Further $14.2 million commitment to help families
27 new Early Intervention Service preferred providers have been announced today by the Australian Government at a further investment of $14.2 million.
In announcing the new providers, Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough said a wide range of services to help families maintain healthy family relationships would be delivered.
“The new services will strengthen family relationships, prevent separation and resolve relationship difficulties,” Mr Brough said.
“They will deliver a mix of relationship counselling, education and skills training, and men and family relationship services, to improve communication and, in turn, enrich relationships.
“Family relationship issues are better addressed early, before they can become more serious problems such as separation or divorce.”
A report released on 12 December, 2006, by EIS provider Relationships Australia, from the 2006 Relationships Indicators Survey, showed Australians have become increasingly more willing to turn to professionals for relationship help.
The Survey found 63 per cent of respondents agreed that if they had problems in a relationship, they would have no hesitation in seeking professional help, a rise from 56 per cent of respondents in the 2001 Relationships Indicators Survey.
The new Early Intervention Services (EIS) will open in July 2007 and are funded under the Family Relationship Services Program. They build on the achievements of the first 33 new services, which commenced from July 2006
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.
The third selection round will be advertised in mid 2007. More information can be found at www.ag.au/tenders or www.facsia.gov.au. A list of the successful providers is attached.
Funding will be provided to 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.
| State | Location | Applicant | Funding (2007-09) GST excl. |
|---|---|---|---|
| QLD | Cairns | Relationships Australia (QLD) | $800,000 |
| Emerald or Far North Queensland | Centacare Rockhampton | $500,000 | |
| Ipswich | KINECTIONS, Spiritus Care Services | $620,000 | |
| Rockhampton / Gladstone | Centacare Rockhampton | $600,000 | |
| Roma or Charleville | CentacareLifeline EIS | $520,000 | |
| South Brisbane | KINECTIONS, Spiritus Care Services | $760,000 | |
| NT | Barkley | Catholic Church Diocese of Darwin Property Trust | $520,000 |
| Darwin | Catholic Church Diocese of Darwin Property Trust | $480,000 | |
| Katherine | Catholic Church Diocese of Darwin Property Trust | $560,000 | |
| SA | Noarlunga | Southern & Eastern Connections Alliance | $600,000 |
| Port Augusta | Centacare Catholic Family Services Port Pirie Inc | $640,000 | |
| TAS | Launceston | Centacare Tasmania | $400,000 |
| NSW | Albury or Wodonga | Upper Hume Community Health Service Inc | $420,000 |
| Blacktown | Relationships Australia | $600,000 | |
| Campbelltown | Campbelltown FRC/EI Consortium | $600,000 | |
| Fairfield | Centacare Catholic Community Welfare Services (Sydney) | $640,000 | |
| Greater Newcastle | Newcastle Integrated Family Service | $560,000 | |
| North Ryde | Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Broken Bay | $520,000 | |
| Nowra | South Coast Family Relationships Centre | $480,000 | |
| Wagga Wagga | Centacare Catholic Community Welfare Services (Sydney) | $360,000 | |
| VIC | Ballarat | Ballarat Early Intervention Services Consortium | $260,000 |
| Bendigo | CentaCare Diocese of Sandhurst Victoria (The Roman Catholic Trusts Corporation for the Diocese of Sandhurst) | $460,000 | |
| Berwick | Berwick Family Relationship Centre and Early Intervention Services Consortium | $460,000 | |
| Greensbrough | Greensborough Family Relationship Centre and Early Intervention Services Consortium | $460,000 | |
| WA | Geraldton | Geraldton Family Relationship Services | $340,000 |
| Mandurah | Mandurah Family Relationship Centre and Associated Services | $520,000 | |
| Midland | Relationships Australia Western Australia | $520,000 |