Family law affects some of the most vulnerable people in Australian society — parents separating, children in disputed custody, people fleeing domestic violence, grandparents cut off from grandchildren. The family law system is complex, expensive, and slow. Legal representation in family law matters is extremely expensive, placing it beyond the reach of many Australians — forcing people to navigate the courts self-represented or to accept poor outcomes. Grant funding supports legal aid, community legal centres, family dispute resolution, and the reform advocacy that improves the family justice system.
The system
The access problem
Domestic violence
Children
Legal Aid Commissions
Each state/territory has a Legal Aid Commission:
- Family law legal aid (means-tested, merits-tested)
- Duty lawyers in family courts
- Family violence legal assistance
Community Legal Centres Programme
Commonwealth funding for community legal centres (CLCs).
Family Relationship Centres
Government-funded dispute resolution to keep matters out of court.
Domestic Violence Legal Services
Specialist legal services for DV victims in family law.
Law Foundation of NSW
Community legal centre grants and access to justice.
Justice Connect
Pro bono legal services for not-for-profits and individuals.
Victoria Law Foundation
Legal information and access to justice.
State-based law foundations
Each state has a law foundation providing grants for access to justice.
Women's Legal Services
Free legal help for women in family law.
Relationships Australia
Family dispute resolution and family support.
Community legal centres (CLCs)
Family dispute resolution
Self-represented litigant support
Domestic violence and family law
Children and family law
Property law
Post-separation
Legal reform advocacy
Research and evaluation
Legal aid funding in Australia has failed to keep pace with need and cost:
- Legal aid commission funding has not increased in real terms for decades
- Means tests exclude many people who cannot afford private lawyers
- Merits tests exclude matters that don't meet threshold
- The resulting system: wealthy people get lawyers; vulnerable people represent themselves
The consequence is a family law system that produces worse outcomes for those who need protection most — particularly victims of domestic violence.
Domestic violence intersection
The intersection of family law and domestic violence is one of the most critical areas. Applications that support DV victims to navigate family law safely — through legal assistance, safety planning, and court support — are high-priority.
Self-represented litigant support
Massive numbers of family law litigants are unrepresented. Applications that help self-represented litigants understand and navigate the system — through information, coaching, document support — improve outcomes without full legal representation.
Early resolution
Lengthy family law proceedings are damaging for children. Applications that support early dispute resolution — family dispute resolution, mediation — keep families out of court and reduce harm.
Legal aid advocacy
Chronic underfunding of legal aid is a systemic problem. Applications that combine direct legal service with advocacy for increased legal aid funding address both symptom and cause.
Tahua's grants management platform supports access to justice funders and community legal centres — with client matter tracking, legal outcome measurement, community reach data, and the reporting tools that help family law funders demonstrate their investment in access to justice for all Australians.