Today I write to you from Meanjin-Brisbane where I’m delighted to have the opportunity to attend the Family Law Pathways Network National Project Officer Conference 2024. The Network aims to improve collaboration and coordination between organisations and professionals operating within the broader family law system. It has been great to be involved in this two-day event where FLPN Project Officer’s from around Australia come together. FRSA was pleased to see that the Metcalfe Report on the review of family law services funded by the Attorney-General’s Department has recommended additional funding for a full-time National Family Law Pathways Network Coordinator. We feel this will further strengthen the FLPN network.
The Metcalfe Report also recommended that Child Inclusive Practice in Family Dispute Resolution should be specifically funded. FRSA has long advocated for funding to support the uptake of Child Inclusive Practice, and this recommendation particularly resonates this week as we commemorated World Children’s Day on 20 November. World Children’s Day is UNICEF’s global day of action for children, by children, marking the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It is certainly encouraging to see the rights of children foregrounded in recent family law reform. Late last week we provided our response to the Attorney-General’s Department consultation on the Metcalfe Report, and our submission is now published on the FRSA website (see more).
It’s a busy time for the family and relationship services sector, with the recent release of the Department of Social Services Children, Youth and Parenting Programs Discussion Paper and call for submissions (see more).
I do appreciate, therefore, that I am extending this next request to FRSA Members in a rather hectic period. I would be grateful if members could take the time to have a look at a survey we recently opened on targeted intervention programs for people who use violence in intimate/family relationships. With the Government setting a bold ambition to end violence against Women and Children by 2032, there is a great opportunity for FRSA to provide advice to Government/s on the range of targeted intervention programs for people who use violence delivered by the FRSA Membership. If you are an FRSA member and think the survey might be relevant to your organisation, please read the information sheet, which provides more detail about the survey and what we mean by targeted intervention programs and gives an opportunity to preview the survey questions.
