Research Into Practice: When Identity Becomes the Dispute

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

Supporting Children and Families when Gender Diversity Enters Family Conflict

Family law professionals are increasingly encountering cases where a child’s gender identity or gender expression becomes intertwined with parental separation, parenting disputes and family conflict. These matters often raise complex questions about child development, parental responsibility, children’s voices, family relationships and the role of professionals.

How do we remain genuinely child-centred when identity itself becomes part of the dispute?

This Research into Practice session explores two important recent articles from Family Court Review, examining current research, emerging practice frameworks and the implications for family law professionals working with children and families.

Together we will consider:

• How family conflict can shape conversations about gender identity.
• Supporting children’s wellbeing while maintaining a child-centred focus.
• The role of parents, practitioners and the family justice system.
• Current interdisciplinary thinking and emerging best practice.
• Areas of consensus, ongoing debate and questions requiring further research.

As always, this is not a journal club.

Research into Practice brings professionals together to critically explore contemporary research, share diverse professional perspectives and translate emerging evidence into thoughtful, practical approaches for working with children and families.

Whether you are a family dispute resolution practitioner, lawyer, psychologist, family consultant, parenting coordinator or child-inclusive practitioner, this session offers an opportunity to engage respectfully with an important and evolving area of practice.

Bring your curiosity, your questions and your professional experience as we ask the question at the heart of every Research into Practice session:

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

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.