‘The Meaning of Home for Children and Young People after Parental Separation: Key Insights for Practice’ by Professor Belinda Fehlberg, Professor Bruce M. Smyth, Dr Monica Campo, and Professor Kristin Natalier is a qualitative study examining the concept of ‘home’ from the perspective of children and young people after their parents’ separation.

The study was conducted by Melbourne Law School, Flinders University, and Australian National University, and was funded by the Australian Research Council. The research involved interviewing children and parents about their experiences of home and homemaking after parental separation.

The researchers found that ‘home’ for these children and young people was a complex concept, involving both tangible and intangible dimensions. It was not solely defined by a physical residence; rather, it was a fundamentally relational idea and experience, largely created through everyday interactions with significant others.

The study suggests that ‘home’ is not simply the outcome of conforming to a defined list of ‘good’ post-separation parenting practices, or dependent on the amount of time spent at each parent’s residence.

It has an existential significance for children and young people that matters deeply to them.

The insights from this study are intended to encourage and make it easier for parents and family law professionals (including courts, lawyers, and mediators) to think from a child’s or young person’s perspective when living arrangements are decided post-parental separation.

The research findings have been published in the Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law. The researchers express their gratitude to all the participants for their valuable contributions to the project.