Presentations, webinars and publications

Bickerdike, A., Heard G., & Hebblewhite, M. (2025 September 23). Court-ordered, lawyer-assisted property conciliation: which factors predict success? [Conference presentation]. National Mediation Conference, Sydney.

Bickerdike, A., & Opoku, S. (2025 September 23). Demonstrating the value and impact of Family Dispute Resolution: A cost benefit analysis [Conference presentation]. National Mediation Conference, Sydney.

Heard, G., & Petch, J. (2025 September 23). A tick-box exercise? Benefits of mandatory FDR for ambivalent clients [Conference presentation]. National Mediation Conference, Sydney.

Heard, G. (2025 August 16) Ways of hearing the child's voice in family dispute resolution: Mapping diverse international models [Conference presentation]. Pacifica Congress Conference, Adelaide.

Plavljanic, D. (2025 July 16) Psychological Wellbeing in the Workplace [Conference presentation]. Australian Cemeteries and Crematoria Association Conference, Brisbane.

Plavljanic, D., & Pepperell, L. (2025 September 16) Keeping your staff and workplace safe - Supporting psychological wellbeing [Conference presentation]. Australian Cemeteries and Crematoria Association Conference, Sydney.

Velasquez-Tan, M., Lindstrom J., & Apap, I. (2025 November 20) Lawyer-Assisted Family Dispute Resolution Clinic - evaluation of the partnership model and student experience [Conference presentation]. International Journal of Clinical Legal Education Conference, Melbourne.

Heard, G., Payne L., Smyth, B., Irving, M., & Althor, G. (2025). ‘Post-Separation Parenting Apps: A Survey of Separated Parents’. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 46(4).

Relationships Australia Victoria (September 2025) 'Family Dispute Resolution: A Cost-Benefit Analysis Summary', Relationships Australia Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria.

Relationships Australia Victoria. (2025). Social impact report 2025.
https://socialimpact.relationshipsvictoria.org.au/

Heard, G. (2025 October 21). The child's voice in family dispute resolution [Webinar]. Relationships Australia. https://vimeo.com/1129060145/811c8c1f52?fl=pl&fe=vl 

Coward, L. (2025 May 1). Supporting LGBTQIASB+ young people in schools [Conference presentation]. Safe Schools Conference, Gippsland.

Forcey, C. (2025 February 18). Disclosures of self-harm, gender identity and eating disorders in child-inclusive practice sessions [Presentation]. Child Inclusive Practice Forum, Canberra.

Goldstein, A. (2025 May 22). Brief therapy counselling models [Conference presentation]. Family and Relationship Services Australia National Conference, Sydney.

Goldstein, A., & D’Ademo, K. (2024 September). Engaging men to change using trauma-informed strategies [Conference workshop]. No to Violence Conference, Melbourne.

Heard, G., & Lindstrom, J. (2025 May 20). Safe, strong and legally-assisted: The value of lawyer support in family dispute resolution [Conference presentation]. Family and Relationship Services Australia National Conference, Sydney.

Heard, G., & Velasquez-Tan, M. (2025 February 19). The child’s voice in family dispute resolution: mapping diverse international models [Presentation]. Child Inclusive Practice Forum, Canberra.

Heard, G. (2025 May 8). AccessResolve: Practitioner Survey [Conference presentation]. AccessResolve Conference, Melbourne.

March, A. (2025 May 24). Conflict management [Conference presentation]. Australian Funeral Directors Association Conference, Brisbane.

March, A. (2024 October 2). Working with diversity and culture [Conference presentation]. Australasian Cemeteries and Crematoria Association Conference, Adelaide.

McCord, L., & Pepperell, L. (2024 November). The diffuse program – working with men in a correctional setting. International Conference on Social Work in Health and Mental Health, Melbourne.

Moran, C., Button, N., & Forcey, C. (2024 October). Incorporating the voice of the child in family dispute resolution [Online conference presentation]. 2024 Voice of Children International Conference, Taiwan.

Opoku, S. (2025 May 20). Supporting children and families to thrive in their relationships: An evidence review [Conference presentation]. Family and Relationship Services Australia National Conference, Sydney.

Opoku, S. (2024 November). Cost-benefit analysis: Family dispute resolution services [Presentation]. Relationships Australia Strategic Leadership Forum, Canberra.

Opoku, S., & Matthies-Brown, K. (2024 September). Place-based evaluation: collaborating to navigate learning in complex and dynamic contexts [Conference presentation]. Australian Evaluation Society International Evaluation Conference 2024, Melbourne.

Plavljanic, A. (2024 October). Supporting your learning and development in 2025 [Conference presentation]. Australasian Cemeteries and Crematoria Association Conference, Adelaide.

Plavljanic, D. (2025 May 21). Navigating vicarious trauma when supporting grieving clients [Conference presentation]. New Zealand Cemeteries and Crematoria Conference 2025, Auckland, New Zealand.

Szarski, L. (2025 May 21). Using parenting coordination as a transformative program for high conflict separated parents and children [Conference presentation]. Family and Relationship Services Australia National Conference, Sydney.

Heard, G., Zeleznikow J., Maxwell, C., Evered-Wilson, E., & Bickerdike, A. (2024). ‘The use and misuse of ‘everyday’ communication technologies in a family law setting: an exploratory study of post-separation experiences’. Journal of Social Welfare & Family Law, 46(3).

Relationships Australia Victoria. (2024). Evaluation report – Yarra Communities that Care®: A collaborative approach to strengthening family relationships in the City of Yarra. https://www.relationshipsvictoria.org.au/about/research-evaluation/yarra-ctc/#report

Relationships Australia Victoria. (2024). Social impact report 2024. https://socialimpact.relationshipsvictoria.org.au/

Relationships Australia Victoria. (2024). Family dispute resolution services: Cost-benefit analysis summary. https://www.relationshipsvictoria.org.au/fdr-cba/#summary

Relationships Australia Victoria. (2025). Family violence position paper. https://www.relationshipsvictoria.org.au/about/research-evaluation/fv-paper/

Alford, D., Narywonczyk, T., Martin, T., & Eddy, J. (2024 August 15). Men’s lived experience of suicide [Webinar]. Relationships Australia Victoria. https://enrol.rav.org.au/courses/webinar-recording-mens-lived-experience-of-suicide

Alford, D., Wynter, K., & King, A. (2024 November 7). What works for men? Engaging men in prevention [Webinar]. Relationships Australia Victoria. https://enrol.rav.org.au/courses/webinar-recording-what-works-for-men-engaging-men-in-prevention

Gilbert, N., & Opoku, S. (2025 April). Yarra Communities that Care®: Evaluating our collaborative approach to strengthening relationships in the City of Yarra [Webinar]. Relationships Australia. https://vimeo.com/1073796586/6ce3a78177

Goldstein, A. (2025 February 27). Understanding coercive control [Webinar]. Relationships Australia Victoria. https://enrol.rav.org.au/courses/webinar-recording-understanding-coercive-control

Heard, G. & La’Brooy, A. (2025 June 17). Understanding family violence: Key issues in context [Webinar]. Relationships Australia. https://vimeo.com/1094253111/67f509ba92

March, A. (2025 April 30). Reflective practice – Considering diverse perspectives [Webinar]. Relationships Australia Victoria. https://enrol.rav.org.au/courses/webinar-recording-reflective-practice-considering-diverse-perspectives

Moran, C. (2024 July 17). Family law reforms – In discussion [Webinar]. Relationships Australia Victoria. https://enrol.rav.org.au/courses/rav-webinar-recording-family-law-reforms

Roberts, J. (2025 March 5). Psychological wellbeing in the workplace [Webinar]. Relationships Australia Victoria. https://enrol.rav.org.au/courses/webinar-recording-psychological-wellbeing-in-the-workplace

Alford D (14 June 2024) ‘Working with separated dads and father-figures' [conference presentation], Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference, Melbourne.

Heard G, Bickerdike A, Lindstrom J, Velasquez-Tan M, Hayes L, Moran C, Tom L and Bishop L (4 September 2023) ‘Lawyer-Assisted Family Dispute Resolution: evaluating outcomes from a partnership model’ [conference presentation], National Mediation Conference, Wellington, New Zealand.

Heard G, Lohan A, Petch J, Milic J and Bickerdike A (12 June 2024) ‘A tick-box exercise? Benefits of mandatory FDR for ambivalent clients’ [conference presentation], Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference, Melbourne.

Heard G, Smyth BM, Payne JL, Irving MA and Althor G (16 October 2023) ‘Post-separation co-parenting apps: what should practitioners know?’ [conference presentation], Partnership of Victorian Family Relationship Centres Good Practice Forum.

Heard G and Velasquez-Tan M (14 June 2024) ‘The child’s voice in Family Dispute Resolution: Rethinking existing practices with evidence’ [conference presentation], Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference, Melbourne.

Heard G, Zeleznikow J, Maxwell C, Wilson-Evered E and Bickerdike A (16 May 2024) ‘The use and misuse of communication technologies among separated parents: understanding clients and future-proofing services’ [conference presentation], Family and Relationship Services Australia National Conference, Melbourne.

McCord L and Pepperell L (14 May 2024) ‘The Diffuse program – respectful relationships in prisons’ [conference presentation], Family and Relationship Services Australia National Conference, Melbourne.

Opoku S (26 October 2023) ‘Working with evaluation finding for continuous improvement’, Australian Institute of Family Studies, Evidence and Evaluation Support, Evaluator Community of Practice, Victoria.

Heard G, Bickerdike A and Hebblewhite M (2024) ‘Practitioner Impartiality and Client Self-determination in a Court-ordered, Lawyer-assisted Property Conciliation Model’, Australasian Dispute Resolution Journal, 33(1).

Heard G, Lee E, Khoo ST and Bickerdike A (2023) ‘Revisioning Acrimony: The Development and Validation of Short Scales Measuring Relationship Hostility and Parental Co-Operativity’, Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 64(2–4):173–197, doi:10.1080/10502556.2023.2242752.

Heard G, Lohan A, Petch J, Milic J and Bickerdike A (2024) ‘Participation, agreement and reduced acrimony through family mediation: Benefits for the ambivalent client in a mandatory setting’, Conflict Resolution Quarterly, 41(4):1–18, doi:10.1002/crq.21426.

Irving MA, Heard G, Smyth BM, Payne JL and Althor G (2023) ‘Post-separation parenting apps in the hands of family law practitioners: expectations versus experience’, International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family, 37(1), doi:10.1093/lawfam/ebad027.

Opoku S and Heard G (2024) ‘Adapting a men’s behaviour change program to online delivery using a developmental evaluation approach’, Evaluation Journal of Australasia, 24(1):40–55, doi:10.1177/1035719X231204392.

Relationships Australia Victoria (October 2023) 'Social Impact Report 2023', Relationships Australia Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria.

Opoku S (13 March 2024) ‘How developmental evaluation can be used to develop and adapt social service programs’ [webinar], Australian Institute of Family Studies, accessed 12 August 2024.

• Alford D (16 May 2023) ‘Engaging fathers in the first 1000 days’ [conference presentation], FRSA National Conference, Queensland.
  
  
• Bickerdike A (18 November 2022) ‘The “unheard”: children of separating parents’, ANU Family Law Research Symposium, Canberra.
  
  
• Goldstein A (27 July 2022) ‘The challenges for engaging men who use violence’ [conference presentation] ANROWS Focus on Men Who Use Violence Conference, Victoria.
  
  
• Goldstein A (2 March 2023) ‘Working with clients to promote behaviour change’, Mental Health Professionals Network meeting, Caulfield, Victoria
  
  
• Heard G and Bickerdike A (November 2022) ‘Failure to launch: barriers to initiating property FDR,’ ANU Family Law Symposium, Canberra.
  
  
• Heard G, Lindstrom J, Velasquez-Tan M, Hayes L, Moran C, Tom L and Bishop L (16 May 2023) ‘Lawyer-assisted family dispute resolution: addressing barriers to participation through a partnership model’ [conference presentation], FRSA National Conference, Queensland.
  
  
• Moore R (16 May 2023) ‘FDR services and mental health’, Mental Health Professionals Network meeting, Online for professionals across Australia.
  
  
• Opoku S, Laidlaw B & Gilbert N (20 June 2023) ‘A collaborative approach to strengthening family relationships in the City of Yarra’, OPEN Forum, Victoria.
  
  
• Plavljanic D and March A (16 May 2023) ‘Mediating with rainbow families’ [conference presentation], FRSA National Conference, Queensland.
  
  
• Plavljanic D (17 May 2023) ‘Working with a correctional cohort: Maintaining healthy and respectful relationships’ [conference presentation], FRSA National Conference, Queensland.
  
  
• Smyth BM, Althor G and Heard G (17 May 2023) ‘Post-separation parenting smartphone apps: risks and benefits’ [symposium], FRSA National Conference, Queensland.

Heard G, Irving MA, Smyth BM, Payne JL and Althor G (2023) ‘Risks and benefits of post-separation parenting apps: perceptions of family law professionals in Australia and New Zealand’, Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 45(2):143–164. http://doi.org/10.1080/09649069.2023.2206225.

Long KM, Casey K, Bhar S, Al Mahmud A, Curran S, Hunter K and Lim MH (2022) ‘Understanding perspectives of older adults on the role of technology in the wider context of their social relationships’, Ageing & Society, 1–24. doi: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X2200085X.

Smyth BM, Payne JL, Irving M and Heard G (2023) ‘Popular post-separation parenting apps: an examination’, Family Court Review, 61(3): 563–585. https://doi.org/10.1111/fcre.12738.

Payne JL, Smyth BM, Irving M, Heard G and Althor G (2022) ‘Family law professionals’ views of postseparation parenting apps’, International Journal of Law, Policy and the Family, 36(1). https://doi.org/10.1093/lawfam/ebac029

• Burns A & Keeble B (hosts) (17 May 2023) ‘Dom Alford – Support for Fathers’ [podcast], Dads Group Podcast, Spotify, accessed 9 June 2023.
  
  
• Kendall, J (host) (14 November 2022) ‘The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on divorce rates in Australia’ [radio program], Mornings, ABC, accessed 14 November 2022.

• Creek M (30 November 2022) ‘Parenting orders: Research on compliance and enforcement and insights from practice’ [webinar], AIFS and ANROWS webinar series, Australia
  
  
• Heard G, Irving M, Althor G, Smyth B and Payne J (3 November 2022) ‘Post-separation parenting smartphone apps: Can they help families avoid conflict?’ [webinar], Relationships Australia.