Just before the Family Law Council meeting I was attending today got underway, a media release issued by National Commissioner for Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence, Micaela Cronin, arrived in my inbox raising her concerns that the economic and global uncertainty is increasing levels of family violence risk for an increasing number of people – especially as the cost of living crisis continues. As I had noted last week, the Commissioner did acknowledge that ‘when households face rising financial stress, housing insecurity and instability, the risk of violence increases.’ The Government is very committed to staying on the front foot in response to this issue and I do encourage those among our readership to keep communicating what they are seeing to us, to their FAMS, or to their local members. You are often working with people on the cusp of crisis so your perspective is vital.
I am delighted to advise that the Hon Ged Kearney, Assistant Minister for Social Services and Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence will be representing the Minister for Social Services, the Hon Tanya Plibersek at our conference in May. Registrations are still open and given the Conference is recognised by Community Work Australia (attendees can claim 10 CPD hours for their participation) another great reason to attend.
This week, we also saw the Minister for Health deliver the news detailing a significant overhaul of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. It is obvious the announcement has caused a lot of uncertainty for many people living with disabilities, their families and support networks. We are also awaiting further advice as to the shape of the Thriving Kids Program the Government had previously announced would be designed to provide better supports to children than what they are currently receiving on the NDIS. I did come across an interesting interview with the Co-Chair of the Thriving Kids advisory group Professor Frank Oberklaid, speaking to what he sees as the significant merits of the new program. Part of that model relies heavily on a community based system of support for children and their families, rather than individualised support. The announcement about NDIS more broadly this week also re-introduced the concept of rebuilding capability among community organisations to host genuine participation activities, through a $200 million fund – the Inclusive Communities Fund – with Government acknowledging the introduction of the NDIS had enabled these types of programs to ‘wither’.
In FRSA news I am pleased to announce that following an Expression of Interest process to fill the casual Board vacancy on the FRSA Board, Graeme O’Connor, CEO of Interrelate has been appointed by the Board to fill this role until the FRSA AGM being held on 25 November 2026 (as per the FRSA Constitution). Welcome back Graeme! He will also sit on two of the Board Committees, the Research and Policy Committee and the Sector Events Committee who are going to be extremely active with the Strategic Leadership Forum being held in Canberra, 16 & 17 September 2026 and the FRS Workforce Project currently underway and working to an end of October deadline. Busy times ahead!
For tomorrow though, Anzac Day, it does give us a moment in time and in our busy lives to pause and honour the courage and sacrifice of those who served and continue to serve our nation – ‘Lest we forget’.
