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 48th 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.
