Getting closer to the end of the year generally means a winding down/winding out of projects and activities but once again this year, it is feeling like we don’t get to that point anymore. Perhaps it is social media and 24 hour news cycles that keep up this momentum but we are certainly a hive of activity at FRSA.
Last week we proudly released the “Family and relationship service providers’ experience of telepractice during COVID-19” report that we commissioned the Australian Institute of Family Studies to conduct with our members. Based on survey results, in which we attracted a response rate of over 50 per cent of members, this Report paints a picture of the use telepractice in the Family and Reltaionship Services sector following the radical and immediate shift to technology aided support for the the children, women, men and communities our sector worked with during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a point in time capture of the opportunities and challenges emerging through the use of telepractice and it is a great contribution to this vitally important area of investigation if we are going to be actively responding to the needs and wants of the people we work with and aptly ensuring the workforce has the appropriate skillset and requirements to enable them to work in this environment. This also must be balanced against the need to ensure we can still achieve the important outcomes for the people we work with. Our very special thanks to Dr Trina Hinkley, Kristel Alla and Nerida Joss for their hardwork, commitment and dedication to this project.
FRSA has always indicated that it will be looking at the issue of telepractice through a prism of safety and suitability. The Research Report does touch on a range of issues with these foci. We are also excited to be embarking on qualitative research, working with FRSA members, to more thoroughly investigate the use of telepractice at the program level within the Families and Children Activity (including the range of Family Law Services). This will enable us to look specifically at cohort groups and to explore particular lines of inquiry around suitability and safety. These focus groups started today and will run over the next two weeks. So, if you are a member and you are keen to participate – please don’t hesitate to be in touch with the office on 02 61621 1811 and speak with Robyn or Lucy.
On the same day we released the Research Report, FRSA moved into our new premises. Our time at our Fyshwick office came to an abrupt end when the building sold and our lease was not renewed. However, we have landed on our feet and secured a lovely light filled space back in the ‘Canberra peak precinct’ in Deakin. Whilst working from home ensured we kept on keeping on, it is so nice to be back in the office and working as a team in situ. Just a reminder that if you are ever in town we would love to have you visit our office and there is always a spare hot desk for you should you need a space to work between meetings. You can now find us on Level 1 at 36 Thesiger Court in Deakin – our phone numbers stay the same.
Now that we are returning to the workplace and the previous restrictions of state based lockdowns are relaxing, momentum is gathering around the FRSA Conference 2022 scheduled to be held at the Adelaide Hilton Hotel from 16-19 May. The Call for Abstracts closes off tonight which means that we then begin the exciting process of assessing these and beginning to build the concurrent segments of the FRSA Conference program. We are aiming to have this completed over the next month. Given the experiences of the network, professionally and personally, over the last two years, the Conference is aptly themed – “Together we can: Connect, Innovate, Transform“. I strongly encourage you to consider registering for the Conference which is promising to be better than ever. Registrations for the FRSA Conference are now open – you just need to follow the prompts on the FRSA website.
By Jackie Brady
