FRSA National Conference 2023

As social service organisations we are always at the cutting edge of emerging trends and changes in society – for the FRS sector, especially for vulnerable children, families and communities.

The theme for the FRSA National Conference 2023 – Services within everyone’s reach: choice, connection, collaboration and will be held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on 15-18 May 2023.

Family and relationship services are generally touted as early intervention, universally accessible services – that is, services targeted to whole communities or populations with the aim of providing support early, before problems take too strong a hold or perhaps even occur.

But in our current context with the cost-of-living skyrocketing, families still reeling from the impacts of COVID-19, and many of our communities in or recovering from climate-related crises, what impact is this having on service delivery and service demand?   Who are our services connecting with? And, how are those people faring? Are there cohorts of people who are missing out on the services they need?

Connection is at the heart of all positive human interactions and the relationship between service providers and the children, adults and families they work with is no different. Establishing rapport and trust is integral to therapeutic interventions, while developing meaningful social connections helps build resilience in individuals and in communities. To enable connection, people may need choice. That is, the opportunity to connect with the right service or the right practitioner and be met in their context – cultural, social, familial.

As we continue to face uncertainty, some tough times – and hopefully moments of calm and of joy – we ask our sector to reflect on the question: what does it really mean to put services within everyone’s reach?