Integrated Client Services Delivery Program for the Family Courts of Australia

Mr Richard McPhetres, project manager of Integrated Client Services Delivery Program for the Family Courts of Australia, says: ‘A number of the LIFE Framework Action Areas have assisted the courts' integrated program, in particular Action Area 2 which covers help-seeking behaviour. Our initial research showed that only 12 to 18 per cent of people knew where to seek help if they were highly distressed. This highlighted a big gap that needed to be filled in our service provision.'

The Family Courts project aims to improve people’s access to mental health services by ensuring the court system’s processes are as supportive as possible.  The program assists court staff to support the mental health and emotional wellbeing of clients by; promoting awareness of mental health patient's needs, providing skills in risk assesment, and providing resources.

 

Program duration

The Family Courts project commenced in 2004 following a family court judge calling for an ‘order of care.’ Scoping for the project involved extensive research and planning, including a successful pilot phase that was completed in 2006.

Location and people

People who access the court system tend to experience distressing life events such as family separation, which often leads to an increased risk suicide.

Aims

The Family Courts project aims to:

• ensure the court system is supportive of people’s mental health
• assist court staff to support the mental health and emotional wellbeing of clients by promoting awareness, providing skills and putting in place supporting infrastructure.

Activities

• Staff mental health training
• Regular mental health updates from project partners.
• Comprehensive referrals to (external) mental health organisations for services such as:
  • counselling
  • dispute resolution
  • group programs
  • children’s groups
  • parenting information sessions.
• Development and provision of help-seeking literature, i.e. brochures covering mental health risks and referral.

Model

The Integrated Client Services Delivery Program model is unique. Currently no other non-mental health provider service in Australia covers the breadth and depth of mental health partnership referrals as the Family Law Courts.

The program is informed by project officers, court registrars and judges contribute to the program along with a panel of experts.  This panel includes :

• culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups
• men’s and women’s groups
• mental health experts
  
• academics.

Lessons learnt

• Providing staff with basic mental health training increases the overall morale of the organisation. In addition: 
  • de-stigmatising mental illness improves (help-seeking) work performance and reduces workplace stress.
• Be prepared for people throughout the organisation to not fully understand a new national program when it is first implemented.
• Continue to undertake internal awareness strategies across the organisation, even after the initial program launch. This awareness raising includes highlighting judges and other senior members of the organisation involvement, as their presence facilitates the program’s success.
• Evaluation costs should be budgeted for when planning a project.

Evaluation information

The evaluation component of the program is incredibly important. The evaluation includes a 360 degree feedback review, with evaluators speaking to:

• people currently accessing the court system
• internal staff e.g. court registrars and judges
• external partners e.g. Centacare

The evaluators also conduct an environmental scan e.g. assessing help-seeking behaviour in the broader community.

Umbrella organisation

Family Court of Australia (FCoA) and Federal Magistrates Court of Australia (FMC).

Project partners

Project partners are key to the success of the courts program. These include a wide variety of other mental health providers across Australia such as:

• service providers, for example Centacare and Anglicare 
• crisis lines, for example Mensline Australia and Lifeline
• general practitioners
• psychologists
• psychiatrists.
  

Family Law Courts partner testimonial

Christine Hodges, of Centacare Brisbane, says: ‘A key benefit of the Family Courts coordinated approach is our clients experience less distress and maintain a greater sense of dignity. When people come to us from a referral by Family Courts, it is easier for them to consider services such as counselling or parental education sessions.’

Contact

Julie Grieg, project officer Julie.Greig@familycourt.gov.au