Rima Bitar

Family Court of Australia

The Family Court of Australia (Family Court) is a superior Court of record established by Parliament in 1975 under Chapter III of the Constitution. The Court operates under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) and, through its specialist judges and staff, helps Australians to resolve their most complex family disputes. The purpose of the Family Court, as Australia's superior Court in family law, is to help Australians resolve their most complex family disputes by deciding matters according to the law, promptly, courteously and effectively. The Family Court exercises original and appellate jurisdiction in family law, including in a number of highly specialised areas. At first instance, the Court determines cases with the most complex law, facts and parties, and hears cases arising under the regulations implementing the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. It provides national coverage as the appellate court in family law matters, including hearing appeals from decisions of single judges of the Court and from judges of the Federal Circuit Court in family law matters and from the Family Court of Western Australia. The Family Court has jurisdiction under all aspects of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth).