Commonwealth Numbered Acts

FAMILY LAW ACT 1975 No. 53 of 1975 - SECT 62

62. (1) Where-

   (a)  there is a child (being a child who has not attained the age of 18
        years) of a marriage in respect of which
        proceedings for principal relief have been instituted; or

   (b)  proceedings for the custody or guardianship of, or access to, a child
        of a marriage who has not attained the age of 18 years are contested,
        the court may, at any stage of the proceedings, of its own motion or
        upon the request of a party to the proceedings, make an order
        directing the parties to the proceedings to attend a conference with a
        welfare officer to discuss the welfare of the child and, if there are
        any differences between the parties as to matters affecting the
        welfare of the child, to endeavour to resolve those differences.

(2) Where the court makes an order under sub-section (1), it may fix a place
and time for the conference to take place or direct that the conference shall
take place at a place and time to be fixed by a welfare officer.

(3) If a party fails to attend a conference in respect of which an order has
been made under sub-section (1), it is the duty of the welfare officer to
report the failure to the court.

(4) The court may adjourn any proceedings referred to in sub- section (1)
until a report has been obtained from a welfare officer on such matters
relevant to the proceedings as the court considers desirable, and may receive
the report in evidence.

(5) Subject to sub-section (4), evidence of anything said or of any admission
made at a conference that takes place in pursuance of an order made under this
section is not admissible in any court (whether exercising federal
jurisdiction or not) or in proceedings before a person authorized by a law of
Australia or of a State or Territory, or by consent of parties, to hear
evidence.