Funding Agreements - Family Relationship Centres
10 April 2006 at 1:04 pm
The federal Government has begun negotiating funding agreements to operate the first 15 Family Relationship Centres and 50 new services aimed at helping families.
The Centres and the expansion of family support services are part of the Government’s reforms to the family law system.
It is expected that the new Centres will be 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.
The federal Government says 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.
The Federal Government says that all organisations were selected through open, competitive processes and have strong experience in delivering effective relationship services for families.
