Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1 and Division 2) (the Courts/FCFCOA) will be represented by Judicial Registrar Wajiha Ahmed and Ms Hayley Foster at the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) National Conference 2026 this week, to showcase the Courts’ work in supporting culturally and linguistically diverse communities and improving participation in the justice system.
FECCA’s National Conference is Australia’s largest gathering of multicultural leaders, professionals and community advocates, bringing together communities and changemakers from across the country to explore how connection and solidarity can strengthen belonging and inform policy affecting ethnic communities.
Strengthening language access and inclusion
On Thursday 15 October 2026, from 2.20 pm to 3.20 pm, Judicial Registrar Wajiha Ahmed, Director – Cultural Liaison Officers and Director – Culture, Language, Diversity and Inclusion, will present Evidence in Action: Innovations in Language, Diversity and Inclusion in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia as part of the session Beyond Translation: Language, Trust and Community-Led Practice.
Her presentation will highlight initiatives designed to improve access to justice and strengthen engagement with culturally and linguistically diverse court users.
Judicial Registrar Ahmed said:
“The FCFCOA is focused on transitioning evidence into action through practical reforms that make justice more accessible and more inclusive for the diverse communities it serves.
“The Courts’ approach is underpinned and informed by those with frontline expertise, with lived experience and through collaboration with community and justice-sector partners. The Courts have strengthened their trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices, language access and interpreter services, support for First Nations peoples, and the responsible use of technology to reduce barriers to participation.
“At the heart of these reforms is a commitment to ensuring that every court user can understand the process, participate meaningfully, engage safely and have a genuine opportunity to be heard.
“Access to justice is about far more than translation. It is about building trust, understanding lived experience and ensuring people can participate meaningfully in the court process, regardless of their cultural, linguistic or social background.”
Family violence, migration and pathways to safety
On Thursday 15 October 2026, from 3.50 pm to 4.50 pm, Ms Hayley Foster, Director – Family Violence and Director – Access, Equity and Inclusion, will participate in the panel session Pathways to Safety and Justice: Navigating Family Violence at the Intersection of Family Law and Migration as part of the conference stream Multicultural Women: Safety, Voice and Economic Power.
The discussion will examine the complex challenges that arise when family violence, migration status, financial insecurity and family law issues intersect, and explore the importance of culturally responsive services, early intervention and access to specialist support.
Ms Foster will discuss how recent family law reforms, court safety initiatives and specialist programs are improving responses to family violence while supporting meaningful participation in the justice system.
Her presentation will highlight the importance of recognising the full pattern of coercive and controlling behaviours, ensuring cultural and community connections are understood as potential sources of strength and safety, and supporting early referral pathways to specialist legal and support services.
The session will also examine how the Courts addresses economic and financial abuse, protects vulnerable parties through safety measures and specialist case management pathways, and continue to build capability through ongoing judicial and staff education focused on family violence, coercive control, systems abuse and working effectively with culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Ms Foster said:
“The family courts can play a critical role in decisions relating to the safety and economic security of migrant and refugee women and children experiencing family violence. Visa uncertainty, financial insecurity, health, housing and language barriers can make it harder to seek help and participate in proceedings.
“We are working with specialist services and multicultural communities to make the Courts safer and more accessible, particularly for families facing the greatest barriers. Through judicial, registrar and staff education and improvements to policy and practice, we aim to recognise safety concerns sooner, connect people with essential legal and social support early, and help them navigate proceedings.”
Other speakers include Malini Raj, Executive Director of the Australian Multicultural Women’s Alliance; Maria Dimopoulos, Chief Executive Officer of the Settlement Council of Australia; and Assunta Morrone from inTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence.
A summary of court-wide Access to Justice initiatives include:
- Migration Hubs for in‑person filing and support for migration cases and access to migration Client Service Officers
- ReadSpeaker is available for instant translation on the FCFCOA website in 30 languages
- Cultural Liaison Officers (CLOs)
- Indigenous Family Liaison Officers (IFLOs) and Specialist Indigenous Lists.
- Translated Family Law Videos and Translated Migration Videos
- Translated Written Materials
- An Interpreter Practice Direction
- Court Dog Program
- Family Violence Best Practice Principles
- Family Violence Plan
- Lighthouse and the specialist Evatt List for early identification and management of family-safety risk;
- Strengthened information sharing with police and child protection agencies;
- the national Safety at Court Protocol and improvements to safe facilities; and
- Child-focused initiatives (such as Kids’ Corner on the FCFCOA website and the Childrens’ Charter ).
