This week is a little like the calm after the storm, following a busy end of year in Canberra.
For the Prime Minister and others in leadership who have the important roles of upholding our values and protecting life and freedoms, responding to the horrific events at Bondi Beach week before last still dominates their workload and the newsfeeds. My heart goes out to the people and families impacted by this tragic act targeted at Jewish people at a community celebration of Hannukah. The ability to congregate, to celebrate, to speak, to represent, to live should be free from fear, persecution and discrimination. I have been struck by the immense impact this has had on so many people and grateful to the many organisations – including those in our membership – providing support to people and communities.
The Treasurer released the Mid Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO), or ‘mini-Budget’ on the 17th of December. We were advised by the Department of Social Services Community Sector Advisory Group Secretariat there was a measure in the papers providing a “tapered extension of the Government’s 2022-2023 October Budget measure ‘Support for Community Sector Organisations’”. The Government has allocated $63.4 million to this measure over two years, 2026-27 and 2027-28. tWhilst this sounds promising – the devil is always in the detail. And getting to the bottom of that detail is proving a tad difficult at this time of the year. So – we will pick that up again in 2026.
The Department of Social Services has released the report, “Evaluation of Family and Relationship Services and Specialised Family Violence Services” , documenting n the outcomes of work commissioned by the Department and conducted by Allen & Clarke Consulting. The evaluation re-affirms the strong efficiency, effectiveness and value of these programs and we do hope the Department takes the findings into account when putting the finishing touches on the design of the new Fac Activity Program. You can read our Media Release here.
We too have met our end of year milestones with notifications sent out to all those who submitted an abstract in the ‘Call for Abstracts’ today and yesterday advising them whether they were accepted or not. With a 50% increase on last year with 197 abstracts received, competition was tight and it was impossible to give everyone a speaking role (as much as we would like to). It is a little early to share the concurrent session program as we wait for offers to present to be accepted but we will aim to have that out by the end of January 2026. We have also landed on our branding for Conference which is big, bold and bright and represents strength, collaboration and partnership and the theme “Showcasing: practice, evidence, impact”. Registrations are open!
Whether you are limping or racing to the finish line as the end of 2025 looms large, I do hope you will have time over the holiday period to spend time with those you love and care for. Real time. In the busyness of life, I always love this time of year. The extra hours and days that can be spent catching up with people you never spend enough time with is something I cherish. Reading a book or two, going for walks and definitely squeezing in re-runs of Love Actually and Lord of the Rings, is always on the cards.
The FRSA office will be open until 24 December 2025. We will take a short break and re-open on Monday 5 January 2026.
Have a safe, happy and love-filled Christmas and New Year.
I trust you have a restful and refreshing time and return in 2026 ready for the busy year ahead.
