“These appointments supplement a number of recent internal and external appointments of [senior registrars and registrars],” the Family Court of Australia said in a statement.

“These appointments will provide support to the [courts’] judges and will be essential in implementing government-funded initiatives including the Lighthouse Project – a [groundbreaking] and innovative initiative in the way in which the [courts] will screen for risk and focus on public health and improved outcomes for families involved in the family law system.”

The court said the appointments are in line with a new initiative to simplify the process to manage family law property disputes for cases where the value of the net property pool is under $500,000. This project is known as the PPP500 and is currently being piloted in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Parramatta.

Registrars Maria Kourtis and Cara Litterick will take up positions in Victoria.

Ms Kourtis comes to the [court] after many years practising as a senior lawyer at McKean Park and with over 18 years’ experience as a family lawyer in private practice, including 12 years as an independent children’s lawyer.

With over 10 years of experience, Ms Litterick is a highly skilled practitioner in family law. Prior to coming to the courts, she has spent over seven years as a solicitor with Roberts Beckwith Partners and, prior to that, three years with Bayside Solicitors. 

Queensland welcomes registrars Geraldine Hibberd, Myles Walker and Samuel Gray.

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Ms Hibberd will be based in the Brisbane registry and is appointed in the role of registrar. Ms Hibberd has almost 14 years of experience as a family law practitioner. Over the last four years Ms Hibberd has practised exclusively as a family dispute resolution practitioner (FDRP), and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience relating to family dispute resolution in complex, culturally diverse and high-risk family law disputes.

Mr Walker completed his applied master in applied family law in 2012 and achieved accreditation from the Queensland Law Society as a specialist in family law in 2017. The court said he is an accredited mediator and his skills and training will position him well in undertaking all of the responsibilities of a registrar, including assisting parties in resolving their disputes.

Mr Gray is appointed in the role of assistant registrar. The court said Mr Gray will bring considerable experience in family law both as a legal practitioner and as a mediator in his own practice. Mr Gray has met the requirements to qualify under the National Mediator Accreditation Standards and family dispute resolution practitioner.

The New South Wales registry will welcome Lynda Maitland and Sandra Soden.

Since 2008, Ms Maitland has practised exclusively in family law, predominantly at Legal Aid NSW, but also in private practice. Ms Maitland is an accredited specialist in family law, a member of the NSW Law Society’s family law committee, and family law specialist accreditation advisory committee. 

Ms Soden will carry out her registrar duties supporting a number of locations in NSW, namely the Parramatta, Wollongong and Sydney registries. 

Ms Soden has over 12 years’ experience in family law. She also holds specialist accreditation in family law, a master in applied family law and is an accredited family dispute resolution practitioner.