The Assessment Fraud: Why most 'professionals' don't understand child development
The uncomfortable truth about family assessments
Here's something that may shock you: The professional writing your family report might very well know less about child development than you do.
I know that sounds impossible. After all, they have qualifications, experience, and the authority to make recommendations that will shape your children's lives. But the reality is that many professionals working in the space of post-separation assessments have received very little training in actual child development research.
And this knowledge gap is putting Australian children at serious risk.
The credentials that don't mean what you think they do
When you are navigating the court system in Australia for parenting matters, and receive a child impact report or family report, you probably assume the author has extensive training in child development, attachment theory, and trauma-informed practice. The reality is far more concerning.
Many family report writers have:
A psychology degree focused on adult therapy, not child development
A social work qualification emphasising case management over developmental science
Legal training with minimal child development components
Mediation certification that prioritises adult agreement over child welfare
What they typically lack:
Comprehensive attachment theory training
Understanding of developmental trauma impacts
Knowledge of age-appropriate emotional regulation capacities
Awareness of how different parenting arrangements affect children at various developmental stages
Deep understanding of the nuances of family violence and post-separation abuse
This isn't necessarily their fault because “the system” doesn't actually require this expertise. But the consequences for your children can be devastating.
Red flags that expose professional ignorance
After working with hundreds of families, I've identified clear warning signs that indicate a professional doesn't understand child development:
They recommend 50/50 equal shared parenting time arrangements
Any professional who suggests equal time sharing of any child who is not a teenager likely does not understand basic developmental needs. Research consistently shows that young children need stability and predictability in their primary caregiver relationships, yet many assessors treat all children as if they're identical, and have ideological biases about equal time. Additionally, equal parenting time arrangements are not appropriate in situations involving ongoing parental conflict - full stop. When these arrangements are recommended by poorly trained report writers, it makes a final trial a much more likely end-point for separated parents, because entitled non-primary caregivers are emboldened. It must be noted however, that only around 9% of cases determined by a Judge have ever received parenting orders with equal shared parenting time, and this was prior to 2024 when the presumption of equal shared parental responsibility, and it’s link to parenting time, was removed from the Australian Family Law Act. So even Judges know that equal time is problematic, but this doesn’t take away the fact that families get stuck in the system, spending exorbitant amounts of money, because of the ill-informed recommendations of inadequately trained court child experts and family consultants.
They dismiss attachment concerns
When you express concerns about your infant or toddler being separated from their primary caregiver overnight, a developmentally informed professional would take this seriously. If their view is that “children are resilient” or “they'll adjust,” you're dealing with someone who simply doesn't understand early childhood development.
They confuse compliance with wellbeing
A truly qualified professional understands that children who may appear to be “coping well” with inappropriate arrangements on the surface may actually be showing signs of trauma adaptation. They don't mistake survival behaviours for healthy adjustment.
They ignore developmental stages
Every recommendation should account for your child's specific developmental needs. If an assessor suggests the same arrangement for a 2-year-old and a 10-year-old, they're not applying developmental knowledge.
They can't explain their reasoning
Professionals should be expected to explain, in-depth, the developmental basis for their recommendations. A qualified expert will readily discuss attachment theory, emotion regulation capacities, and age-appropriate expectations. An unqualified one will fall back on generic platitudes about “children needing both parents.”
The questions that expose knowledge gaps
Want to test whether a professional actually understands child development? Grab some popcorn and ask these questions:
“What does current attachment research tell us about overnight arrangements for children under three?”
A knowledgeable professional will discuss primary caregiver relationships, the importance of predictable routines, and individual variation in children's needs.
“How do you assess whether a child's apparent 'adjustment' represents healthy coping or trauma adaptation?”
They should be able to discuss the difference between compliance and genuine wellbeing, and explain how children's stress responses can be masked.
“What developmental factors do you consider when recommending parenting schedules?”
Look for understanding of emotion regulation development, cognitive capacity at different ages, and understanding of the way in which transitioning between parents can affect children's sense of security.
“How do you account for individual temperament differences in your recommendations?”
They should understand that highly sensitive children, introverted children, and those with additional needs require different approaches.
If they can't answer these questions with specific, research-based responses, you're dealing with someone who lacks the expertise to make recommendations about your children's lives.
The dangerous assumptions they make
The most concerning aspect of inadequate professional training is the assumptions that drive recommendations:
“All conflict is equally harmful”
Untrained professionals often can't distinguish between healthy boundary-setting and destructive conflict. They may recommend arrangements that prioritise adult “peace” over child safety and wellbeing.
“Children always benefit from contact”
Without understanding trauma dynamics, they may push for contact arrangements that actually harm children's development and wellbeing.
“Equal time = equal love = equal quality parenting = gold standard”
They confuse mathematical fairness with child-focused decision making, failing to understand that love is demonstrated through meeting children's actual needs, not adult desires for equal time.
“Children will adapt”
Perhaps most dangerously, they assume children's capacity to adapt means they should have to adapt, rather than creating arrangements that actually fit children's developmental needs.
What qualified child development expertise looks like
When you encounter a truly qualified professional, the difference is immediately apparent:
They assess individual children, not generic “cases”: Every recommendation is tailored to your specific child's age, temperament, and circumstances.
They prioritise child wellbeing over adult satisfaction: Their recommendations may create adult discomfort but always serve children's genuine needs.
They understand trauma dynamics: They can identify when children's compliance masks distress and recommend truly protective arrangements.
They explain their reasoning clearly: They can articulate exactly why specific arrangements serve your child's development and can cite relevant research.
They acknowledge when arrangements need to change: They understand that children's needs evolve and that arrangements should adapt accordingly.
The cost of professional incompetence
When inadequately trained professionals make recommendations about your children's lives, the consequences extend far beyond inconvenience:
Children develop insecure attachment patterns that affect their ability to form healthy relationships throughout their lives.
Developmental trauma occurs when children are repeatedly placed in situations that overwhelm their emotional regulation capacities.
Long-term mental health impacts emerge when children's genuine needs are consistently ignored in favour of adult preferences.
Educational and social difficulties develop when children's stress responses interfere with their ability to learn and connect with peers.
The professionals making these recommendations will never see these long-term consequences. But you and your children will live with them forever.
How to protect your children from inadequate Assessments
While you can't always control who conducts your assessment, you can take steps to protect your children:
Document everything
Keep detailed records of your children's responses to different arrangements, their developmental needs, and any concerning behaviours.
Educate your legal team
Most lawyers also lack child development training. Share research-based information about your children's needs and help them understand why certain arrangements are harmful. If you receive a problematic report, with inappropriate recommendations, remember that it’s not uncommon for Judges to make decisions that deviate from report writer recommendations. And, in a final trial, the report writer can be vigorously cross-examined by your barrister.
Request specific expertise
If you are searching for a private report writer, look for assessors with demonstrated child development expertise, not just generic psychology or social work backgrounds. Look at their website, but also their social media accounts - this can tell you a lot about them and their values, attitudes and beliefs.
Challenge inappropriate recommendations
If recommendations ignore your children's developmental needs, don't accept them as inevitable. Unfortunately, this will require more time in the court system because the “full story” often only comes to light at a final trial. Don’t believe that recommendations of equal time will be deemed appropriate by a Judge - the statistics on this really do say otherwise.
The system that enables this fraud
The real tragedy is that this isn't an accident. The family law system operates on adult-focused principles that often prioritise legal convenience over child welfare. Professionals are praised by others in the system for recommendations that strive to avoid adult conflict, even when those recommendations harm children.
Until the system requires genuine child development expertise, parents like you must become the advocates your children need. You must learn to identify qualified professionals and challenge those who lack appropriate training.
Your children's future depends on it.
Taking action for your children
If you're currently facing assessment processes, or if previous assessments have resulted in arrangements that don't serve your children's needs, remember this: You are not powerless.
Understanding child development principles yourself puts you in a stronger position to advocate for appropriate arrangements. When you can articulate exactly why certain recommendations ignore your children's developmental needs, you become a more effective advocate.
This is the work that I do with clients in 1:1 coaching sessions, and is exactly why I developed The Post-Separation Parenting Blueprint - to give parents the child development knowledge that professionals should have but often lack. When you understand what children actually need at different developmental stages, you can confidently challenge inappropriate recommendations and advocate for arrangements that truly serve your children's wellbeing.
The Blueprint launches in September 2025 with comprehensive modules covering:
Child development principles for different ages and stages
How to assess and articulate your children's specific needs
Strategies for educating professionals about child development
Evidence-based frameworks for truly child-focused arrangements
Join the waitlist to access The Blueprint as soon as it launches, plus receive immediate resources including my guide "5 Critical Mistakes Parents Make in Early Separation”.
Remember: The professional writing your family report may have impressive credentials, but if they can't explain the developmental basis for their recommendations, they're not qualified to make decisions about your children's lives.
Your protective instincts exist for a reason. Trust them, educate yourself, and never stop advocating for what your children actually need.
Listen to my podcast episode 55. "Why Do So Many Professionals Get the Recommendations Wrong?" for further exploration of the systemic issues that enable professional incompetence in the post-separation space. The Post-Separation Abuse Podcast is available on Apple podcasts, Spotify and other places where podcasts can be found.
About Danielle Black: As Australia's leading post-separation parenting specialist, Danielle has guided hundreds of families toward truly child-focused arrangements. Having navigated her own complex separation, she understands both the professional system's limitations and what children actually need to thrive after parental separation.
