Psycho-Legal Concepts for Parenting in Child Custody and Child Protection Vol. 1

This book provides a practical guide to understanding and applying recent changes in Australian family law and child protection law, with a focus on children at risk of mental health difficulties. It emphasizes the importance of psycho-legal concepts—key ideas that must be shared between lawyers, social workers, and mental health clinicians—to improve coordination and decision-making in child custody and protection cases. The text offers a clinician’s perspective on working with court-involved families and proposes strategies to enhance interdisciplinary collaboration, ensuring that legal and therapeutic interventions prioritize the best interests of the child.

Key Features:

• Explains recent legislative changes in family law and child protection in Australia.
• Introduces psycho-legal concepts for shared understanding across professions.
• Provides practical guidance for lawyers, social workers, and mental health professionals.
• Highlights collaboration between child custody and child protection jurisdictions.
• Focuses on promoting the mental health and welfare of vulnerable children.
• Includes strategies for improving interdisciplinary practice in court-involved families.