Family and Relationship Services Australia (FRSA) is the recognised national peak body for services that support and protect the wellbeing of children, families and communities.
For the sector and governments, FRSA is able to present the broad picture of needs, service trends and impact. FRSA harnesses the collective knowledge and expertise of its members to inform policy development and decision making. And FRSA brings practitioners, sector leaders and policy makers together for collaboration, learning and innovation.
FRSA has 160 Members, with 135 Member Organisations in a direct service delivery role, providing services under the Australian Government Department of Social Services ‘Families and Children’ Activity, and Family Law Services under the Attorney-General’s Department Family Relationship Services Program.
Services delivered by FRSA Members reach approximately 580 000 Australians each year, and directly employ between around 5 500 people across metropolitan, regional and remote Australia. To find out more about direct service delivery, read about our members.
FRSA was established in July 2007 following the decision to a single representative structure. It was identified that the Australian community would benefit from a single, national peak body that would support organisations providing family and relationship services. Please read more about our history. From our establishment in 2007 to today, we have been an active and effective conduit for information flow between our Members (and other stakeholders) and the Australian Government.
FRSA values the important strategic partnership we hold with Members, Government and other key stakeholders in pursuing better outcomes for children, families and communities.
Vision
An Australia where children, families and communities are safe strong and thriving.
Overarching national priorities
As a Peak, national organisation, FRSA will focus on these thematic priorities for the sector.
- Workforce planning and development
- Strong investment across the service continuum – from prevention and early intervention – striving for high quality and delivering the biggest impact
- Holistic and trauma informed responses to complex needs
- Increased access to services for families and children in rural and regional areas
- Intersectionality of family relationships services with the justice, health and education systems.
Strategic Directions
Goal One:
With a strong national voice, ensure the sector’s experience, knowledge and interests inform government policy and decision making.
Goal Two:
Build sector capabilities and effectiveness through workforce development and opportunities to collaborate for learning, exchange of good practice and innovation.
Goal Three:
Secure and develop the organisational capabilities that will be critical to success and future sustainability.
For more about what we do and how we do it, please see our Strategic Plan 2023-27.
Our Members
Our Members organisations deliver the following family and relationship services:
Family Law services
- Family Relationship Centres (FRC)
- Family Law Counselling
- Family Relationship Advice Line (the Advice Line)
- Children’s Contact Services
- Family Dispute Resolution (FDR)
- Supporting Children after Separation Program
- Parenting Orders Program – Post Separation Co-operative Parenting Services
Children and Parenting
- Children and Family Intensive Support
- Children and Parenting Support
- Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY)
- Budget Based Funded (BBF)
Adult Specialist Support services
- Find and Connect Support Services
- Forced Adoption Support Services
Family and Relationship Services (FaRS)
Specialised Family Violence Services (SFVS)
Communities for Children Facilitating Partner (CfC FPs)
Family Mental Health Support Services
Mensline Australia and Changing for Good
Our member organisations also deliver numerous other services, including:
- Post-Separation Parenting Programs
- Family Relationship Counselling
- Family and Domestic Violence Services
- Men’s Services
- Youth Services
- Aged Services
- Drug and Alcohol Services
- Mental Health Services
More information about these services can be found here; and for further information about our Members and the services they offer, please visit our Members Directory.
To view more FRSA Publications, including earlier Annual Reports and Our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), please click here to visit the FRSA Corporate Publications page.