According to the 2009 Report of the National Council to reduce violence against women and their children, “nearly one in three Australian women experienced physical violence, and almost one in five would then experience sexual violence over their lifetime”.

The majority of incidents are perpetrated by men.

Male violence against women continues to be a shameful epidemic across our community and our society. As we approach White Ribbon Day on the 25 November 2012, we call on all Australians to join the white ribbon campaign and stand up to violence so that women can live free from violence, within respectful relationships, and in safe communities.

In this respect please visit www.whiteribbon.org.au/find-events?state=WA to show your support.

The scale of this point is such that about 70,000 Australian women were subject to violence by a male partner last year.

Partner violence also leads to many other need of consequences. A 2004 Vic Health study found that, among women under 45, intimate partner violence contributed more to poor health, disability and death and any other risk factor, including obesity and smoking. The cost of violence against women and their children to the Australian economy was estimated to be $13.6B in 2008/2009 and this cost is continuing to rise.

However, the most concerning aspect of this issue is that an estimated 70% of cases of violence against women go unreported to the Police.

This is why we need to speak out. Violence against women is a silent epidemic in Australian because our society continues to ignore it, and therefore condoned this behaviour.

This is not just an issue for women; this is an issue that affects everyone.

We believe that in order to change this culture that accepts violence against women, we need to acknowledge the problem and condemn it.

Not many law firms in Perth can say that they have been a Law Society of Western Australia Accredited Quality Practice for the last 15 years, but we can! 

Having been such long standing providers of legal services in the community of Perth has allowed us to really understand our clients needs and standardise our practices to ensure that you are receiving a superior level of quality of service.  When you are dealing with a legal situation you require your lawyers to understand and provide a quality and consistent service in a timely manner. You can rely on Culshaw Miller Lawyers to do this, no matter what your legal issue is.

To book an appointment with one of our lawyers please contact us.

Below is an explanation of the Law Society’s Quality Practice Standard.

Culshaw Miller Lawyers is a Quality Practice Accredited practice. The Law Society of Western Australia developed the Quality Practice Standard in to recognise WA Lawyers who have committed to bring consistent and superior service standards to their clients by setting out and implementing procedures and practices to the standard which the Law Society of WA has deemed appropriate.

As a practice, we went through a through a long and timely process of reviewing our procedures and practices, streamlining processes and implementing new procedures to make our services consistent. This ensures that we deliver a constant level of service to our clients.

Since accredited in 1997, our practice has been audited to ensure that we are adhering to the standards of the Accreditation and compliant with the standards. The Law Society of Western Australia has set out this Standard to go far beyond the service standards set out by State Legislation and Regulations which means that we need to maintain consistency in our internal practices and provide our clients with a higher level of service.

The Accreditation means that clients are assured of a very high standard of service throughout their matter.

We have adopted an ongoing client feedback system to ensure that our clients are getting the optimum service.

To find out more about the Quality Practice Standard please check the Law Society of WA website

Living away from home benefit reforms: are you and your employees prepared for the changes?

Click Here to view the Employment Law Update.

Australian Women Lawyers (AWL) is delighted to announce Elizabeth Heenan as the inaugural recipient of the Australian Women Lawyers Award. The Patron of AWL, Family Court of Australia Chief Justice The Hon Diana Bryant AO QC, presented Ms Heenan with the Award at a gala dinner held on Saturday 11 August 2012 at the National Gallery in Canberra. A former President of the WA Law Society, Ms Heenan has made an extraordinary contribution to the Australian legal community, including via the Law Council of Australia, Curtain University and law firms Minter Ellison and Marks & Sands – all while raising two children. Ms Heenan is an inspiring role model and mentor for the next generation of Australian women lawyers.

WEBSITE: www.australianwomenlawyers.com.au

Robyn McSweeney Minister for Child Protection; Community Services; Seniors and Volunteering; Women’s Interests; Youth

Thu 09 August, 2012

More help for grandparents raising families

Portfolio: Seniors and Volunteering

• $127,000 to help grandparents caring for their grandchildren
• Latest edition of the Grandfamilies Resource Kit launched

Today Western Australian grandparents raising their grandchildren have new resources at their fingertips to help navigate through the challenges which may come with their important role.

Seniors and Volunteering Minister Robyn McSweeney launched the fourth edition of the Grandfamilies Resource Kit and presented a cheque for $127,500 to Wanslea Family Services Board for grand-family support services and extra help.

The Grandfamilies Resource Kit is a one-stop-shop of tips, support and services available to grandparents raising their grandchildren.

“Grandparents who take on the responsibility for raising their grandchildren face extra burdens, both emotional and physical, as well as unplanned costs and an unfamiliar world of family law and bureaucracy,” Mrs McSweeney said.

“Despite the setbacks, these grandparents are determined to give their grandchildren a good start in life and the State Government will provide as much support as we can to those who take on such an important task.”

The Minister presented $127,500 to the Wanslea Family Services Board, while visiting their offices in Cloverdale, and $5,000 to the Grandparents Rearing Grandchildren agency for their grandparent support services.

Fact File

• Across Australia there are more than 14,000 grandfamilies (grandparents with responsibility for their grandchildren)
• The Grandfamilies Resource Kit available at:
• http://www.communities.wa.gov.au
• WA’s first ever Grandparents Day will be held on October 28

Minister’s office – 6552 6500

Author: David Thompson

Minimum Wage Decision The minimum wage panel of Fair Work Australia (“FWA”) handed down its annual decision on minimum wages at 10:00 am this morning. FWA has made the following determinations:

• to increase the national minimum wage by  $17.10 per week.  This results in an increase from $15.51 per hour ($589.30 per week) to $15.96 per hour ($606.40 per week); and
• 2.9% increases in hourly modern award minimum rates of pay across the board.

The increases awarded will take effect from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2012. By comparison, FWA increased minimum wages by $19.40 per week this time last year. The decision represents a compromise between the submissions put by union and employer associations. The ACCI requested an increase of not more than $9.40 per week on an award-by-award basis and to the national minimum wage.  It also requested exemptions from an increase for particular industry specific employers which are facing significant challenges. The AiG requested an increase of $14 per week to both award minimum wages and the national minimum wage.  Its flat dollar proposal was designed to provide a proportionately higher benefit to the low paid, at a level it suggested would not pose undue risks to the Australian economy. The ACTU had proposed a $26 per week increase to award rates up to and including the C10 rate, as well to the national minimum wage.  It also sought a 3.8% increase in award rates above the C10 level.  It submitted that the earnings of award-reliant workers had fallen relative to the earnings of other workers, something its proposed increases were designed to correct.

Darren Miller, Perth +61 8 9488 1300 darren.miller@culshawmiller.com.au

www.hunthunt.com.au

Then join the Culshaw Miller Lawyers’ Masterminds of Family Law: Jeremy Culshaw, Sue Thomson and Benn Hill on Friday, 18th May at 12:30pm – 2:00pm for a FREE lunch time seminar and Q&A session.  We can help you get through this!

Places are limited so book in now by using our Booking Form or call 9488 1300 Now!

The seminar will take place at 2 Victoria Avenue in Perth.

With 20 years’ experience, Tim’s career has involved acting in a wide range of commercial business disputes where he has gained experience as an advocate and developed strong strategic and communication skills.

Tim joins us after a lengthy career with Maxim Lawyers as our Director – Litigation. Click here to read more about Tim.

To contact Tim please call us on 08.9488 1300 or to book an appointment, please click here

Where couples have been married, the Family Court of Western Australia may have jurisdiction to make orders which divide the superannuation interests of each of the spouses.  The Family Court may divide superannuation interests with the agreement of the spouses or the Court may make an order dividing superannuation as part of a judgment resolving a dispute.

Each spouse is obliged to provide a full and frank disclosure of their superannuation interests to their former spouse.  This disclosure would ordinarily include identifying each superannuation fund the spouse has an interest in, stating the current value of their superannuation interest and providing to each other a copy of their latest superannuation statements.

Spouses who were married to each other may also use the ‘Superannuation Information Kit’ from the Family Court of Western Australia website to require the trustee of their spouse’s superannuation fund to provide them with information about or a valuation of their former spouse’s superannuation interests.

The appropriate way in which the superannuation interests of spouses should be divided by the Family Court will vary depending on numerous factors including the particular type and value of the superannuation interests held by the spouses.  There are numerous different types of superannuation interests which may be valued and split according to different rules depending on the type of the fund.  Superannuation interests may be split so that one spouse receives a separate superannuation interest altogether or they may be split so that a spouse receives a proportion of any payments which are made by the fund to the spouses.

If spouses reach agreement about the way their superannuation interests are to be divided, they should also consider any taxation consequences of the proposed superannuation splitting orders.

In summary, given the complexity and financial consequences of superannuation splitting, it is important that each spouse obtains professional advice about superannuation splitting from both their lawyer and from their accountant or financial adviser.  The lawyers at Culshaw Miller Lawyers include Accredited Family Law Specialists who can advise you about superannuation splitting.

Make an appointment with Benn.