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Workshop with Dr Luke Gahan - "Separated Same Sex Couples" - Family Laws Pathways Network
4th June 2018
Luke’s presentation will explore changing social attitudes and recent trends in same-sex
divorce from countries where marriage equality has existed for some time. Luke will then
share the findings of his qualitative research undertaken with separated same-sex
parents from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, and regional Victoria. His findings
unpack their experiences of separation, both before and after legal changes recognising
female non-biological parents. He will introduce us to multi-parent family households –
those who create their family with more than two parents – and their subsequent unique
experiences of separation and shared parenting over two and sometimes three
households.
His findings will also uncover same-sex parents’ experiences and perceptions of
separation services and service providers, including legal professionals, family
relationship centres, and mediation and counselling services.
About the speaker:
Dr Luke Gahan is a Research Fellow at the National Ageing Research Institute and an Adjunct Senior
Research Fellow at La Trobe University. He is currently the Secretary of The Australian Sociological
Association (TASA) and has previously convened the TASA Sociology of Families, Relationships and
Gender Thematic Group. Prior to joining NARI he was a lecturer and tutor in Sociology at La Trobe,
Melbourne, and Federation Universities and he completed his PhD at the Australian Research Centre
in Sex, Health, and Society (ARCSHS) and the Bouverie Centre – both located at La Trobe University.
His doctoral research examined the experiences of separation/divorce within same-sex parented
families and he has presented his findings to family law and mediation experts around Australia.
Date: Thursday, 21 June 2018
Start: 9:00 a.m. (registration commences at 8:30 a.m.)
Finish: 3:30 p.m.
Venue: The Ville Resort -Casino – Sir Leslie Thiess Drive, Townsville City
Cost: $40 (includes full catering)
RSVP: Thursday, 14 June 2018
For further information, please contact NQ FLPN Project Officer – Miriam Owato
Telephone: 07 4779 4211 or email: flpn@centacarenq.org.au
