul Monsour
Kate Morrison, former Associate to The Honourable Justice Peter Murphy
Dr Heather Nancarrow, former CEO Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS).
Dr Linda Neilson
James O’Hara, Former Associate to Justice S. Hall, Supreme Court WA
Lisa O’Neill
Queensland Accessing Interpreters Working Group
Zoe Rathus AM Griffith University
Chloe Rattray, Lander & Rogers, Melbourne
Dr Leonie Tanzcer, University College London
Jane Reynolds, Family Court of Australia & Federal Circuit Court of Australia
Anne Marie Rice
Greta Robenstone, University of Melbourne
Nicola Ross
Margie Rowe, Family Violence Team Leader, Legal Aid ACT
Associate Professor Michael Salter, University of New South Wales
Magistrate Colin Strofield, formerly at the Specialist Domestic and Family Violence Court, Southport, Qld
Associate Professor Leonie Tanczer, UCL
Associate Professor Stella Tarrant, University of Western Australia
Annabel Taylor
David Tedhams, Senior Research Manager, Judicial College of Victoria
Former Chief Judge Family Court of Western Australia, Stephen Thackray
Madeleine Thompson, SA Magistrates Court Associate
Rodney Vlais
Megan Ward, Family Violence Judicial Support Officer, Magistrates’ Court of Victoria
Matthew Weatherson, Judicial Information Advisor, Judicial College of Victoria
Michelle Weaver, Magistrates Court Service, Qld Dept of Justice and Attorney-General
Yvonne Whittaker-Rush
Agata Wierzbowski
Women’s Law Centre Western Australia
Women's Legal Services Australia
Women’s Legal Service (Brisbane)
Victim experiences
Most of the victim experiences were prepared with assistance from an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship [Heather Douglas: FT 140100796]. We thank those who participated for their willingness to share their stories. The remaining victim experiences are based on case studies provided by Caxton Legal Service and Legal Aid (NSW).
Last updated: July 2024
Acknowledgements
Project Leader
Senior Writer & Researcher
Website Designer
Professor Heather Douglas
Melbourne Law School
The University of Melbourne
Kate Chapple 2015-17, 2019
Hannah Ehler 2020-23
Kath Kerr 2024
Stephen Meadowcroft
2015-19, 2021-23
Dean Wilson 2020
Open Law 2025
Funding Partners
The Attorney-General’s Department, (Commonwealth) co-funds this Bench Book with states and territories.
Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration,
in particular Professor Greg Reinhardt, Alison MacDonald and Kate Thomas
Research Assistants (2015–2024)
Hannah Anderson
Lauren Bellamy
Lyndal Bubke
Marissa Carroll
Samara Cassar
Isabella Conte
Jessica Downing-Ide
Emma Fell
Renita Fernadez
Freya Hallahan
Sophie Hondros
Annabelle Jones
Balawyn Jones
Isabelle Keen
Sarah Kendall
Deylan Kilic-Aidani
Rebekkah Markey-Towler
Ciara Lavender
Elissa Morcombe
Jennifer Ngo
Manasa Pappu
Sophie Philip
Imogen Reithmuller
Emily Rudz
Louise Scarce
Dr Gabrielle Simm
Madeleine Skeen
India Taylor
Kate Thomas
Daniel Trigger
Juliet Walker
Gareth Ward
Jasmine Zamprogno
Charlie Hock
Advisory Committee (2015–2017)
Assistant Commissioner Lammers, Australian Federal Police, ACT.
Victor Martin and Megan Sparke, ACT Justice and Community Safety Directorate
Station Sergeant Joanne Cameron, ACT Police
Caroline Poulton, Legal Policy Officer to Victims of Crime Commissioner, ACT
Meredith Day Deputy Chief Executive Officer Department of the Attorney-General and Justice, Northern Territory
Dr Rae Kaspiew, Dr Rachel Carson and Kelly Hand Australian Institute of Family Studies.
Dr Heather Nancarrow and Dr Mayet Costello, Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS)
Yasmin Gunn - Queensland Courts /Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney-General.
Sgt Sherril Handley, Victoria Police (Prosecutions Division, Legal Services Department)
Mandy Angus, Victoria Department of Justice and Regulation Attorney Generals Department, Victoria, Senior Legal Policy Officer, Criminal Law Policy Criminal Justice Division
Detective Sergeant Rebecca Davis, Safe Families Coordination Unit, Tasmania Police
Susannah O'Reilly, Domestic Violence Specialist Solicitor, Legal Aid NSW
Matthew Weatherson, Judicial College of Victoria, Victoria
Nathan Goetz, Department of Justice and Regulation
Lisa Eldridge, Magistrates' Court of Victoria
Megan Andison, Magistrates' Court of Victoria
Jennifer Hoffman, Commissioner for Victims of Crime Western Australia
Detective Inspector Sue Young Western Australian Police
Wendy Kayler-Thomson, Chair of Family Law Section of Law Council of Australia
Judicial Reference Group (2015-2019)
Family Court of Australia: Justice Hilary Hannam
Federal Circuit Court of Australia: Judge Joe Harman
Northern Territory: Local Court Chief Judge Elizabeth Morris
Local Court Judge Sarah McNamara
NSW: Deputy Chief Magistrate Jane Mottley
Queensland: Deputy Chief Magistrate Leanne O’Shea
South Australia: Magistrate Jay McGrath, Magistrate Lynette Duncan
Tasmania: Magistrate Simon Brown
Victoria: Ms Cathy Lamble, Former Magistrate of Victoria, Magistrate Francis Zemljak
Western Australia: Magistrate Deen Potter
AIJA Advisory Committee for Consultation Project (2021-2022)
AIHA’s expertise on the NDFVBB has been informed by the AIJA’s Advisory Committee for Consultation Project (2021-2022), which included:
Justice Murray Aldridge, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, Division 1
Justice Judy Ryan, Family Court of Australia (ret.)
Justice Helen Wood, Supreme Court of Tasmania
Magistrate Pauline Spencer, Magistrates Court of Victoria
Thanks also to all judicial officer and stakeholder confidential contributors to the research informing the NDFVBB coercive control report.
The development of materials benefits from the ongoing input of a wide range of people, as necessary. Particular thanks to date to:
Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS)
Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS)
Associate Professor Lee Aitken, formerly The University of Queensland
Matilda Alexander
Lara Anstie, Clairs Keeley, Perth
Kerryne Barwick
Susan Beattie, Domestic and Family Violence Death Review Unit, Qld Dept of Justice and Attorney-General
Laura Berta, Dept of Attorney-General and Justice, NT
Lauren Boyer, Administrative Appeals Tribunal of Australia
Dr Jacoba Brasch QC
Deputy Magistrate Felicity Broughton (Magistrates Court Victoria)
The Honourable Diana Bryant AO QC, Former Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia
Anna Butler
Deborah Byrne, Brain Injury Association of Tasmania
Grazia Catalano
Caxton Legal Service
David Ceccon
Margaret Chandler
Catherine Clemow, SA Magistrates Court Associate
Jordan Cotter, Domestic and Family Violence Death Review Unit, Qld Dept of Justice and Attorney-General
Associate Professor Molly Dragiewicz, Griffith University
Jessica Evans, Special Advisor, WA Attorney-General
Federal Circuit Court of Australia
Dr Caitlin Goss, The University of Queensland
Professor David Hamer, University of Sydney
Associate Professor Bridget Harris, Monash University
Sarah Holloway
Louise Hunter, Lander & Rogers, Melbourne
Judge Eugene Hyman, Former judge Superior Court of Santa Clara County
Immigrant Women’s Support Service
Rhona James-French
His Honour Marshall Irwin, Former Judge of the District Court of Queensland.
Sue Lloyd
Yasmin Kennedy
Andrix Lim, formerly Judicial College of Victoria
Angela Lynch, AM, Former President and CEO, Womens’ Legal Service Queensland
Maryanne May
The Honourable Michelle May AM, Former Judge of the Family Court of Australia
Kathryn McMillan QC
Dana McMullen, Legal Aid New South Wales
Principal Registrar David Monaghan, Family Court of Western Australia
Paul Monsour
Kate Morrison, former Associate to The Honourable Justice Peter Murphy
Dr Heather Nancarrow, former CEO Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS).
Dr Linda Neilson
James O’Hara, Former Associate to Justice S. Hall, Supreme Court WA
Lisa O’Neill
Queensland Accessing Interpreters Working Group
Zoe Rathus AM Griffith University
Chloe Rattray, Lander & Rogers, Melbourne
Dr Leonie Tanzcer, University College London
Jane Reynolds, Family Court of Australia & Federal Circuit Court of Australia
Anne Marie Rice
Greta Robenstone, University of Melbourne
Nicola Ross
Margie Rowe, Family Violence Team Leader, Legal Aid ACT
Associate Professor Michael Salter, University of New South Wales
Magistrate Colin Strofield, formerly at the Specialist Domestic and Family Violence Court, Southport, Qld
Associate Professor Leonie Tanczer, UCL
Associate Professor Stella Tarrant, University of Western Australia
Annabel Taylor
David Tedhams, Senior Research Manager, Judicial College of Victoria
Former Chief Judge Family Court of Western Australia, Stephen Thackray
Madeleine Thompson, SA Magistrates Court Associate
Rodney Vlais
Megan Ward, Family Violence Judicial Support Officer, Magistrates’ Court of Victoria
Matthew Weatherson, Judicial Information Advisor, Judicial College of Victoria
Michelle Weaver, Magistrates Court Service, Qld Dept of Justice and Attorney-General
Yvonne Whittaker-Rush
Agata Wierzbowski
Women’s Law Centre Western Australia
Women's Legal Services Australia
Women’s Legal Service (Brisbane)
Victim experiences
Most of the victim experiences were prepared with assistance from an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship [Heather Douglas: FT 140100796]. We thank those who participated for their willingness to share their stories. The remaining victim experiences are based on case studies provided by Caxton Legal Service and Legal Aid (NSW).
Last updated: July 2024