FRSA is not affiliated with any political party or movement. Rather, our goal is to represent the interests of our member organisations in the federal policy debate to ensure better outcomes for children, families and communities.
FRSA aims to consult widely with our network and engage with a number of FRSA Member Reference Panels that focus on a variety of policy subject areas, including:
- Domestic/family violence (including impact on children, men’s behaviour change programs, etc.)
- Welfare payments (as they relate to family and child related payments)
- Family Law Services (including future of Family Law Services, property and child support, resolution services in FDRP model of service delivery, children’s contact services)
- Child protection
- Marriage equality
- Outcomes measurement
- Security of funding / preferred grant funding models
- Reducing red tape (in outcomes reporting)
- Increasing collaboration in the sector
In forming these Member Reference Panels, FRSA Members nominate which policy subject areas they are most interested in and work with us on an ad hoc arrangement. With assistance from these Panels, we develop position statements and submissions to advocate for greater support for family and relationship service providers, and increased wellbeing for children, families and communities.
FRSA monitors the media, Australian Parliament inquiries and initiatives of relevant Government Departments, as well as builds and maintains relationships with relevant Government senators and MPs, to participate in Parliamentary and Government consultation processes (please see Submissions).
We also hold a Parliamentary Briefing Day where members from our network participate in a number of meetings with politicians in Canberra.
Just recently, FRSA Members identified in the Members’ Satisfaction Survey which of the above listed policy or subject areas they are most interested in and would like to work with us on. If you are a new Member or if you would like to change the policy or subject areas in which you are most interested in working with us, please contact us.
FRSA actively and decisively represents our members’ interests in a wide range of ongoing representation roles. FRSA’s capacity to provide effective, timely and relevant support to our membership is reflected in our inclusion and active engagement forums, meetings, conferences and other sector relevant events. This engagement across such a diverse spectrum of organisations and demographics is an example of FRSA’s strategic investment in our membership. FRSA knows that being strongly invested in all areas of the Families and Relationship Services sector is the key to successful representation.
FRSA has formally represented membership in following areas:
- DSS Community Sector Advisory Group – Member
- Family Law Council – Observer
- CFCA Advisory Committee – Member
- Third Action Plan (2015-18) under the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009-10
- Families Week Ambassador – Executive Director Jackie Brady, 2015
- Client Services Industry Reference Group – Member
- Community Organisations Measuring Outcomes (COMO) Alliance – Member
- Council of Non-Government Organisations on Mental Health – Member