About the Family Justice Academy
The Family Justice Academy, in partnership with the Family Justice Services Division (Ministry of Attorney General), delivers post-hire training programs for various government employees working within the family justice system. Beyond these programs, the Academy offers ongoing professional development to support staff throughout their careers.
In addition to training government personnel, the Academy provides a wide range of family justice courses available to other professionals working with families navigating separation and divorce.
There are 4 family justice post-hire programs managed and facilitated by the JIBC:
- Family Justice Counsellor (Dispute Resolution)
- Family Justice Counsellor (Report Writer)
- Child Support Officer
- Justice Interviewer
These training programs are only available after you have been successful in obtaining one of the positions. These training programs are part of your first 6 months of employment and are paid for by the government.
Family Justice Services Division (FJSD)
FJSD is a part of the B.C. Ministry of Attorney General and provides essential programs and services to help families resolve disputes during separation and divorce within a comprehensive family justice system.
Through community-based Family Justice Centres and Justice Access Centres, FJSD offers a range of in-person and virtual services, including needs assessments, dispute resolution (e.g., mediation, facilitated negotiation), Section 211 Family Law Act reports, and Parenting After Separation online courses. Staff can also provide a range of information on family legal issues; assistance with court forms; and referrals to legal advice and community resources.
To learn more about what Family Justice Services Division does please go to Family Justice Services Division - Province of British Columbia.
Careers
JIs work one-on-one with family members, screen for violence and assess if the client’s service needs are within the scope of FJSD mandate. JIs also provide legal information, assistance with court documents and suggest other resources and referrals to clients, such as Parenting After Separation courses, counselling, legal advice options, etc.
CSOs provide information about and facilitate negotiations surrounding child and spousal support. CSOs also screen for violence to assess family dynamics and the party’s capacity to engage in the process of facilitated negotiations. If clients come to an agreement, CSOs can draft these agreements into a legal binding document.
Family Justice Counsellor - Dispute Resolution (FJC-DR):
In the dispute resolution role, FJCs are government-appointed mediators, certified by Family Mediation Canada. They help families resolve disputes about parenting, support, and other post-separation matters, while also providing emotional support, safety screening, legal information and referrals. FJCs can also interview children to introduce their views into the dispute resolution process.
Family Justice Counsellor - Report Writer (FJC-RW):
Report writers are part of a provincial team that prepares Section 211 reports. These reports are provided to help the court in the decision-making process and are centered around the best interest of the child. In this role, FJCs assess the needs of children, the parents’ ability to meet those needs, interview professionals like doctors and teachers and document this assessment into a report for the court.
Administrative and Management Roles:
Additional roles support the FJSD’s services. While these roles are not JIBC-trained, job postings can be found on the government hiring website.
Many of the online courses in the family justice programs are also available to the public. These courses can be taken if you are interested in becoming a family justice counsellor or in a private family mediator career. They are also helpful for professional development if you are working with families navigating separation and divorce.
- FAMJ-1000 Family Justice Services in B.C.
- FAMJ-1002 Family Violence: Impact on Separation and Divorce
- FAMJ-1005 Effects of Separation and Divorce on Adults
- FAMJ-1006 Effects of Separation and Divorce on Children
- FAMJ-1009 Child Support Guidelines
- FAMJ-1018 Diversity, Family Dispute Resolution, and Access to Justice
- FAMJ-1019 Substance Use in Family Justice
- FAMJ-1026 Mental Health Considerations in Family Justice
Learn more about how to register for these courses independently of the post-hire training program here: Family Justice Courses.
For more information about JIBC Family Justice courses or to register online, please visit our Family Justice page. To learn more about the JIBC Centre for Conflict Resolution courses or to register, please visit our Conflict Resolution page.
If you have any questions or encounter issues with registration, please contact JIBC Registration. For inquiries about family justice roles and the post-hire training, please contact Chelsey Christian, Coordinator/Instructor, at 604.528.5821, cchristian@jibc.ca, or toll-free at 1.877.528.5591.