Campaign to Promote New Family Law System
19 June 2006 at 1:06 pm
A multimillion dollar public information campaign has begun to help explain to Australian families a raft of new services and changes to the family law which take effect from 1 July 2006.
The $25.6 million community education campaign will run until June 2010 highlighting the new family law system and its focus on changing the culture of family separation.
Initially, it will feature national print and localised advertising as the first 15 new Family Relationship Centres (FRCs) begin offering families a range of services from next month, as well as promote the new telephone Advice Line and website.
Other stages of the campaign will promote the role of the FRCs as the entire network of 65 Centres is established.
The Federal Government says the Family Law Amendment (Shared Parental Responsibility) Act 2006 marks a major cultural shift in the family law system that will help families to deal co-operatively and practically with relationship difficulties and separations.
It says the reforms promote the right of children to know both their parents and to be protected from harm. They also recognise parenting is a responsibility that should be shared equally.
A massive expansion of other services to support families will also be rolled out across Australia in the coming months to help parents put aside their own differences to reach agreement on issues involving their children.
Another 33 new early intervention services will help improve parenting and relationship skills and provide a range of services to meet the needs of all family members – women, children and men.
They will work collaboratively with the new Family Relationship Centres in delivering high quality services to support families at all stages of their relationships.
More information about the changes to the family law system can be found at: www.australia.gov.au/familyrelationships.
If your organisation is involved in the new Family Relationship Centres we’d like to hear about you and how the process of setting up has unfolded.
Just send an email to probono@probonoaustralia.com.au.
