Tough Tell Series
Co-Parenting Strategies one-day conference:
High Conflict Cases & Voice of the Child.
Friday 28th of March, Melbourne
Parents in high conflict often present barriers to any form of resolution, prioritising time-consuming litigation over practical legal and psychological advice.
It becomes all about the parents' voice.
The victims are the children whose voices are muffled.
The family law network needs better ways to assist parents in conflict.
Our Tough Tell Series events gives you the expertise to help focus these parents on their children’s needs, and forge a pathway forward to adopting a co-parenting regime.
As professionals, we must better understand the complex dynamics of high-conflict family situations.
Our conference will give you a deeper understanding that is crucial for developing effective strategies that secure positive outcomes for the clients and their children.
Join us for the Tough Tell Series:
Co-Parenting Strategies, a one-day conference.
WHY ATTEND
By attending you will gain expert insight into:
High-conflict family law cases
Parent-child dynamics
Parental alienation
You will participate in collaborative workshops featuring screenings of the award-winning short film Tommy and the child trauma-focused short film, Millie.
You will:
Learn strategies to support children and families in distress
Gain an understanding on the 'refuse-resist' dynamics and personality traits
Explore effective intervention options and treatments
Learn about families in transition parenting programs
And much more!
The program offers valuable access to current research and resources and qualifies for up to 6 CPD points through self-registration.
WHO ATTENDS
This event caters to professionals starting their careers and those experienced looking for new approaches and fresh perspectives, and is valuable for professionals in:
Family Law
Social and Protective Services
Law Enforcement and Advocacy
Education and Psychology
State and Federal Government
Social Science and Education Academic
When is parental alienation not parental alienation?
Vincent Papaleo, Director and Clinical Psychologist at Vincent Papaleo & Associates.
PROGRAM
Children whose parents participate in protracted Family Law litigation are at higher risk of developing a range of significant emotional and behavioural problems that will impact upon them over the course of their life. These children are at an elevated risk of having problems with anxiety and depression, drug and alcohol use, and are less able to sustain satisfying intimate adult relationships.
Through a combination of didactic material, video footage, and the viewing of the two award winning short films “Millie” and “Tommy,” we will explore the impact of conflict, the nature of trauma, the level of risk, and points of meaningful intervention by legal and social science professionals together.
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In this opening session, we will focus on the importance of understanding high conflict and its impact and how divorce affects children, and the long-term risks to which children are exposed.
Considering the emotional and psychological impact on parent-child relationships where high conflict is a feature, including the impact on parent and child wellbeing and the long-term implications.
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The aim of this session is to help participants understand the important overlap between parental conflict, child triangulation, and child mental health difficulties including, the development of refuse and resist behaviour.
Children caught amidst their parents’ conflict are confronted with a complex double-bind, the relief of which at one level can entail rejecting a once loved parent.
You will be introduced to the concept of splitting, and why this is so fundamentally important to the understanding of refuse-resist dynamics and is at the very core of all parenting disputes.
Features concerning alignment, enmeshment and alienation will also be explored.
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This resources session will focus on short films ‘Millie’ and ‘Tommy’ that depict the child's experience of their parents’ conflict, and the impact upon them. Both films will form the basis of understanding the impact of parental conflict, consequences to long-term development, and the focus for intervention.
‘Millie’ and ‘Tommy’ will bring very clearly into focus the importance of the child's voice being heard in the parents’ conflict, as well as words of caution around the over embroilment of children and the alignment of children in that conflict.
We will discuss what children need their parents to know about divorce and how listening to children, without hearing them, undermines their true voices.
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In this closing session, we'll synthesise the day's learning and explore a fresh perspective on family conflict and children's involvement, challenging traditional viewpoints.
We will focus on transforming your professional approach - helping you shift from managing parental conflict to becoming an agent of positive change. We will provide advice and tools to encourage the settlement of family disputes through negotiation and mediation and help prevent the detrimental effects on the children of protracted, adversarial proceedings between parents.
MEET THE SPEAKERS
DARREN MORT
Darren Mort, Director of Pacifica Congress and 2022 Australian Law Awards Barrister of the Year is dedicated to supporting children experiencing family breakdowns and violence. As founder of the To Be Loved Network, he provides resources and media to help children and professionals navigate these challenges. With a background in performing arts and family law, he emphasises the importance of love and resilience for children in difficult circumstances.
VINCENT PAPALEO
Director and Clinical Psychologist at Vincent Papaleo & Associates.
Vincent Papaleo is a Clinical Psychologist specialising in psychological services for children and families experiencing parental separation and conflict. A member of the Australia Psychological Association and the Board of Clinical Psychologists, he has 30 years of experience in Family Law and a focus on behaviour management, developmental perspectives in Family Law disputes, and alternative dispute resolution for families in high conflict.
Director, Single Expert, and Forensic Psychologist at Vincent Papaleo & Associates.
DR. BEN JONES
Ben Jones is a registered psychologist with doctoral training in forensic behavioural science. He worked in criminal law for almost a decade before coming to specialise in Family Law in 2009. He is particularly renowned for his work in cases where there is a substantial risk footprint – family violence, sexual abuse, and personality disturbance. He provides single-expert advice to the Family Court and Federal Circuit Court, though is concurrently a prolific public speaker, as well as seminar convener. Dr Jones is recognised around Australia as one of the few AFCC Endorsed Report Writers, and has been invited to present on Family Law topics in many countries around the world.
EVENT DETAILS
Date: Friday, 28th March 2025
Location: 452 Flinders Street, Melbourne
CPD points: 6 (self registration)
Cost: $500 +GST