Anglicare's Family Relationship Centre in Parramatta is one of 24 around the country to open its doors this week.
The main function of the centre will be to provide information, referral and advice to families experiencing relationship difficulties and assist separated families to work through their parenting issues without involving courts.
"These centres aim to help strengthen existing family relationships and where separation does occur, help parents agree on what is best for their children rather than resorting to adversarial legal processes," says Michael Mittwollen, manager of Anglicare for South West Sydney (pictured with staff from the centre).
The demand for family relationship services has reportedly risen according to a recent survey by the Australian Council of Social Service.
The executive director of Family Relationship Services Australia, quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald, indicated early in June that a contributing factor could be changes in the Family Law Act which require couples to seek dispute resolution before taking a matter to court.
In the final round of funding through the Federal Government's three-year family relationship centres initative, Anglicare received just under $1.5 million to set up the centre and run early intervention services such as parenting skills programs, relationship counselling and programs for fathers and men.
The Parramatta centre, located in Parkes Street, is one of 65 Family Relationship Centres to be set up throughout Australia since the Howard Government launched the initiative in 2005.
Anglicare also operates a centre at Nowra, which opened in July last year.
What’s on offer in Parramatta
The Parramatta centre will be run by Anglicare in partnership with Centacare, with the goal of being an important resource for families, providing them with
information, support and referral to a range of services for families experiencing separation.
The centre will also run regular public information sessions on a range of family relationship issues, including sessions on parenting after separation, according to the needs of the Parramatta community.
"The centre is staffed with experienced and qualified professionals who will provide high quality, impartial and of course confidential services," says Mr Mittwollen.
The Centre is supported by the Family Relationship Advice Line (1800 050 321) and Family Relationships Online.
Through the Advice Line, people who are not able to physically attend the centre the Family Relationship Centre or would prefer to receive information by telephone can still get access to help or support.
The website will provide access to information about family relationship issues and services available to assist families and allows families to search for a Family Relationship Centre near them.
