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Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

Family Relationship Services Program (FRSP)

Note: The shortcut for this web page is: www.fahcsia.gov.au/frsp

Background


Family Relationship Services


Funding Allocations

Contractual arrangements and reviews


Resources


Feedback



Purpose

The Family Relationships Services Program (FRSP) aims to:
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Main Types of FRSP Services

A detailed description of the FRSP services is located at Main Types of Family Relationship Services Program (FRSP) Services.

To find a service near you, including Family Relationship Centre locations:

To view all FRSP service resources available to the public free of charge, go to the FRSP resource fact sheet - HTML | PDF [158kB]

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Directory of organisations providing FRSP services

Over 100 community organisations currently receive funding under the Family Relationship Services Program (FRSP) to deliver Family Relationship Services through over 600 outlets across Australia.

To find a service provider, including Family Relationship Centre locations:

Although FRSP services may be provided to clients on a fee for service basis, organisations must ensure that people without the capacity to pay are not refused access to a service.

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Funding

Family Relationship Services Program (FRSP) is jointly funded by the Attorney-General's Department (AGD) and the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA).

FaHCSIA administers the program on behalf of both Departments through its Family Relationships Branch and the FaHCSIA State and Territory Office (STO) network.

The FRSP funding arrangements have been extended for three-year terms to deliver main types of FRSP services. Funding extensions will enable providers to provide ongoing services to the community at the same time as providing essential training and career security for their staff.

The FRSP providers will receive more than $444 million of funding over the next three years from 2008-09 to 2010-11 which includes funding renewals and establishment fees of $277 million to build strong families.

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Priorities

The business priorities for FRSP are to:
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Changes to the Family Law System

In December 2003, the House Standing Committee Family and Community Affairs tabled its report Every picture tells a story: Inquiry into child custody arrangements in the event of family separation.

The previous Government tabled its response to the report in June 2005.
This review initiated the expansion of the Family Relationship Services Program which initially funded education and skills training.

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Strategic Plan 2005-2008

The Family Relationship Services Program (FRSP) Strategic Plan 2005-2008 was developed in consultation with community service providers and government through the 2005 FRSP Challenges and Changes Forum and the 2003-04 FRSP program review.
The second biennial FRSP Conference was held in August 2007. The conference enabled government and non-government FRSP stakeholders to come together to celebrate program achievements, inform FRSP progress, show appreciation for sector input, showcase innovation and integrated practices, and to network with other FRSP stakeholders.
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Family Relationship Services Australia (FRSA)

Family Relationship Services Australia (FRSA) is the representative body for the Family Relationship Services sector. FRSA aims to be a collective voice for the sector to lead the way during a time of change and expansion. The body was established on 1 July 2007.

Membership of FRSA is voluntary and open, but not limited to, all FRSP-funded organisations.

Visit the Family Relationships Services Australia website for more information.

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Review of the Family Relationship Services Program

A review of the Family Relationship Services Program (FRSP) commenced in October 2003 and was coordinated by the Department in close consultation with the Attorney-General's Department (AGD). It gathered information to inform future directions of the Program.

Further Information


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Quality Assurance

Organisations funded under the FRSP are:

If you experience difficulties accessing the Approval Requirements, please email frsp@fahcsia.gov.au and we will send you the document in an alternative form.

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Performance Framework

FaHCSIA has been working with the family relationship services sector to develop a new performance framework that will enable the Department and the sector to better monitor the effectiveness of the Family Relationship Services Program (FRSP).

As the FRSP is jointly administered by FaHCSIA and the Attorney General's Department (AGD), the new framework needs to meet the accountability and program development requirements of both departments and the sector and cover the diversity of funded early intervention and post-separation service types.

To meet the evolving performance management needs of the FRSP, FaHCSIA and AGD have established a working group on data quality and performance management, with representation from both departments and Family Relationship Services Australia.

For more information on the current Performance Framework see Contractual Arrangements for the Family Relationship Services Program (FRSP).

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FRSP Online

The FRSP Online application is an online client data capture application that is used by contracted service providers of the Family Relationship Services Program (FRSP).

The data that is transmitted is used to report to the Australian Government, the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the Attorney-General's Department, the Family Relationship Services Sector industry representative body Family Relationship Services Australia (FRSA) and individual outlets on the delivery of Family Relationship Services. It is also used as part of the Needs Based Planning process and the Performance Management Framework.

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Australian Family Relationships Clearinghouse (AFRC)

The Australian Government has funded the Australian Family Relationships Clearinghouse through FaHCSIA to:
The AFRC provides a catalogue of relevant research, electronic journals, a database of useful abstracts, and the translation of key messages from the latest early intervention and prevention research.

Visit the Australian Family Relationships Clearinghouse website for more information.

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Keys to Living Together

The Keys to Living Together kits provide information, tips and practical activities to assist families in building stronger and healthier relationships. Each kit consists of a DVD and mini magazine.

Currently there are three kits in the series, these kits are:

To order your kit call 1800 050 009 or email keys@fahcsia.gov.au and a free copy will be posted.

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Complaints process for the Family Relationship Services

All Family Relationship Service providers are required to have procedures in place to receive feedback on their services, including complaints. Information on a service provider's complaints policy is available at the service outlet. If you wish to make a complaint about a Family Relationship Service, contact the service provider management directly in the first instance.

If you are not comfortable talking directly with the service provider or if you are not satisfied with how your complaint has been handled by the provider, contact the FaHCSIA switchboard on 1300 653 227 so your complaint may be directed to the appropriate area.



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