Family Relationship Centres and Services One Step Closer to Reality
Organisations have been invited to start negotiating funding agreements to operate the first 15 Family Relationship Centres and 50 new services that will help families, Attorney-General Philip Ruddock and the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, announced today.
The Centres and massive expansion of family support services are the cornerstones of the Government's reforms to the family law system. The announcement today is a significant step towards the new Centres opening their doors to Australian families from July this year.
The Centres, supported by a telephone Advice Line and website, will help families to strengthen their relationships and, where families separate, help parents put aside their own differences and reach agreement on issues concerning their children without going to the courts.
Strong expressions of interest were received from organisations already delivering government-funded family relationship services as well as a number of new, private and community based providers - including many organisations which have joined together to make the best use of their varied experiences and expertise.
Organisations have also been invited to negotiate funding to operate other services, including 33 new early intervention services, to assist families. These services:
- assist separated families to settle their disputes (Family Dispute Resolution);
- help separated parents maintain contact with their children (Children's Contact Services);
- help families in highly entrenched conflict (Contact Orders Program), and
- assist all family members at various stages of their relationships, whether at the beginning, during or in the event of separation or divorce (Early Intervention Services).
Support and advice will also be available on parenting and grand parenting to help families build stronger, more positive relationships.
All organisations were selected through open, competitive processes and have strong experience in delivering effective relationship services for families.
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