Dr Michelle Fernando is a Senior Lecturer in Law. She joined the University of South Australia in 2012.
Michelle is a former family lawyer and is passionate about teaching and researching Family Law. Her research focusses on children's voices in domestic and international child abduction proceedings, and the recognition of de facto relationships. Michelle's PhD thesis on judges meeting with children was conferred by the University of Tasmania in 2011. Michelle previously taught Family Law at the Australian National University and the University of Tasmania. She also lectures in Contracts and Property Law.
Michelle aims to prepare students for future law careers by ensuring understanding of key legal principles and also their... Read more
About me
Dr Michelle Fernando is a Senior Lecturer in Law. She joined the University of South Australia in 2012.
Michelle is a former family lawyer and is passionate about teaching and researching Family Law. Her research focusses on children's voices in domestic and international child abduction proceedings, and the recognition of de facto relationships. Michelle's PhD thesis on judges meeting with children was conferred by the University of Tasmania in 2011. Michelle previously taught Family Law at the Australian National University and the University of Tasmania. She also lectures in Contracts and Property Law.
Michelle aims to prepare students for future law careers by ensuring understanding of key legal principles and also their historical and social underpinnings. She aims to foster university graduates who acknowledge limitations and challenges of existing law and look to options for reform.
Michelle's research is highly regarded and has been published in Australia and internationally. She is a co-author of the monograph Family Law in Australia (10th Ed, 2021). Michelle is a former director of Anglicare SA and Anglicare Tasmania.
About me
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 26/06/2012 |
Radio National 'The Voices of Children in Family Court Cases', http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/lawreport/the-voices-of-children-in-family-law-cases/4114440 |
| 07/06/2012 |
About me
Doctor of Philosophy University of Tasmania
Graduate Certificate in Legal Practice University of Tasmania
Bachelor of Arts University of Tasmania
Bachelor of Law University of Tasmania
Research
Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. Some long-standing staff members may have older outputs included. To see earlier years visit ORCID, ResearcherID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
Open access
2
1
|
| 2022 |
|
| 2021 |
Open access
|
| 2013 |
|
| 2012 |
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2021 |
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
|
| 2022 |
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2023 |
Open access
|
| 2022 |
Open access
2
1
|
| 2021 |
Open access
|
| 2020 |
Open access
|
| 2018 |
Open access
4
1
9
|
| 2016 |
|
| 2014 |
Open access
15
10
|
| 2014 |
|
| 2013 |
Open access
1
|
| 2013 |
|
| 2013 |
|
| 2012 |
|
| 2012 |
|
| 2012 |
|
| 2012 |
|
| 2009 |
|
| 2009 |
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2023 |
Open access
|
| 2018 |
Open access
|
N Ross and M Fernando, 'Book Review - Children, Autonomy and the Courts by Aoife Daly' (2018) 26 International Journal of Children's Rights 837
M Fernando, Learning Resources for Family Law in Australia (10th Ed), LexisNexis 2021
Co-author, Family Law in Australia (LexisNexis, 10th Ed, 2021)
Author, Family Law in Australia Teaching Materials (LexisNexis, 2021)
Cited by Supreme Court of Canada in Office of the Children's Lawyer v Balev, SCC 16
Former case note writer, Family Law Review
Former Director, Anglicare SA and Anglicare Tasmania
External engagement & recognition
| Organisation | Country |
|---|---|
| Monash University | AUSTRALIA |
| Murdoch University | AUSTRALIA |
| Private Individual | AUSTRALIA |
| Southern Cross University | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Newcastle | AUSTRALIA |
| University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Tasmania | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Western Australia | AUSTRALIA |
External engagement & recognition
| Engagement/recognition | Year |
|---|---|
Editorial Board MemberAustralian Journal of Family Law |
2022 |
Expertise cited in Office of the Children Lawyer v. Balev, 2018 SCC 16Supreme Court of Canada |
2018 |
Invited stakeholder in consultation process on issues in children's participation on family separationCommissioner for Children and Young People, South Australia |
2018 |
Review of report on Child Protection FrameworksAustralian Centre for Child Protection |
2018 |
Board MemberAnglicareSA |
2016 |
Case note WriterFamily Law Review (Thomsen Reuters) |
2016 |
Music worship leaderSt Matts Anglican Church |
2016 |
Board MemberAnglicareSA |
2015 |
Case note WriterFamily Law Review (Thomsen Reuters) |
2015 |
Music worship leaderSt Matts Anglican Church |
2015 |
Board MemberAnglicareSA |
2014 |
Case note WriterFamily Law Review (Thomsen Reuters) |
2014 |
ChairAnglicareSA, Governance Risk and Compliance Committee |
2014 |
Music worship leaderSt Matts Anglican Church |
2014 |
Board MemberAnglicareSA |
2013 |
Case note WriterFamily Law Review (Thomsen Reuters) |
2013 |
ChairAnglicareSA, Governance Risk and Compliance Committee |
2013 |
Music worship leaderSt Matts Anglican Church |
2013 |
Case note WriterFamily Law Review (Thomsen Reuters) |
2012 |
Case note WriterFamily Law Review (Thomsen Reuters) |
2011 |
Board MemberAnglicare Tasmania |
2010 |
Board MemberAnglicare Tasmania |
2009 |
Board MemberAnglicare Tasmania |
2008 |
Michelle has received several teaching awards including the Top Early Career Teacher award for the UniSA Business School in 2014.
Teaching & student supervision
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
| Thesis title | Student status |
|---|---|
| Risk of harm and supervised contact in Australian family law | Current |
| What legal rights should foster and kinship carers have in a child protection system? | Current |
| Protecting fundamental common law rights: a critical analysis of the application and role of the principle of legality in Australia | Completed |
| Sentencing the sexually abused child sex offender: childhood histories of contact abuse and pleas in mitigation | Completed |
| The unenforceability of self-executing deep learning algorithmic contracts | Completed |
