Family law expert to deliver Asche oration
A Chief Justice widely recognised for the role she played in establishing the Federal Magistrates Court will deliver this year’s Austin Asche Oration titled “The Big Picture: Responding to Challenges Arising in International Family Law”.
When appointed Chief Justice of the Family Court in 2004, The Honourable Chief Justice Diana Bryant AO, Family Court of Australia became the second woman in Australia's history to head a federal court.
Following her attendance at The 2nd International Family Law and Practice Conference 2013 in London, England, Chief Justice Diana Bryant will provide an overview of the international family law landscape.
Some of the issues the Chief Justice will consider include Australia's obligations under international children's conventions particularly in our region, Australia's role in the Hague Judges' Network and work with the Permanent Bureau of the Hague, international child abduction and international relocation cases and international surrogacy issues.
Chief Justice Bryant graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from Melbourne University in 1969 and has a Master of Laws from Monash University. Before her appointment to the Bench she practised as a family lawyer with a national firm in Perth and spent 10 years at the Victorian Bar, becoming a Queen’s Counsel in 1997.
She has served on many boards and advisory groups during her career and has had a longstanding commitment to the advancement of women in the law. She is currently the Patron of Australian Women Lawyers, and a Board member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. She received a Centenary Medal in 2001 for her role in the establishment of the Federal Magistrates Court. In 2012 she received an order of Australia(AO) in the Australian Honours list for her contribution to the judiciary and to the law, particularly to family law policy reform and practice, and to the advancement of women in the legal profession.
Important initiatives established during her tenure as Chief Justice are anonymisation and publication of all judgments of the Court on the web, introducing a less adversarial trial in the Family Court in children’s cases and the Court’s involvement with the Indonesian Religious Courts.
The Austin Asche Oration in Law and Governance will be held on Thursday, 12 September from 5:00 to 7:00pm at the Dining Room and Nitmiluk Lounge Level 4, Parliament House. The event is free and open to members of the public. The oration honours the contribution of The Honourable Austin Asche AC QC to the NT community.
RSVP to E: rsvp@cdu.edu.au or P: 8946 6554.