The establishment of a new network of Family Relationship Centres forms the centrepiece of the latest round of family law reforms in Australia. This article draws on insights from practice and research in an attempt to anticipate some of the challenges that the Centres might face. The authors set out key issues that arise from practice based and broader research literature. Then they ask what is known about patterns of parenting after separation, the range of parental and child satisfaction, contact arrangements, child support and levels of inter parental conflict. Finally they flag gaps in knowledge with respect to the delivery of services in the Australian family law system and focus on the need for a research plan that will monitor and evaluate the Australian Government's latest policy initiative.