How we haven’t escaped the sad reality of COVID lockdown as more Aussie couples, families split

For some COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns have allowed time to slow down and spend precious time together. But it hasn’t been a positive experience for all.

It is too soon to predict what COVID will mean for divorce and separation rates, or the court system which is already buckling under an expansive case load, says one local lawyer: Picture: iStock.

• Families fight to retain slower pace of life
• What’s ‘bird-nesting’ – and does it work after divorce?

A series of newly-released statistics reveal Australia is on track to mirror international trends with a spike in divorce and separation in the wake of COVID-19.

Data from national information and mediation group The Separation Guide shows a 314 per cent increase in the number of couples now thinking about separating, compared to before the global coronavirus pandemic struck.

While Relationships Australia’s most recent monthly survey reveals 42 per cent of respondents report a “negative change” in their relationship with their partner.

The organisation’s national executive officer, Nick Tebbey, said the results were concerning.

“It confirms what we already suspected – and that is, that all of the COVID restrictions have really taken a toll on people’s relationships,” he said.

“I think there will be some ongoing impacts that come from that sense of unease and uncertainty about what the future may hold, rising unemployment is one such issue.”

Separation Guide CEO Angela Harbinson said data collected from an interactive online tool in which people sought advice on separation showed there had been a spike in activity in April and May.

Stastisics reveal many couples’ relationships have struggled through COVID. Picture: iStock.

Ms Harbinson said inquiries had risen from about four or five a day in February and March to 15 to 20 the next two months.

“We saw in Wuhan when people came out of isolation, the divorce rate went through the roof and that has also been reported in the US and the UK,” she said.

“It is a really pressured time in people’s lives, even if you are in a good, solid relationship. So, for couples under stress this has been a very trying time.”

Her colleague, barrister and mediator Jack Whelan, agreed a “definite trend” had emerged since the start of the isolation period.

“My sense is that there has been a lot of reflection and a lot of discussion during isolation,” he said.

Local collaborative law specialist, Belperio Clark director Bev Clark, said for many couples, issues had simply been exacerbated by COVID lockdown.

“We’ve certainly noticed more problems and had more people come in to make inquiries about separating,” she said.

“The pandemic hasn’t caused the problems but rather it has brought issues to a head – so, the complexities and issues they were already experiencing, in an already fracturing relationship.

“I think the fact they were stuck at home, working from home, homeschooling kids, that added another dynamic to an already fraught relationship.”

Swan Family Lawyers associate Vanessa Camerlengo said her firm had also seen an increase in new client inquiries over the past three weeks.

But she said it was too soon to predict what it would mean for divorce and separation rates, or this state’s court system, already buckling under an expansive case load.

“There are definitely some different trends emerging in terms of the clients we are seeing, the inquiries we are getting and the types of problems that are coming up,” she said.

However, she said there were also examples of lockdown bringing families together.

“I had a party come and see me who were looking at separating before COVID but have since come back and said they’ve decided to give it another go … one of their biggest issues previously had been they weren’t spending a lot of time together,” she said.

The ABS releases data on divorce annually with new figures to be released in November.

COVID-19 restrictions have placed new complexities around existing issues for some families. Picture: iStock

The number of couples using The Separation Guide’s online divorce and separation Q&A is reportedly up 230 per cent. Picture: iStock

The statistics

THE number of couples using online divorce and separation interactive Q&A is up 230 per cent.

THERE has been a 314 per cent increase in the number of couples in the early stages of about separating.

separating compared with before Australia went into isolation for COVID-19.

THERE has been a 116 increase in users seeking financial advice, 136 increase in users seeking psychological advice and a 115 per cent increase in people accessing podcasts, blogs and videos on the helpful resources section.

COMPARING state-by-state statistics shows the bulk of inquiries have come from Victoria and New South Wales (32 per cent and 26 per cent respectively), followed by Queensland (16 per cent), WA (15 per cent) and just six per cent coming out of SA.

– The Separation Guide, comparison between before and after COVID restrictions introduced

Originally published as How we haven’t escaped the sad reality of COVID lockdown as more Aussie couples, families split