Greater Melbourne Network Bulletin
- vicflpn
- 10 hours ago
- 8 min read
What's inside:
AIFS research report: The two-way relationship between socio-economic status and health conditions for Australian men
From 31 October 2025 the following documents will be required when filing an Application for Consent Orders on the Commonwealth Courts Portal:
The Proposed orders signed by all parties (on each page) in PDF format
The Proposed orders in an unsigned Word document (.docx) version
The Application for consent orders form and any other documents required having regard to the orders sought.
This change is being implemented to ensure that all published orders are of the highest visual quality and to decrease the time required for publication, enabling parties and practitioners quicker access to published orders.
This change will mean that you cannot submit an Application for Consent Orders on the Commonwealth Courts Portal without also providing a word document version, as well as the signed PDF version of the Proposed orders.
You will be required to confirm by way of check box that the text contained within the Word document is identical to the text in the signed PDF submitted with your application.
If you cannot provide a Word document version please contact the Court by email or live chat so we can provide advice on the options available to you.
This webinar brought to you by the Victorian Family Law Pathways Network (VFLPN) in collaboration with the Victorian Alcohol & Drug Association (VAADA), explored the intersections of parenting, substance use and family violence. Meg Bagnall and Rachel Daniels, highlighted the often overlooked issue of substance use coercion in the context of parenting and provided practical strategies to building understanding and strengthen responses for practitioners working with families experiencing substance use exploitation.
There is evidence to suggest that children in Australia are increasingly engaging in self-harm behaviours and suicidal ideation (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [AIHW], 2025; Townsend et al., 2022). In 2001, the rate of death by suicide for children 14 years and younger was 0.3 per 100,000 population; in 2023 it was 0.6 per 100,000 (AIHW, 2025). A systematic review and meta-analysis of international research (from mostly high-income countries) on self-harm and suicidal behaviours of children aged 12 years and younger estimated that 7.5% of children reported experiencing suicidal ideation and 1.4% had self-harmed (Geoffroy et al., 2022). Further, evidence suggests that experiencing these behaviours at a younger age is linked to more severe and frequent self-harm episodes and a higher risk of future suicidal behaviour (Hamza et al., 2012; Qian et al., 2023; Simundic et al., 2024).
Self-harm refers to deliberately causing physical injury to oneself to cope with distress or intense emotions (Headspace, 2020). Self-harm behaviours can include hitting, cutting or misuse of medications (Arbuthnott & Lewis, 2015; Baetens et al., 2015). Children and young people may also experience thoughts of suicide (i.e. suicidal ideation). This refers to thoughts that life isn’t worth living and can range from brief thoughts to clear plans for ending one’s life (Scanlan & Purcell, 2009). Self-harm and suicidal ideation can happen at the same time or be experienced separately (Krysinska et al., 2020).
From 10 December 2025, age-restricted social media platforms will have to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under the age of 16 from creating or keeping an account.
The restrictions aim to protect young Australians from pressures and risks that users can be exposed to while logged in to social media accounts. These come from design features that encourage them to spend more time on screens, while also serving up content that can harm their health and wellbeing.
As of 5 November 2025, it is eSafety's view that Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Kick and Reddit are age-restricted platforms. This list will continue to be updated prior to 10 December. Find the latest details about which platforms are age-restricted.
More generally, age restrictions will apply to social media platforms that meet three specific conditions, unless they are excluded based on criteria set in out in legislative rules made by the Minister for Communications in July 2025.
The conditions for age restriction are:
the sole purpose, or a significant purpose, of the service is to enable online social interaction between two or more end-users
the service allows end-users to link to, or interact with, some or all of the other end-users
the service allows end-users to post material on the service.
Online gaming and standalone messaging apps are among a number of types of services that have been excluded under the legislative rules. However, messaging services that have social-media style features which allow users to interact in other ways apart from messaging may be included in the age restrictions, as well as messaging features accessed through age-restricted social media accounts.
The relationship between a person's economic and social circumstances and their health has been recognised for decades. However, most existing evidence comes from cross-sectional studies, offering limited insights into whether, and which, socio-economic indicators lead to health changes - or vice versa. Using a longitudinal study design, this report shows a two-way relationship between key contemporary economic and social indicators and the development of physical and mental health conditions over a 9-year period. Specifically, in a representative sample of over 4,000 Australian men aged 18-55 years without any pre-existing health conditions we found:
Of the long-term physical health conditions examined, the most common new diagnoses were for high blood pressure followed by long-COVID.
Of the mental health conditions examined, the most common new diagnosis was for depression.
Rates of new diagnoses of multiple long-term health conditions were higher for men with disabilities and men who were overweight.
Financial stress and discrimination increased the risk of multiple long-term health conditions.
Men with disabilities, men who speak a language other than English at home and men born in non-English-speaking countries experienced higher rates of both financial stress and discrimination compared to their counterparts.
Having strong social support and greater job control protected against the risk of developing mental health conditions, while having disability increased this risk.
Effective from 1 December 2025The Courts are committed to ensuring equitable access to justice for all litigants. To support this, the Working with Interpreters Practice Direction will commence on 1 December 2025.PurposeThis Practice Direction provides clear guidance on the engagement and use of interpreters in court proceedings in the FCFCOA (Division 1) and FCFCOA (Division 2). It aims to ensure fairness, accessibility, and consistency for all parties and witnesses whose first language is not English. This reflects the Courts’ commitment to cultural responsiveness and access to justice in all proceedings.
The Practice Direction incorporates the Recommended National Standards for Working with Interpreters in Courts and Tribunals as far as possible, as well as the expertise of the Judges who represent the Courts on the Judicial Council on Diversity and Inclusion. Key Requirements for Legal Practitioners Legal practitioners should read the Practice Direction carefully, and note the following obligations under the Practice Direction, summarised below:
Notification: Practitioners must advise the Court promptly if an interpreter will be required for a party or witness, to assist in the fair and efficient conduct of each case.
Arrangements: Practitioners are responsible for ensuring that interpreters engaged meet the required standards of competence and impartiality, and that the Court can be satisfied of their qualifications and suitability to act as an interpreter.
Compliance: Practitioners must follow the procedural steps outlined in the Practice Direction, including any pre-hearing requirements, preparation and confirmation of interpreter details.
Professional Conduct: Practitioners should ensure interpreters understand and comply with the Court’s expectations regarding confidentiality and neutrality, and are provided with a copy of the Code of Conduct included as Annexure B, prior to each hearing.
Excitement for the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is building across Victoria. Whether it’s your first year getting involved or your thirtieth, this quick guide is your starting point for what it’s all about and how to take part.
What is the 16 Days of Activism?
The 16 Days of Activism is an annual campaign that encourages people, communities and organisations to act to end gender-based violence. It runs from 25 November to 10 December each year.
It’s championed globally by the United Nations to raise awareness that men’s violence against women is a violation of fundamental human rights – and inspire action to prevent it.
How can I join the 16 Days of Activism in Victoria?
The 16 Days of Activism is a moment for all of us to come together and take action to prevent violence against women, and all forms of gendered violence in Victoria. It is embodied by a grassroots spirit and is rolled out uniquely across the state.
Check the Calendar of Community Events for activities and events in Victoria – or add your own, if you’re organising a public event! We also recommend checking the website or social media pages of your local council for activities in your area.
The Walk Against Family Violence was first organised as a grassroots event in 2009 and now marks the start of the 16 Days of Activism in Victoria each year.
We are so excited to see similar walks planned in different communities across the state: they are a fantastic way to build connection and commit to preventing gender-based violence in your local area.
This guide can help you engage with community in a more inclusive way. You can use it before, during and after your engagement.
It has information about how to engage with communities in Victoria. This includes:
First Nations people
LGBTIQA+ people
multicultural communities
people with disability
older people
young people.
Why we created this guide
There are many reasons why sometimes we cannot engage with communities. But a fear of doing it wrong should not be one of them.
Avoiding engagement for this reason can make it difficult to build and maintain trust with the community. The annual Edelman Trust Barometer shows that most Australians have declining trust in institutions.
One important way we can build trust is by understanding community needs and aspirations. We can also provide spaces for community to share their voice.
Often, we are content experts on our work. Communities are context experts. We need to understand both perspectives to do effective work. And above all, we need to be inclusive.
Inclusive engagement means we can:
create better policy
improve service delivery
find practical solutions to problems
gain and grow trust
improve quality of life for Victorians.
At its highest level, engagement can lead to greater community leadership and ownership. A resilient community can respond to and manage social harms, shock and stress.
We hope this guide gives you the confidence to engage – and keep engaging – with all members of the community.
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