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information - family relationship centres
Family Relationship Centres
Overview
The Centres are a first port of call when families want information about relationship and separation issues.
Through information and referral the Centres help families strengthen relationships and deal with relationship difficulties. Where families separate, the centres provide information, advice and dispute resolution (such as mediation) to help them reach agreement on parenting arrangements without going to court. They also refer families to a range of other services that can help.
Over the next two years, 65 new Family Relationship Centres will be established in cities and towns across Australia. The Centres will be a source of information for families at all stages in their life, including people starting relationships, those wanting to make their relationships stronger, those having relationship difficulties and those affected when families separate.
The Centres will also offer individual, group and joint sessions to help separating families make workable arrangements for their children without having to go to court.
Qualified Staff
The Centres will be run by a range of organisations whose professionally qualified staff will deliver high quality, confidential and impartial services, and will be able to make referrals if necessary.
These professionals have high levels of skills in relevant areas, including identifying family violence and child abuse.
Information and Services
The Centres will become valuable community resource that will:
Provide information for families: All family relationship information will be available in one place. People of all ages at any stage of their family relationship will be able to use the Centre to resolve individual relationship issues.
The Centres will also run public information sessions covering family relationship issues, including parenting after separation.
Help families use other services: The Centres will make it easier for families to find out about and use the many existing services throughout Australia that can help them resolve their relationship issues. These other services include early intervention services that prevent relationships from breaking down.
Provide assistance for separating families: As well as providing information and referral, Centres will be able to help separating parents in a number of ways, including:
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individual interviews for separating/separated parents to help them identify issues and options and focus on the needs of their children
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group programs on parenting after separation
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joint sessions for separating parents to help them reach agreement on parenting arrangements.
Will separating couples have to attend a Centre?
Separating couples are encouraged to use the new Family Relationship Centres, but it is not compulsory.
In future years, the law will require separating parents to first try dispute resolution before taking a parenting dispute to the court (exceptions include cases where violence or child abuse is present).
Dispute resolution can be provided by an accredited professional at a Family Relationship Centre or elsewhere.
Are services free?
Centres will provide individual advice free of charge.
Centres will provide up to three hours free of charge for joint dispute resolution sessions (such as mediation).
Charges will only apply after the first three hours of joint sessions. Any fees charged after these three hours, will take into account the family's ability to pay. In some cases fees will be waived.
Listing of all current Family Relationship Centres (FRCs):
New South Wales
Blacktown 125 Main Street , Cnr Main Street and Sunnyholt Road, Blacktown
(02) 8811 0000
Campbelltown 8 Iolanthe St, Campbelltown (interim site) 1300 883 471
Fairfield Cnr Hamilton and Barbara Streets, Fairfield 1300 851 437
Lismore Market Street Community Centre, Level 1, 5 Market Street, Lismore
(02) 6622 7003
Newcastle 495 Hunter Street, Newcastle (02) 4016 0566
North Ryde 277 Lane Cove Road, North Ryde (02) 8874 8088
Nowra 38-44 Berry Street, Nowra (02) 4429 1400
Penrith Ground Floor, 27 Lawson Street (Cnr Henry Street), Penrith (02)
4720 4999
Sutherland 383-385 Port Hacking Road South, Caringbah (02) 9525 6488
Wagga Wagga 129 Fitzmaurice Street, Wagga Wagga (02) 6923 9100
Wollongong Shop 2, 310 Crown Street, Wollongong (02) 4220 1100
Victoria
Ballarat 32 Main Road, Ballarat (interim site) 1300 303 988
Berwick 1-2, 38 Clyde Road, Berwick (03) 8768 4111
Frankston 37 Playne Street, Frankston (03) 9770 0341
Geelong 27 Myers Street, Geelong 1300 656 043
Greensborough 79 Grimshaw Street, Greensbrough (03) 9404 7800
Mildura 105 Lemon Avenue, Mildura 1300 667 382
Ringwood 16 Bond Street, Ringwood (03) 9871 6300
Sunshine 1 Clarke Street, Sunshine (03) 9313 0444
Traralgon 41 Grey Street, Traralgon (03) 5174 1055
Wodonga 282 Beechworth Road, Wodonga (02) 60228644
Queensland
Cairns 182 Gatton Street, Manundah (interim site) (07) 4041 6063
Gold Coast Ashmore Commercial Centre, 207 Currumburra Road, Ashmore City
(07) 5656 1700
Ipswich 41 East Street, Ipswich (07) 3810 4800
Upper Mount Gravatt 23 Sanders Street, Upper Mt Gravatt (07) 3423 6967
Rockhampton 36 East Street, Rockhampton (07) 4927 1210
Strathpine 16 Mecklem Street, Strathpine (07) 3423 6962
Sunshine Coast Big Top Shopping Centre, Ocean Street, Maroochydore (07)
5452 9700
Townsville Unit 1, 281-285 Ross River Road,Aitkenvale (07) 4779 4211
South Australia
Noarlunga 38 Beach Road, Christies Beach (08) 8202 5200
Port Augusta 6 Gibson Street, Port Augusta (interim site) (08) 8641 0432
Salisbury Shop 8, Salisbury Cinema Complex, Cnr James and Gawler Streets,
Salisbury (08) 8255 3323
Shop 52a, Oxenham Mall, Elizabeth Shopping Centre, 50 Elizabeth Way,
Elizabeth (08) 8255 3323
Western Australia
Geraldton 116 Durlacher Street, Geraldton (08) 9921 2611
Joondalup Sanori House, 126 Grand Boulevard, Joondalup (08) 9301 8500
Mandurah 11-15 Pinjarra Road, Mandurah (08) 9583 1400
Midland 53 The Crescent, Cnr Sayer St and The Crescent, Midland (08) 9436
0600
Tasmania
Hobart 178 Macquarie Street, Hobart (03) 6211 2100
Launceston 121-125 York Street, Launceston (03) 6336 7050
Northern Territory
Darwin Ground Floor, Winlow House, 75 Woods Street, Darwin (08) 8923 1400
1800 650 276 (toll free)
Australian Capital Territory
Canberra Level 1, Westfield Woden Offices, Woden Town Square (02) 6122
2444
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