Prof Tanya Robinson
 

Tanya has over 20 years of experience in forensic social work, with expertise in court-related assessments, Child Impact Reports, and family assessments within the legal system. She has worked extensively in Africa for more than two decades and in Australia for the past six years, conducting forensic evaluations in complex family law, child protection, and high-conflict parenting matters. Tanya is a registered mental health social worker and a fellow of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). She has extensive experience in preparing Child Impact Reports and family assessments, providing courts with structured insights into parenting capacity, family dynamics, risk factors, and the best interests of the child. She has worked on cases involving family violence, parental conflict, and high-conflict separations, ensuring that children's perspectives and needs remain central to legal proceedings. Tanya is also an accredited mediator with the Mediation Institute and a registered Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) Practitioner with the Attorney General's Department (F2003645). She holds certification in New Ways Training from the High Conflict Institute (USA). Recognising the importance of child-focused assessment tools, Tanya developed The Child's Story Box, a resource designed to facilitate child interviews and forensic assessments in legal contexts. She has also completed specialist training in interviewing vulnerable children through Griffith University. Her work in forensic social work includes authoring publications on child assessments, parenting plans, and best practice approaches for supporting children in legal disputes. Academically, Tanya holds a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in sociology, psychology, and social work), a postgraduate diploma in education, a Master’s degree, and four PhDs in human behaviour, psychosocial legal science, forensic science, and criminal justice. Her research has contributed to best practice guidelines in forensic victimology, family law assessments, and high-conflict parenting cases. Tanya continues to contribute to the field as a Research Fellow and Extraordinary Professor, advancing knowledge in forensic social work, family law, and child welfare. In 2016, she was awarded the Research Excellence Award from North-West University for her contributions to children's rights, and in 2020, she was appointed to the executive committee of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abuse (ANZATSA).