Students will write an essay in relation to the contemporary issues concerning family law

Task Overview

Drawing on contemporary examples, students will argue the extent to which legal and non-legal responses provide just outcomes for family members.

Part A

Students will complete a Media File based on contemporary issues concerning family law. Issues include:

• domestic violence
• the changing nature of parental responsibility
• recognition of same-sex relationships
• surrogacy and birth technologies
• care and protection of children.

Part A is a formative task and is not a part of the marking rubric. However, the media file is a requirement to build knowledge, understanding and collection of evidence to complete the summative task.

Part B

Students will write an essay in relation to the contemporary issues concerning family law.

Question

To what extent do both legal and non-legal responses achieve just outcomes for family members. In your response, refer to domestic violence, the changing nature of parental responsibility, and ONE other contemporary issue.

Ensure all sources you refer to are appropriately cited in footnotes and compiled in a bibliography formatted using the APA 7 referencing style. The bibliography should include all books, articles, websites, and other sources, including any AI, used and referred to in your work. Please use a font size of 12 and maintain at least 1.5 spacing throughout your document.

Summary of Assessment Requirements

The assessment requires students to explore contemporary issues in family law and evaluate how effectively legal and non-legal responses deliver just outcomes for family members. The task is divided into two components:

Part A – Media File (Formative Task)

Although not formally assessed, students must compile a Media File containing contemporary examples relating to:

• Domestic violence
• Changing nature of parental responsibility
• Recognition of same-sex relationships
• Surrogacy and birth technologies
• Care and protection of children

This Media File helps students gather evidence, understand current debates, and build foundational knowledge for the summative essay in Part B.

Part B – Essay (Summative Task)

Students must write an academic essay answering the question:

“To what extent do both legal and non-legal responses achieve just outcomes for family members? In your response, refer to domestic violence, the changing nature of parental responsibility, and ONE other contemporary issue.”

Key requirements include:

• Discussing both legal mechanisms (legislation, courts, statutory bodies) and non-legal responses (NGOs, media, advocacy groups, counselling services, community programs).
• Drawing on contemporary examples.
• Using APA 7 referencing for footnotes and bibliography.
• Including all sources used, including AI assistance.
• Using font size 12 and 1.5 line spacing.