← Legal Studies syllabus

NSWLegal Studies

Option: Family

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How does Australian family law respond to contemporary issues such as surrogacy and same-sex parenting?

Investigate contemporary issues in family law including surrogacy, assisted reproductive technology, and same-sex parenting
A focused answer to surrogacy and same-sex parenting in Australian family law. Covers the state surrogacy Acts, the federal prohibition on commercial surrogacy, parentage orders, same-sex parenting recognition, and the leading case Re Kevin (Validity of Marriage of Transsexual) (2001) FLC 93-087.
5 min answer →

How is divorce determined, and how does the law decide parenting arrangements?

Investigate divorce, parental responsibility and the best interests of the child principle
A focused answer to divorce and post-separation parenting in Australia. Covers no-fault divorce under the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), the 2006 shared parental responsibility reform, the 2024 reform removing the equal shared responsibility presumption, and the best interests of the child principle.
6 min answer →

How does the law respond to domestic and family violence?

Investigate the legal and non-legal responses to domestic and family violence, including AVOs and the new coercive control offence in NSW
A focused answer to domestic and family violence responses in NSW. Covers the Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 (NSW), AVOs, the 2022 NSW coercive control offence, the 2022 National Plan, and the role of police, courts and non-legal services.
6 min answer →

How does the law recognise different types of relationships?

Investigate the legal recognition of relationships, including marriage, de facto relationships, civil unions, and same-sex relationships
A focused answer to legal recognition of relationships in Australia. Covers marriage under the Marriage Act 1961 (Cth), de facto recognition, the 2017 marriage equality reform, NSW relationship registers, and forced marriage offences.
5 min answer →

What is family law in Australia, and how does it operate?

Examine the nature of family law, the legal definition of family, and the role of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia
A focused answer to the nature of family law in Australia. Covers the changing legal definition of family, the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), the no-fault divorce reform, the merged Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (2021), and the principle of the best interests of the child.
5 min answer →