Professionals working with these families, including early childhood practitioners, social workers and health workers, need to better understand the specific and often severe nature of such abuse to improve outcomes for both the children and their families.

Using case studies which outline the legal framework jn which decisions are made by the Family Court, the authors develop a multi-disciplinary approach to give strategies for all the socio-legal professionals involved in the family law system.

'A ground-breaking, comprehensive, honest, well-researched and courageous book that should be essential reading for all politicians and professionals involved in both the Family Court of Australia and state child protection systems.' —Emeritus Professor Freda Briggs AO