Section 11E — Family Law Act 1975: Courts to consider seeking advice from family consultants

(1) If, under this Act, a court has the power to: (a) order a person to attend family counselling or family dispute resolution; or (b) order a person to participate in a course, program or other service (other than arbitration); or (c) order a person to attend appointments with a family consultant; or (d) advise or inform a person about family counselling, family dispute resolution or other courses, programs or services; the court: (e) may, before exercising the power, seek the advice of: (i) if the court is the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia—a family consultant nominated by the Chief Executive Officer; or (ii) if the court is the Family Court of a State—a family consultant of that court; or (iii) if the court is not mentioned in subparagraph (i) or (ii)—an appropriately qualified person (whether or not an officer of the court); as to the services appropriate to the needs of the person and the most appropriate provider of those services; and (f) must, before exercising the power, consider seeking that advice. (2) If the court seeks advice under subsection (1), the court must inform the person in relation to whom the advice is sought: (a) whom the court is seeking advice from; and (b) the nature of the advice the court is seeking.