ASSESSMENTS
Expert Reports for the Federal Circuit and Family Court or Australia (FCFCOA)
An Expert Report is an independent assessment ordered by the Family Court of Australia to assist in resolving disputes involving children. The expert is jointly appointed by both parties (or ordered by the court) and provides an impartial, evidence-based opinion about the best interests of the child.
The purpose of the report is to help the court make informed decisions about parenting arrangements, by providing insight into issues such as parental capacity, the needs of the child, family dynamics, and any risks present. The expert’s primary duty is to the court—not to either party. Referrals for these reports need to come from legal representatives, not parents themselves.
Dr Kate Renshall currently provides Child Impact Reports, Single Expert Reports and Narrow Focussed/Single Issue Reports (e.g. Mental Health Assessment). The details of the scope, fees and her availability is provided below. If you would like to proceed, please fill out the booking form on the contact page here.
Child Impact Report
Availability: January 2026
Fee: $4,900.00 + GST
Turnaround Time: Approximately three to four weeks from the time of interviews.
Scope of Assessment:
This brief Child Impact Report involves short interviews with each parent and the subject child/ren. It provides a snapshot of how the children are currently coping and functioning within the context of family separation.
Please note, this report does not involve a comprehensive review of background material or subpoenaed documents. It is not suitable for complex matters involving allegations of violence, abuse, or significant risk.
Required Documentation:
To ensure a timely process, the following documents must be provided at least two weeks prior to the scheduled interviews:
A letter of joint instruction
An affidavit from each party or a concise one-page summary outlining events to date
A copy of the most recent court orders (if applicable)
Important Note:
Child Impact Reports are designed for straightforward matters. They are not intended to investigate or conduct risk assessments. Instead, they offer insight into the child’s current experience and wellbeing.
Single Expert Report
Availability: January 2026
Fee: $18,000.00 + GST
Turnaround Time: Approximately six to eight weeks from the time of interviews.
Scope of Assessment:
This is a complete report and risk assessment, guided by the Terms of Reference set out by the Court Orders. A SER will usually include, interviews with parties and children (may include significant others), observations with children and parents and some psychometric testing
Required Documentation:
Background reading material including subpoenaed documents (up to 500 pages - additional fee of $250 + GST per hundred pages thereafter)
Narrow Issue Report (e.g. Mental Health Assessment)
Availability: January 2026
Fees: $4,900.00 + GST
Turnaround Time: Approximately three to four weeks from the time of interviews.
Scope of Assessment: This kind of report is best suited when parties are seeking an assessment of a single issue within the broader understanding of a party’s parental capacity or risk profile. It does not include observations of the interactions between children and a parent. For example, an assessment of one parent’s mental health and its potential impact on parental capacity (not specific to the index child(ren).
This kind of assessment usually involves an interview with the parent, psychometric testing and reading of related subpoena material (e.g. regarding a person's mental health, child protection and/or criminal history).
