Media Release by The Hon Mal Brough MP

Government calls for organisations to apply for funding to help families

Joint Media Release with:

  • Philip Ruddock, Attorney-General

Attorney-General Philip Ruddock and Minister for Families and Community Services Mal Brough today called for organisations interested in running one of the next 25 Family Relationship Centres or a range of other services under the Family Relationship Services Program.

The new Family Relationship Centres and services will open in July 2007 and build on the achievements of the first 15 Centres and 50 new services, which commenced this year.

"The Family Relationship Centres will be the front door for information, advice and other help for those seeking to strengthen family relationships, prevent separation or resolve relationship difficulties after separation," Mr Ruddock said.

"In addition, Parenting Orders Program and Children’s Contact Services will help children and parents in high conflict families maintain relationships after separation and divorce," he said.

"Funding is also available for 27 Early Intervention Services to deliver relationship counselling, education and skills training, and men and family relationship services, to improve communication and family relationships," Mr Brough said.

"I urge organisations to apply for Howard Government funding to deliver these services to families," he said.

Competitive selection processes will be conducted by the Attorney-General’s Department and Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs to select organisations to run one or more of the new services.

This is the second of three competitive selection rounds announced as part of the 2005-06 Budget family law reform package of $397 million over four years.

Applications close on 30 October 2006. More information, including the selection criteria and applications forms, can be found at Attorney-General’s Department (www.ag.gov.au/tenders)

Attachment

The next 25 of the 65 Family Relationship Centres will be located in:

  • Blacktown (Sydney), Campbelltown (Sydney), Fairfield (Sydney), Newcastle, North Ryde (Sydney), Nowra and Wagga Wagga in New South Wales
  • Ballarat, Berwick (Melbourne), Geelong, Greensborough (Melbourne), Morwell/Traralgon, and Wodonga in Victoria
  • Cairns, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Maroochydore (Sunshine Coast), Rockhampton and Upper Mount Gravatt (Brisbane) in Queensland
  • Geraldton, Mandurah and Midland (Perth) in Western Australia
  • Noarlunga (Adelaide) and Port Augusta in South Australia, and
  • Launceston in Tasmania

Funding will be available for eligible organisations to provide a mix of Men and Family Relationship Counselling, Family Relationship Education and Skills Training, and Family Relationship Counselling in each of the locations listed below.

  • Albury or Wodonga, Blacktown, Campbelltown, Fairfield, Greater Newcastle, North Ryde, Nowra and Wagga Wagga in New South Wales.
  • Ballarat*, Bendigo, Berwick and Greensborough in Victoria.
  • Cairns and Far North, Emerald and Far West, Ipswich, Rockhampton or Gladstone, Roma or Charleville and South Brisbane in Queensland.
  • Geraldton*, Mandurah, Midland in Western Australia
  • Noarlunga (Adelaide), Port Augusta, (Eyre Peninsula and West Coast)
  • Barkly, Darwin and Islands, Katherine and Gulf in the Northern Territory, and
  • Launceston in Tasmania. *Ballarat – funding available for Men and Family Relationship and Family Relationship Counselling only *Geraldton – funding available for Family Relationship Education & Skills Training and Men and Family Relationship Counselling only.

Funding will be available for eligible organisations to provide services under the Parenting Orders Program in each of the locations listed below:

  • Albury, Lismore and Wollongong in New South Wales
  • Geelong in Victoria, and
  • Cairns, Gold Coast, Rockhampton and Sunshine Coast in Queensland

Funding will be available for eligible organisations to provide Children’s Contact Services in each of the locations listed below:

  • Blacktown (Sydney) in New South Wales
  • Cairns, Ipswich, and Rockhampton in Queensland
  • Geraldton and Mandurah (Perth) in Western Australia
  • Berri and Port Augusta in South Australia, and
  • Devonport in Tasmania