As this week comes to a close in Canberra we will see a significant shift in the people gracing our streets from hosting the Kanga Cup this week in the last week of school holidays to welcoming Senators and Members of Parliament to Canberra next week for the first sitting week of the 48^th Parliament – not to mention the many staffers, support people and lobbyists who will also be present.

With numbers landing the way they have in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, there are a number of new faces making the journey to Canberra for the first time and no doubt looking forward to delivering their First Speech to Parliament.  At the end of the day the composition in the House of Representatives is as follows:  ALP – 94; Coalition – 43 seats; Australian Greens – 1; Centre Alliance – 1; Katter’s Australian Party – 1; Independents – 10 members and for the Senate: ALP – 29; Coalition – 27; Australian Greens – 10; Pauline Hanson’s One Nation – 4; Jacqui Lambie Network – 1; United Australia Party – 1; Australia’s Voice – 1; Independents – 3.  We are looking forward to building on existing connections with our Federal politicians as well as making new ones.  I am already looking forward to our Strategic Leadership Forum on 29-30 October and leading a day of FRSA Advocacy at Parliament House.  Registration details will be released in the coming weeks.

I am delighted to advise our readership and in particular our FRSA Members that the Board has given its support to FRSA starting up Communities of Practice for the FRSP funded programs in our network.  This is a sector support and development service that members have been calling on for some time and I am so pleased we are able to deliver them to you.  We are looking for a part-time Project Officer to work with us to deliver these Communities of Practice on a part-time basis (37.5 hours per fortnight).  Ideally, that person has some knowledge of the family law services so, if you know of anyone, please be sure to point this great opportunity out to them.  We would love to secure someone to fill this role by mid August and hopefully get the Communities of Practice up and running in September – exciting times!

And – it is a great issue for announcements!  The city for the FRSA Conference 2026 has been locked in!  The first two people from a Member Organisation who can identify this landmark in the host city and call the FRSA office on 02 6162 1811 will receive a complimentary registration – FULL registration – to Conference 2026.

Kind regards,
Jackie Brady
FRSA Executive Director

Position: Family Law Communities of Practice Project Officer
Location: Deakin, Canberra (Remote applicants welcome)
Employment Type: Part-time (37.5 hours per fortnight)
Contract Duration: 12 months
Remuneration: $47.97/hour ($46,770.75 p.a.) + 12% superannuation

About Family & Relationship Services Australia (FRSA)

Family & Relationship Services Australia (FRSA) is the national peak body representing organisations delivering vital services to families and communities across Australia. Through collaboration, advocacy and sector development, FRSA plays a key role in promoting effective support for children, families and relationships.

The Opportunity

FRSA is currently seeking a skilled Project Officer to coordinate and deliver Communities of Practice (CoP) sessions for service providers working within the Attorney-General’s Department Family Relationships Services Program (FRSP). This initiative aims to foster collaboration, sector innovation, and continuous improvement across the family law services landscape.

Applications close Wednesday, 30 July 2025. Please submit:

• A covering letter
• A document responding to the selection criteria

For further information, please contact Jackie Brady or Robyn Clough on (02) 6162 1811 or via email at admin@frsa.org.au.

FRSA welcomes applicants from outside the ACT and is open to negotiating remote working arrangements for the right candidate. View the Position Description

Emerging Minds has recently featured two resources relating to incarcerated parents.

Programs that support the mental health and wellbeing of children with incarcerated parents

This article by the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) provides an overview of the research evidence on various program types for children of incarcerated parents. It also outlines the program types that may be most effective in supporting children and program elements that may contribute to positive mental health and wellbeing.

Building parent–child relationships from behind bars

This podcast episode is hosted by Jacqui Lee from Emerging Minds who is joined by Linh Nguyen, who works with incarcerated individuals in the Port Augusta prison. Linh discusses the role shame, guilt and past trauma play in preventing incarcerated fathers from connecting with their children, and the approaches she has found helpful in overcoming these and other barriers.

Linh works at Centacare Catholic Country SA and recently presented on her work with incarcerated fathers at the FRSA National Conference 2025. Linh also has an article published in the FRSA 2025 National Conference e-Journal.

Across Australia, renters are being pushed to the brink. Housing costs are rising faster than wages, and in many places, faster than they ever have before. What was once considered a temporary squeeze has become a permanent crisis — and the people caught in the middle are paying the price.

This report examines how rental prices have changed over the past decade. It shows that rents have soared in every capital city, with the steepest increases in places once considered affordable. In many areas, asking rents have grown by more than 60 percent since 2015. These increases are not just the result of recent economic shocks. They are the product of a decade of sustained pressure, fuelled by dwindling social housing and a hands-off approach from governments.

Read the full report.

The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) has released key findings of a review into cyber security as an emerging risk for charities.

The Cyber Security Risks review identified key areas where charities could strengthen governance to minimise risks and manage a cyber incident if necessary.

Issues with cyber security governance were found when charities:

• paid little attention to cyber security risks
• did not have a plan to respond to cyber incidents
• lacked appropriate policies and procedures on data management and retention, including when working with third parties like contractors.

The appropriate steps for a charity to take in order to address the risk of cyber attack will depend on several factors, including the type of data the charity holds and how it is stored. The review also addressed the particular risks entailed in the use of AI.

The Attorney-General’s Department is consulting on options to establish an accreditation scheme for Children’s Contact Services (CCS).

The development of options follows several rounds of consultation about establishing an accreditation scheme. The department will use the feedback and data from this consultation process to help complete an impact analysis of the various options. The consultation paper is structured to meet the requirements of the Australian Government’s Impact Analysis process. The department will complete the final impact analysis after consultation.

Submissions close 15 September 2025. More information about the consultation is available on the department’s website.

The Australian Government is convening an Economic Reform Roundtable (19-21 August) to look at ways to improve productivity, enhance economic resilience and strengthen budget sustainability.  In the lead-up to the Roundtable, the Treasury is consulting on priority reforms to consider as part of the Roundtable process.

The Roundtable will also be informed by work the Productivity Commission is leading through its five productivity inquiries.

The Treasury’s consultation closes 25 July 2025. You can find out more about the consultation and make a submission here.

The Attorney-General’s Department has published a factsheet on recent changes to the Family Law Act relating to protecting sensitive information.

The factsheet outlines the types of sensitive information that can be protected in family law proceedings and how the court will decide whether the information should be protected.

The sensitive information that can be protected relates to a ‘protected confidence’ – that is, a confidential communication between a person and a health professional such as a counsellor, a doctor or a professional providing sexual assault or family violence services.

The factsheet is intended for people accessing the family law system.

Minister for Social Services the Hon Tanya Plibersek has announced a boost in funding to assist survivors of institutional child sexual abuse.

Forty-three Redress Support Services across Australia will share in an additional $15.7 million this financial year to support more survivors through their redress journey. A further $11.5 million will go to extend survivor legal advice and support through Knowmore Legal Service.

More information on the National Redress Scheme and associated support services is available on the Department of Social Services website and the National Redress Scheme website.

Last week, we celebrated NAIDOC Week and the 2025 theme which was The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy. This year marks 50 years of NAIDOC Week, and its theme invites us to envision what the next 50 years or so could look like for Australia.

See how FRSA Members around the country honoured and celebrated the week:

• Parkerville Children and Youth Care attended the Mookaroo Festival, hosted by Ngulla Koort Indigenous Corp. Their CEO, Kim Brooklyn, receive a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of her support in the establishment of the Mookaroo Festival and Ngulla Koort Indigenous Corporation.
• Residents at BaptistCare’s newly-opened aged care home, BaptistCare Glendale Lodge were treated to a memorable afternoon with special guest Hector Ritchie. Hector shared stories, culture and history with residents through traditional Aboriginal storytelling, and brought along a collection of his artworks and tools.
• CatholicCare Tasmania joined Loreto Community Housing, St Joseph Affordable Homes and the Catholic Archdiocese of Hobart to celebrate the week with an event which included a Kelp Basket making workshop with Aunty Amanda Pearn and an Art Workshop with Reuben Oates.
• Relationships Australia WA staff attended the National NAIDOC Awards Ceremony in Perth.
• YFS staff celebrated the week by wearing t-shirts designed with artwork by Brenton Bowen. They also took part in NAIDOC 2025 Logan Family Fun Day with a stall making beaded bracelets with the community.
• Uniting Communities launched a new Aboriginal visual identity for Uniting Communities’ Aboriginal Community Connect and Kurlana Tampawardli programs.
• CatholicCare NT participated in a number of events during the week including staff in Darwin and Tennant Creek marching in the NAIDOC March. After the march Darwin staff hosted a stall with face painting and a t-shirt painting activity for the kids. Tennant Creek staff also held an Elders NAIDOC lunch, staff attended the NAIDOC Gala Ball at the Darwin Convention Centre and Palmertson office staff held a NAIDOC lunch.
• Anglicare Sydney celebrated at their different locations including their residential aged care, Dudley Foord House, Nowra, Moree and Western Sydney. They also shared a video about what reconciliation is, noting that it’s more than a word—it’s a call to action.
• CatholicCare Diocese of Broken Bay participated in a number of community events across the Diocese with stalls.
• Family Life team members attended the Derrimut Weelam Gathering Place NAIDOC Flag Raising event. Staff also attended the Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association Flag Raising event.
• Anglicare SA’s Daphne Street Early Learning Centre celebrated the week with a variety of activities such as cave painting with earthy colours to storytelling through Dreamtime tales. Staff around the state also took part in events including NAIDOC SA march and hosted a morning tea at their Western Hub.
• Better Place Australia held a morning tea in honour of the week with food sourced from an Indigenous catering company, which included damper scones and lamingtons with wattle seed and lemon flavours that are culturally significant to First Nation’s people.
• CatholicCare Hunter-Manning took part in the 2025 Awabakal NAIDOC Week Festival in Newcastle. Their team connected with locals through fun activities like face painting and sand art – and meaningful conversations about culture, care and community.
• yourtown celebrated one of their Indigenous Employment Coaches, Shane who shared why the job is important to him.
• The Amity Health WA team held a morning tea which included a Welcome to Country by Elder Uncle Lester Coyne.
• Communicare staff also attended the NAIDOC 2025 awards in Perth. They also shared a video recap of the evening.
• Centacare Catholic Community Services held a celebration honouring the reawakening of the Otherway Centre – now renamed Ngani Pari-Arra Cultural Centre, a Kaurna phrase meaning “Being together near the river.” Their Foster Care Program was also gifted 15 quilts by Orange Tree Quilters. Each quilt is made from Aboriginal fabrics that tell cultural stories – stories that are shared with the children through a matching book.
• Uniting SA celebrated with guest speaker Deb Moyle, a proud Ngarrindjeri woman whose remarkable contributions were recently recognised through her election to South Australia’s First Nations Voice to Parliament. They also supported  NAIDOC in the NORTH as a Silver Sponsor, where their team connected with the community, shared in cultural celebrations and engaged in creative, hands-on activities with local children. Their Child, Youth and Family Services team hosted a special high tea with local Elders, honouring their leadership, wisdom and the important role they play in the community.
• Mission Australia’s National Manager, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Strategy, Shannon Thorne shared what NAIDOC week means to him as a proud Kamilaroi and Wiradjuri man.
• Anglicare WA shared photos from across the state of how their staff celebrated the week.
• OzChild shared a photo of some of their team at the NAIDOC dinner dance, which was a 70’s theme to highlight the 50th Anniversary of NAIDOC.
• Anglicare NT’s Ludmilla office celebrated with an event which included staff raising the Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Australian flags, enjoying ochre art, animal encounters, painting bags and a barbecue meal. Darwin staff joined the NAIDOC march and attended NAIDOC events held by the Gumatj and Rirratjingu clans.
• Ngala unveiled the new room names at their Kensington site – each one inspired by the six Noongar seasons.
• Helem Yumba CQ Healing Centre are holding a Masquerade Gala Ball at the end of the month to mark 50 years of NAIDOC.
• Lutheran Care premiered their Foster Care media project ‘Many Rivers’.
• Centacare NQ were sponsors of Townsville NAIDOC Week and took part in Deadly Day out for NAIDOC celebrations at Riverway.
• MacKillop Family Services held a smoking ceremony at one of their residential homes led by Esmai Manahan and Cameron McGrath from the Nanyubak Unit and brought together external support teams from VACCA, child protection, local police, NDIS and MIND Australia.
• Relationships Australia Canberra & Region’s Wagga Wagga team celebrated NAIDOC week at the Ashmont Community Resource Centre.
• Anglicare NSW South, NSW West & ACT shared the thoughts of staff members, Judy Solomon, Aboriginal Family Case Manager, Anglicare’s Ashmont Community Resource Centre and Natasha Lamb, Anglicare PSP Youth Worker on what NAIDOC week means to them.
• Kyabra Community Association Inc case workers attended the Moreton Bay NAIDOC Family Fun Day, hosted by Mission Australia. They also held a Bush Tucker workshop run by Alara Geebung. The team also had a stall at Inala Wangarra NAIDOC.
• Centrecare Inc’s ‘Stronger Together’ Team Leader Claire Moore and Cultural Lead Dwayne Hayden led staff at Midland Branch in reflections and a workshop on this year’s NAIDOC theme. Centrecare Director, Adj. Prof. Tony Pietropiccolo AM and General Manager Community Services – Leanne Strommen attended the Wungening Aboriginal Corporation Moort Day as part of the week’s celebrations. Centrecare Inc’s Cannington staff attended the City of Gosnells NAIDOC week Ceremony wearing the new Centrecare First Nations designed shirts and the Child and Parent Centre – Gosnells had a special playgroup celebrating NAIDOC Week. Children were involved in lots of activities such as ice cube paintings in Aboriginal colours to celebrate winter, Australian animal footprints in playdough, Australian animal puzzles, coloured sand to represent the Aboriginal flag, and winter crafts of snowflakes, boots, and hot chocolate.
• Anglicare Southern Queensland celebrated at a number of events across their services including Symes Grove, Logan and Roma. They shared a recently completed intergenerational project – over the last two years, clients from their InSync Youth Homelessness Service, in Cleveland, have been working with Killara Aged Respite Centre to bring them a colourful First Nations mural, inspired by the Redlands Bayside and the people on Quandamooka Country. The team also teamed up with local First Nations business My Dilly Bag for a bracelet weaving and native mocktail making lesson. Watch the video under the photo gallery.

Last month Meli said farewell to its Chief Executive Officer, Grant Boyd who has retired after a 45-year career in the community and education sectors.

Grant led the organisation through its formation period following the merger of Bethany Community Support and Barwon Child, Youth & Family in April 2023.

Reflecting on his time with Meli Mr Boyd said, “It was a privilege as inaugural CEO to lead Meli through its formation and create a solid foundation for its future success. I am confident the organisation is very well placed to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead as a recognised leader in its field.”

Prior to Meli he was the CEO of Bethany Community Support where he led significant growth and expansion since joining Bethany in 2008.

Robyn Hayles was appointed as CEO in May and began in the role at the beginning of the month. She said she was honoured to join an organisation with such a strong reputation and deep commitment to community wellbeing.

“I look forward to working with the team to continue to build on this legacy and lead Meli into its next chapter.”

FRSA wishes Grant all the best in his retirement and looks forward to working with Robyn in the future.

The Attorney-General’s Department has opened a grant process for services responding to child sexual abuse and/or children who have displayed concerning or harmful sexual behaviours. The grants are intended for services delivering early intervention, response, healing and recovery to stop the intergenerational cycle of violence.

The grant activity period is from December 2025 to 30 June 2028. The grant is open to existing services that, within the last 12 months, have delivered services to:

• victims and survivors of child sexual abuse, and/or
• children who have displayed concerning or harmful sexual behaviours.

Services can be located anywhere in Australia.

The grant application closes 9.00pm AEST on 28 July 2025.

To apply for this grant, please visit the Grant Opportunity View on the Australian Government Grant Connect page.

The Parenting Research Centre has launched their Parenting Today survey, a landmark national survey that captures the experiences, strengths, and support needs of parents and carers across Australia. The survey will deliver rich, contemporary data to inform policy, programs and investments that support families where it matters most.

Find out more information via their website or complete/share the survey with families. Questions can be directed to Dr Catherine Wade at parentingtoday@parentingrc.org.au

Nominations are open for the Australian Human Rights Awards. The awards are an inspirational showcase of the best in all of us. The Awards honour and celebrate diverse human rights heroes and significant achievements in protecting and promoting human rights in Australia. The search is on to find Australia’s leading human rights defenders and advocates who strive to improve the lives of people across the country. Don’t miss this chance to help your human rights heroes get the recognition they deserve.

Nominations close on Monday 18 August 2025. Click here to nominate someone and learn more.

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.