We also privately agreed on FRW and I think this has benefits. It is obviously much quicker too. It is good advice to be open and frank and generally supportive of the childrens' relationship with the other parent unless there are major concerns / areas of risk that the FRW needs to be made aware of. I was surprised at how much focus was placed on the nature of the relationship prior to separation and reasons for separation and the events that transpired around separation. It would be a good idea to maybe jot down a chronological note of how things transpired at that time and any risk items that arose at those times. The basis of this I believe is the FRW wants to establish what the parenting roles were and what the co-parenting relationship is. A big risk factor they identify is lack of co-operation between co-parents. I think for some people it would be hard to have those past events sprung on them during what is already a high pressure situation so go there prepared to talk about difficult things.
If there are relevant school records or doctors records that are relevant to the childrens situation then these are relevant for the FRW too and the parents can agree to forward such important information to the FRW. As a side note - if there is no consent to send such information to the FRW then this creates a basis to dispute the FRW findings in court.
I do think there is some value in canvassing potential FRW's. Mostly they will have a bio online, like on linkedin or something of the sort. I'm in QLD so unfortunately can't assist with names in VIC. However, from what I have heard they are mostly thorough and professional.
Thank you for your response. It ended up being Dr. Sophia Franks, not sure if anyone has seen her. I am sure she would be very professional.
Now in my case, my ex does not want to communicate about anything or "over" communicates dramatically. There is no middle ground unfortunately. I suggest a co-parenting app, he ignores me. I suggest we need to address interstate travel (not in our interim orders), he takes the children interstate without any notification knowing the risks of a pandemic. I suggest video-call time with the children on my parenting time, he denies. I am really not sure how to effectively co-parent if there NO/ZERO communication. Believe me, if it was up to me, I would go no contact tomorrow, though none of this is about me, it's about our children. What actually consist as lacking in co-parenting?
I will definitely prepare for what the relationship regarding the children were prior to separation and where it all started to crumble. Great advice.
The FRW sent through only four interviews to be conducted. First the interview with the father, then second the children, then thirdly the parents and children and then the interview with the mother (me). No one else. This was surprising to me, since my ex has a girlfriend that he pushes parental responsibility on when the children are in his care and she has been mentioned in his latest Affidavit. If he cannot text me, then he writes 10 page Affidavits on me and everything I do wrong. There are also plenty of fabrications in there that can be disproven, though not the topic at hand now. The ex's mother also occasionally looks after the children on his parenting time, though she has not been asked to join in. I was curious on the FRW decides on whom they want to interview?
So many questions, and very hot weather here.