Family Relationships given major boost in Federal Budget

Catholic Welfare Australia welcomes tonight’s announcement of a range of family friendly initiatives and commends the Government for delivering a strategy that will help Australian families deal more effectively with relationship issues and relationship breakdown.

Through our Member Organisations, Catholic Welfare Australia assists over a million people a year. We are the largest provider of family services in rural and regional Australia and we administer family relationship services in excess of $70 million every year.

“Catholic Welfare Australia is particularly pleased to see the emphasis given to pre- marriage education and relationship support and early intervention programs. We strongly believe that education and prevention is much better than a cure,” said the Executive Director of Catholic Welfare Australia, Mr Frank Quinlan. “Australian families deserve all the help possible to get through rough patches they might face in life – preferably before they reach the point where separation or divorce is the only solution.”

“We support a less adversarial Family Law System and the Family Relationships Centres proposal seems to go a long way towards meeting this aim whilst ensuring the children involved are protected. Children’s welfare must be paramount,” he said. “No doubt these changes will profoundly alter the way family services are provided in this country. We welcome the Government’s stated approach which is to build upon the strength of existing services. It is pleasing to note that care has been taken to ensure that the rollout of the Family Relationship Centres does not divert support from existing services that strengthen marriage and relationships,” said Mr Quinlan.

“We look forward to the opportunity to assist the Government in developing detailed strategies and processes to implement these important proposals,” he concluded.

Media inquiries to: Jackie Brady on 0417 220 779