Background
Family Relationship Services
Funding Allocations
Contractual arrangements and reviews
Resources
Feedback
- Complaints process for the Family Relationship Services Program
- FRSP (FRSP@fahcsia.gov.au)
Purpose
The Family Relationships Services Program (FRSP) aims to:
- enable children, young people and adults in all their diversity to develop and sustain safe, supportive and nurturing family relationships; and
- minimise the emotional, social and economic costs associated with disruption to family relationships.
[
top ]
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
[
top ]
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.
[
top ]
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 (
).
administers the program on behalf of both Departments through its Family Relationships Branch and the
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.
[
top ]
Priorities
The business priorities for FRSP are to:
- provide high quality, accessible and professional family services to help children, young people and adults to strengthen their relationship skills and cope with relationship distress, and
- support FRSP to be sustainable and connected to the broader family support service system.
[
top ]
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.
[
top ]
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.
[
top ]
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.
The Department recently engaged Courage Partners to undertake an
evaluation of FRSA. The evaluation was established to examine the efficiency, effectiveness and appropriateness of a single Industry Representative Body (IRB) model and Family Relationships Services Australia as the new, single IRB for the Family Relationships Services sector. The evaluation will inform FRSAs future role and deliverables.
Visit the
Family Relationship Services Australia website for more information.
[
top ]
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
[
top ]
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.
[
top ]
Australian Family Relationships Clearinghouse (AFRC)
The Australian Government has funded the
Australian Family Relationships Clearinghouse through
to:
- support family relationship services
- increase access to relevant research, and
- showcase innovative and effective service delivery.
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.
[
top ]
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:
- Keys to Living Together – Taking the first step.
- Keys to Living Together – Instant families.
- Keys to Living Together – Then we were three.
To order your kit call 1800 050 009 or email
Keys (keys@fahcsia.gov.au) and a free copy will be posted.
[
top ]
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, please contact the National Office Complaints Team in any of the following ways:
Ph: 1800 634 035
Fax: (02) 6204 4587
Email: complaints@fahcsia.gov.au
Post:
Complaints
PO Box 7576
Canberra Business Centre
ACT 2610