Research Into Practice: Beyond Diagnosis

The Journey Between

Rethinking Children’s Transitions After Separation 

Every transition is more than a handover. It is an opportunity to strengthen—or weaken—a child’s sense of safety, belonging and connection.

Description

Neurodiversity, Parenting and the Family Court

Family law professionals are increasingly working with children and parents whose lives are shaped by neurodiversity. Autism, ADHD, learning differences, mental health conditions and other forms of neurodiversity are becoming more visible within separation, parenting disputes and family court processes.

Yet an important question remains:

How do we distinguish genuine parenting concerns from unconscious bias?

This Research into Practice session explores Daniel Pickar’s important article Considerations regarding Child and Parent Neurodiversity in Family Court, together with related contemporary research examining the implications of neurodiversity for child-focused practice.

Together we will explore:

• Understanding neurodiversity as more than a diagnostic label.
• The risk of implicit bias when assessing parenting capacity.
• Supporting the voices of neurodiverse children in family law processes.
• Parenting arrangements that recognise individual developmental needs rather than one-size-fits-all approaches.
• Recognising strengths alongside challenges in neurodiverse parents and children.
• Translating contemporary research into practical, child-centred decision making.

Rather than asking whether neurodiversity is a strength or a vulnerability, this session considers a more useful question:

How can family law professionals make decisions that are both evidence-informed and genuinely responsive to the individual child and family?

As always, Research into Practice is not a journal club.

It is an opportunity for practitioners from across family law, family dispute resolution, psychology, social work, child-inclusive practice and the courts to critically examine emerging research, challenge assumptions and consider how new knowledge can strengthen everyday professional practice.

Join us as we explore one of the most significant emerging conversations in contemporary family law.

Stay Curious. Stay Current. Stay Connected.

Less journal club, more professional conversation—where research meets the realities of practice.

Research into Practice is ICCFL’s monthly **Community of Practice**, bringing together family law professionals from Australia and around the world for an engaging Lunch & Learn conversation where contemporary research is explored, challenged and translated into everyday practice.

Each session centres on one or two recent journal articles, book chapters or significant publications relevant to family law, family dispute resolution and child and family practice. Together we examine the authors’ ideas, findings and recommendations, asking one practical question:

What does this mean for the work we do every day?

Research often looks backwards—examining what has happened, analysing data and drawing conclusions.

Research into Practice looks forward.

Together we explore the strengths, limitations and practical applications of emerging research, translating evidence into meaningful strategies for working with children, parents, families and professionals.

These sessions are intentionally conversational. Bring your lunch, your curiosity and your questions. Whether you are an experienced practitioner or new to the profession, Research into Practice offers a welcoming space to stay current with emerging knowledge, engage in thoughtful discussion, expand your professional network and contribute to a growing community committed to reflective, evidence-informed practice.

Every Research into Practice session also contributes to the development of new ICCFL professional resources. Participants are invited to share ideas, questions and reflections that help shape future practice tools, learning resources and professional artifacts for the wider family law community.

As part of ICCFL’s membership with the Australian Copyright Agency, participants receive access to the published materials discussed during each session.