Government tenders for Family Relationship Centre managers
This week the government has tendered applications for groups to run the new Family Relationship Centres from mid next year. As part of reforms to family law made last year, 65 centres will be established starting with 15 in key locations. The aim of the centres is to provide support and assistance to people at all stages in relationships, which includes counselling and mediation onsite as well as referral to appropriate services. However the key change is a compulsory mediation session for separating couples when there is a parenting dispute. According to the Government, If the centres are not able to keep couples together, at the very least they hope to reduce the reliance on the court system, which is usually not in the best interests of children. Sue Pidgeon is the Family Pathways Branch Assistant Secretary in the Attorny-General’s department, and she began by telling Bill Birtles the purpose of the centres and how they will operate.