In no area of criminal law is a victim able to be cross-examined in court by the person accused of harming them.

And yet in family law that is exactly what happens on a regular basis.

It is a practice that is deeply traumatic for victims and leads to bad outcomes for them and their children, family violence campaigner and former Australian of the Year Rosie Batty says.

It is the main thing she and Women's Legal Services Australia would like to see changed when federal and state ministers hold a family violence summit in Brisbane later this week.