Background
Family Relationship Services
Contractual arrangements and reviews
Resources
Feedback
Purpose
The Family Relationships Services (FRS) aims to:
- enable children, young people and adults in all their diversity to develop and sustain safe, supportive and nurturing family relationships; and
- minimise the emotional, social and economic costs associated with disruption to family relationships.
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Main Types of FRS Services
A detailed description of the FRS services is located at Main Types of Family Relationship Services (FRS) Services.
To find a service near you, including Family Relationship Centre locations:
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Directory of organisations providing FRS services
Over 100 community organisations currently receive funding under the Family Relationship Services (FRS) to deliver Family Relationship Services through over 600 outlets across Australia.
To find a service provider, including Family Relationship Centre locations:
Although FRS services may be provided to clients on a fee for service basis, organisations must ensure that people without the capacity to pay are not refused access to a service.
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Funding
Family Relationship Services (FRS) is jointly funded by the Attorney-General's Department (AGD) and the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA).
FaHCSIA administers the program on behalf of both Departments through its Family Support Progam Branch and the State and Territory Office (STO) network.
The FRS funding arrangements have been extended for three-year terms to deliver main types of FRS services. Funding extensions will enable providers to provide ongoing services to the community at the same time as providing essential training and career security for their staff.
The FRS providers will receive more than $444 million of funding over the next three years from 2008-09 to 2010-11 which includes funding renewals and establishment fees of $277 million to build strong families.
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Priorities
The business priorities for FRS are to:
- provide high quality, accessible and professional family services to help children, young people and adults to strengthen their relationship skills and cope with relationship distress, and
- support FRS to be sustainable and connected to the broader family support service system.
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Changes to the Family Law System
In December 2003, the House Standing Committee Family and Community Affairs tabled its report Every picture tells a story: Inquiry into child custody arrangements in the event of family separation.
The previous Government tabled its response to the report in June 2005.
This review initiated the expansion of the Family Relationship Services Program which initially funded education and skills training.
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Family Relationship Services Australia (FRSA)
Family Relationship Services Australia (FRSA) is the representative body for the Family Relationship Services sector. FRSA aims to be a collective voice for the sector to lead the way during a time of change and expansion. The body was established on 1 July 2007.
Membership of FRSA is voluntary and open, but not limited to, all FRS-funded organisations.
Visit the Family Relationship Services Australia website for more information.
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FRSP Online
The
FRSP Online application is an online client data capture application that is used by contracted service providers of the Family Relationship Services (FRS).
The data that is transmitted is used to report to the Australian Government, the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the Attorney-General's Department, the Family Relationship Services Sector industry representative body Family Relationship Services Australia (FRSA) and individual outlets on the delivery of Family Relationship Services. It is also used as part of the Needs Based Planning process and the Performance Management Framework.
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Australian Family Relationships Clearinghouse (AFRC)
The Australian Government has funded the Australian Family Relationships Clearinghouse through to:
- support family relationship services
- increase access to relevant research, and
- showcase innovative and effective service delivery.
The AFRC provides a catalogue of relevant research, electronic journals, a database of useful abstracts, and the translation of key messages from the latest early intervention and prevention research.
Visit the Australian Family Relationships Clearinghouse website for more information.
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Keys to Living Together
The Keys to Living Together kits provide information, tips and practical activities to assist families in building stronger and healthier relationships. Each kit consists of a DVD and mini magazine.
Currently there are five kits in the series, these kits are:
- Keys to Living Together – Taking the first step.
- Keys to Living Together – Instant families.
- Keys to Living Together – Then we were three.
- Keys to Living Together – Life Changing Journeys
- Keys to Living Together – Staying Strong
To order your kit call 1800 050 009 Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm and a free copy will be posted.
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Complaints process for the Family Relationship Services
All Family Relationship Service providers are required to have procedures in place to receive feedback on their services, including complaints. Information on a service provider's complaints policy is available at the service outlet. If you wish to make a complaint about a Family Relationship Service, contact the service provider management directly in the first instance.
If you are not comfortable talking directly with the service provider or if you are not satisfied with how your complaint has been handled by the provider, please contact the National Office Complaints Team in any of the following ways:
Ph: 1800 634 035
Fax: (02) 6133 8442
Email: complaints@fahcsia.gov.au
Post:
FaHCSIA Complaints
PO Box 7576
Canberra Business Centre
ACT 2610