Being the end of financial year, a number of members have been in touch querying indexation and supplementation payments for the DSS and AGD FRS sector programs.

For AGD, supplementation for 2025/2026 is built into baseline program funding – as it was last year.  We are yet to learn about indexation to be paid – both in terms of quantum and timing – but we do have a question in with the department.

For DSS, during the Community Sector Advisory Group meeting held on Tuesday this week, it became clear there has been a lot of work going on in the background.  While we don’t yet know the rates of indexation or supplementation that will be paid, the department has given a commitment that notices of change will be issued in July/August this year through the Grants Hub with the additional funding flowing shortly thereafter. This is significantly earlier than previous years and we are grateful for the department’s efforts to make this happen.

The departments are of course aware that Fair Work Australia has awarded a 3.5% increase to the minimum award and that a .5% increase in the superannuation levy is also on the horizon. So, we remain hopeful that adequate provision is made to meet these increases.

Through the DSS CSAG, the department has been advancing a number of pieces of work to progress Whole of Government policy objectives in line with the Ways of Working Together Statement and the Not-for-Profit Community Sector Blueprint. These are clearly focused on achieving stronger working relationships with the sector.  DSS priorities at the moment include an Outcomes Measurement Plan for the Community Sector Grants Engagement Framework, an APS Shared decision-making Guide, work around improving sufficiency and certainty of funding, and working with the Department of Finance to review and update Grant templates.

As many readers will be aware, DSS has been working with Treasury to find innovative ways to target entrenched community disadvantage through a range of initiatives including a focus on place-based, community led change and the establishment of Partnerships for Local Action and Community Empowerment (PLACE). With over 20 years’ experience in place-based work, our CfC FP network has been keen to engage with the Government’s ‘Supporting Community Change’ initiative. This month we’ve hosted two online Communities for Children FP member only forums to support this engagement flowing on from the CfC FP pre-Conference Workshop. First, in early June the DSS Community Partnerships team sought feedback on their draft APS Shared Decision-making Guide. Earlier this week, Luke Craven CEO of PLACE presented to the network on the work of PLACE and place-based change. Luke was able to share some early reflections of PLACE’s Community Roadshow and Listening Tour and discuss place-based work more broadly with webinar attendees.

During the CSAG meeting earlier this week it was also confirmed the Reconnect program that has been sitting in the Families and Children (FaC) Activity in DSS will be moving across to the Treasury Department – along with all the other DSS Homelessness programs that have moved post-election through Machinery of Government changes.  The other big one where that is concerned is that Disability will now sit in the Department of Health and Ageing.  The rationale for these changes is not fully known and have not been disclosed at this point in time.

Best wishes to all our readers as we move into 2025-2026

Kind regards,
Jackie Brady
FRSA Executive Director

The concurrent session program at this year’s FRSA National Conference highlighted the depth and diversity of the work of the family and relationship services sector. With 70 presentations and five symposiums delivered by FRSA members and stakeholders, the program celebrated the breadth of knowledge, experience, and innovation across the field.

Presentation slides are being made available on the FRSA Conference webpage, subject to author permission. We encourage you to check back regularly as more slides are uploaded over the coming weeks. Keynote presentations and the Panel Discussion will also be made available soon on FRSA’s YouTube channel.

FRSA is pleased to confirm that the Communities of Practice (CoP) project will continue into the 2025–26 financial year. While the dedicated funding grant that was being provided for this activity will come to an end 30 June 2025, based on the success of the CoPs and their value to the sector FRSA remains committed to supporting the CoP groups through our core funding from the Department of Social Services.

FRSA has been running the Community of Practice groups for five programs funded under the Department of Social Services Families and Children Activity since 2022-2023. These programs include Communities for Children Facilitating Partners, Family Mental Health Support Services, Family and Relationship Services, Children and Parenting Support and Specialised Family Violence Services.

To ensure the project’s sustainability, some groups will be consolidated in the coming year. This change will help maintain momentum and continue to foster connection and collaboration among program managers and senior practitioners nationwide.

FRSA is delighted to share that our current CoP Project Officer, Lisa Curtis, will continue to deliver the CoPs in 2025-26 as part of her newly expanded Policy and Project Officer role.

Lisa and the FRSA team extend our thanks to all who have been part of this vibrant learning community. We look forward to another year of connection, reflection, and shared practice.

The CoP groups are intended for program managers and senior practitioners working within the FaC Activity programs listed above. A limited number of places will be available for new participants in 2025–26. If you’re interested in joining a CoP group relevant to your program area, or would like more information, please contact Lisa Curtis at 02 6162 1811 or projects@frsa.org.au.

SNAICC has announced that the 2025 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day ambassador is Otis Hope Carey. Otis is a proud Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung man, a father of three, an acclaimed artist, and a title-winning former professional surfer.

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day, held every year on 4 August, is our national day dedicated to celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. The 2025 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day theme Little Footsteps, Big Future honours the journeys children take as they grow—each step guided by culture, community and connection to Country. For more information about National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day, visit SNAICC’s website

Otis Hope Carey – 2025 Ambassador

On 10 June the Family Law Amendment Act 2024 came into effect. The legislative reforms mean that the economic impacts of family violence will be considered when property and finances are being divided between separated couples. They also provide a framework for determining ownership of family pets as well as preventing animals from being used to further perpetrate family violence.

Attorney-General’s Department – updated resources

The Attorney-General’s Department has published updated resources that reflect the above changes.

• The updated resource ‘A guide to dividing your property and finances after separation’ is on the department’s website.
• The department has also published updated translations in 11 languages of the resource ‘Separating with debt: a guide to your legal options’ .

Child Family Community Australia (CFCA) has released a summary of the findings from its annual survey of CFCA and broader Australian Institute of Management (AIFS) stakeholders.

CFCA aims to support the child, family and welfare sector by providing recent and reliable evidence to inform practice and improve outcomes for Australian families. AIFS is committed to engaging with the sector to understand what practice topics are useful and how the sector wants to receive information. The annual CFCA Needs and Impact Survey is one of the ways this is achieved.

The 2024 survey received 890 responses (compared to 1,215 in 2023) and 558 fully completed responses (776 in 2023) from a range of child, family and community welfare professionals.

More than 50% of respondents indicated an interest in topics related to mental health and wellbeing, parents and parenting and domestic and family violence.

For an overview of the findings visit the CFCA website.

The Productivity Commission has released a mid-year data update on government services in Australia for 2025.

The Report on Government Services (RoGS) provides information on the equity, effectiveness and efficiency of government services in Australia. The 2025 RoGS was progressively released between 30 January and 11 February 2025. The mid-year data update, released on 10 June 2025, provides refreshed data on selected indicators and performance summaries across the following key service areas:

• Child care, education and training
• Early childhood education and care
• School education
• Vocational education and training
• Police services
• Housing and homelessness
• Housing

The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) has published an audit report on the effectiveness of the Board of the National Disability Insurance Agency.

The objective of the audit was to assess the effectiveness of the governance of the Board of the NDIA. To form a conclusion against the objective, the ANAO examined: Are the Board’s arrangements consistent with relevant legislative requirements for effective governance? Does the Board have fit-for-purpose arrangements to support sufficient oversight of the entity’s operations? The ANAO analysed the Board’s governance for the period 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2024.

More information and the report are available here.

Centacare Catholic Family Services is mourning the loss of Dale West, its longest-serving Director, who passed away on 14 June 2025. Dale led Centacare from 1989 to 2021, transforming it from a small team into one of South Australia’s leading social service providers. A passionate advocate for social justice, Dale was widely respected for his leadership, compassion, and commitment to community.

FRSA offers our deepest condolences to our colleagues at Centacare Catholic Family Services and to Dale’s family and friends.

Dr Jen Cleary from Centacare Catholic Country SA has announced that she will retire in early 2026 after many years of dedicated leadership. Dr Cleary’s time at the helm has been marked by a deep commitment to the organisation’s mission and Catholic social teaching, with a strong focus on dignity, community, and care for the vulnerable. A formal recruitment process for a new CEO will begin in mid-July, ensuring a smooth transition.

FRSA takes this opportunity to thank Jen for her tremendous contribution to the family and relationship services sector. We wish Jen all the best as she transitions to retirement.

Raising Children Network is inviting parents and carers across Australia to join its new Parent and Carer Panel. The panel will help shape parenting resources and content by providing feedback through surveys, focus groups, and consultations. The aim is to ensure resources reflect the diversity and realities of modern Australian families. Participants will be compensated for most consultation activities, usually with a gift voucher. To join, applicants must live in Australia and be a parent or carer of at least one child. Interested individuals can apply via an online form. They will notify successful applicants via email.

The Parenting Today survey is a landmark research initiative led by the Parenting Research Centre, designed to capture a rich and up-to-date picture of parenting in Australia today.

Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, service provider, educator or policymaker, this survey matters to you – because your insight helps shape what better support looks like for all families.

The survey will open mid-2025 and will be available online, making it easy and accessible for all parents and carers of children under 18 across Australia.

You can find out more information and register your interest in the survey here.

If you have any events you’d like listed on the FRSA Events and Training Calendar or job vacancies you’d like listed on the FRSA Jobs Board, email Communications Officer, Vanessa Lam at communications@frsa.org.au. Please note that posting onto the FRSA website is reserved for FRSA Members only.

If you have an news item or event that you would like to be featured in a future eBulletin please submit your announcement via the form below or email communications@frsa.org.au with the subject “FRSA eBulletin submission”.

Please note FRSA members receive priority for items posted in the eBulletin. And to keep information current, relevant and useful, submissions will not be repeated from week to week.