The process of preparing for a Family Report isn’t about presenting a “perfect” version of yourself or your parenting. It’s about understanding what matters most, and showing how you’re creating a safe, stable, and loving environment for your child.
Preparing for a Family Report can stir up a mix of emotions: worry, uncertainty, even fear. It’s natural to feel vulnerable when you know someone will be looking closely at how your family works and how your child is cared for.
A Family Report writer’s purpose is to uncover insights to help the Court make decisions that support your child’s wellbeing and your family’s new beginning. Our Family Report writer, Jill Lander, has seen how powerful it can be when parents step into this process prepared and grounded. She offers private, compassionate Family Report services that help parents and children feel at ease.
By understanding the six key areas that Family Report writers focus on, you can replace fear with confidence ahead of your interviews with the report writer.
What is a Family Report writer and what are they looking for?
IA Family Report writer conducts a professional evaluation to understand your family dynamics and how different arrangements might support your child’s wellbeing. The assessment focuses on understanding how your family naturally interacts and what arrangements will work best for your child moving forward. Every evaluation is guided by Section 60CC of the Family Law Act, ensuring the child’s best interests remain the primary focus throughout the process.
The Court doesn’t expect perfection from parents. What they’re looking for is an understanding of how each parent’s circumstances, capabilities, and approach to parenting can contribute to positive outcomes, as your family creates its new beginning.
Evaluation factors under Section 60CC of the Family Law Act
Section 60CC provides the legal framework that guides every Family Report. Courts consider six core factors when determining a child’s best interests:
1. Safety considerations
Promoting the safety of the child and each person caring for them is a core consideration, including safety from family violence, abuse, neglect, or other harm. The Family Report writer assesses how each parent manages conflict, protects the child, and promotes safe arrangements to spend time with the other parent.
2. The child’s views (when age appropriate)
When children are mature enough to express their feelings about living arrangements or time with parents, their views are carefully considered. The weight given to these views depends on the child’s age, maturity, and ability to express their thoughts independently without undue influence.
3. Developmental needs
Every child’s emotional, psychological, and physical needs evolve as they grow. The report writer considers how well each parent understands and supports their child’s ongoing developmental journey.
4. Parental capacity
Meeting child needs
This assessment focuses on your emotional availability, consistency, supervision abilities, and capacity to provide stability. It encompasses your ability to meet your child’s educational, social, and developmental needs as they grow and change.
Emotional and psychological wellbeing of the parents
The assessment considers how each parent’s mental health, stress levels, or past experiences might affect their parenting capacity. Being honest about challenges and demonstrating how you’re addressing them often strengthens rather than weakens your presentation during an assessment.
Evidence of co-parenting potential
This area assesses your ability to support your child’s relationship with the other parent and your willingness to engage respectfully in co-parenting communication. It’s about demonstrating insight into your child’s needs beyond your own feelings about the separation.
Your capacity to put your child’s wellbeing first, even when personal emotions are involved, demonstrates the kind of insight that supports positive long-term outcomes.
5. Meaningful relationships
Children benefit from having safe, consistent, and meaningful relationships with both parents, and with other significant people in their lives, such as grandparents, siblings, extended family, and close community members.
The Family Report writer considers the quality, stability, and emotional safety of these connections, assessing how each relationship supports the child’s sense of identity, belonging, and continuity.
H3: 6. Other relevant factors
Any other circumstances relevant to the specific child’s situation and family dynamics.
H4: Practical factors affecting arrangements
Practical considerations such as work schedules, living conditions, geography, and support networks, all influence what arrangements are realistic and sustainable for your family’s new structure.
Practical assessments cover:
- Housing stability and appropriateness for your child’s needs
- Work commitments and flexibility to accommodate parenting time
- Geographic proximity and transport arrangements that work for everyone
- Extended family and community support systems available to you
Cultural considerations
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, additional considerations recognise important cultural factors and the child’s right to maintain connection with family, community, culture, country, and language.
Family Report writers don’t make final decisions about parenting arrangements; they provide professional insight to assist the Court in making informed decisions based on these legal considerations that support your family’s positive new beginning.
What you can expect during the assessment
Understanding the process can help reduce anxiety about what lies ahead and allows you to prepare with confidence:
Separate parent interviews: You’ll have individual time to share your perspective, concerns, and hopes for your child’s future arrangements in a supportive, environment.
Child interviews: Age-appropriate interviews with children that allow your child to express their feelings and wishes safely, without pressure or judgement.
Parent-child observations: Interactions that provide insight into your relationship dynamics and attachment patterns as they naturally occur.
The process is designed to be supportive, child-centred, and impartial. Honesty, cooperation, and genuine focus on your child’s wellbeing is valued far more than trying to present a “perfect” image or having all the answers.
What this means for you: You don’t need to be a perfect parent to have a positive assessment. The focus is on understanding your family’s unique dynamics and what will work best moving forward, especially for your child.
How to prepare for a Family Report assessment, and what should I focus on?
Preparation can help you feel more confident and ensure the assessment accurately reflects your parenting capacity and commitment to your child’s wellbeing. Remember, assessors value genuine insight into your child’s needs and your own behaviour over polished presentations that don’t reflect real family dynamics.
Focus on your child’s needs: Be prepared to discuss your child’s specific needs, interests, and what arrangements would best support their development and happiness in your family’s new structure.
Be authentic: Avoid rehearsed answers or trying to present a perfect image. Assessors value honesty and genuine insight over polished responses that don’t reflect real family life.
Gather relevant information: Bring any documents that support your case but keep them concise and factual. Focus on information that directly relates to your child’s needs and your parenting capacity.
Consider support: If you’re feeling particularly anxious, consider pre-session preparation or reading resources about how to prepare for Family Report assessments.
This is about providing the best possible information to support your child’s wellbeing and your family’s positive new beginning, not about “winning” the favour of the report writer.
The best way to prepare for Family Report is to be authentic and focused on your child
Family Report writers are looking for parents who put their child’s needs first, demonstrate insight into what their child requires, their own behaviour and show willingness to work constructively toward positive outcomes.
Jill Lander has helped families across Australia (including Brisbane, Central Queensland, and Sydney, North Queesnland and Tasmania) navigate this process with confidence. Her comprehensive understanding of Section 60CC requirements, combined with genuine empathy for families in transition, ensures that every assessment is thorough, fair and focused on creating the best possible outcomes for children and their families.
Book a confidential consultation with Jill Lander today to learn how a private Family Report can help you present your family’s story clearly, calmly, and with confidence.
DISCLAIMER – The information provided in this blog is general and does not consider your individual legal needs or objectives. It does not constitute personal advice and is for informational purposes only. We recommend seeking out professional and independent legal advice from qualified Australian lawyer to advise on your individual situation before acting on any information contained below. Lander Solicitors Queensland and Lander Family Reports and Mediations accept no express or implied liability for negligence or contractually for reliance on any information provided. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.
