Patrick Parkinson

Patrick Parkinson is a Professor of Law at the University of Sydney and a specialist in family law, child protection and the law of equity and trusts. He served from 2004-2007 as Chairperson of the Family Law Council, an advisory body to the Australian Attorney-General, and also chaired a review of the Child Support Scheme in 2004-05. This resulted in the enactment of major changes to the Australian Child Support Scheme. He is a member of the Executive Council of the International Society of Family Law.

Prof. Parkinson is also well-known for his community work concerning child protection. He has been a member of the NSW Child Protection Council, and was Chairperson of a major review of the state law concerning child protection which led to the enactment of the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 in New South Wales. He also works with churches on child protection issues.

In addition to writing several books, Prof. Parkinson's articles have been published in some of the world's leading English-language law journals and in journals on children and families.

In 2009 he was made a member of the Order of Australia for service to the law and to legal education, particularly in the areas of family and child protection law, as an author, through contributions to policy reform, and to the community.

Prof. Parkinson has been a committed Christian for more than 30 years and attends a Baptist Church in Sydney. He is married with a son and two step-children.