Family Pathways
The Family Pathways Branch develops and promotes services that assist families, including separating families, to resolve their issues and reach agreements that are in the best interests of their children.
Our areas of responsibility
The Family Pathways Branch is responsible for policy and programs about family dispute resolution and services for separating families.
Family Pathways Branch has joint responsibility, with the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, for the Family Relationship Services Program. This program funds over 100 community organisations which provide a range of support and specialised programs for families across Australia.
More information about the Family Relationship Services Program.
The Branch is also responsible for policy and funding of the following services:
- Family Relationships Centres – information, advice and other help for families facing separation or relationship difficulties
- Family Relationship Advice Line – provides information about family relationships and referral to a range of other services which can assist families, as well as specialised advice for separating families
- Family Relationships Online – an access point to information about family relationships and separation
- Family dispute resolution services – assists separating couples to reach agreement on parenting, finances and property without needing to go to court
- Parenting Orders Program – these services assist separated families to deal with problems and conflict that are affecting child contact arrangements
- Children’s Contact Services – provides a safe, reliable and neutral place for the children of separated parents to have contact with their other parent or family members.
- Family counselling services – these services help people with relationship difficulties to better manage the personal or interpersonal issues relating to children and family during marriage, separation and divorce.
- Post separation cooperative parenting services – these services, which are scheduled to commence in October 2008, will assist separated parents with education and support where a high level of conflict is affecting their relationships with children, and
- Supporting children after separation program cooperative parenting services – these services, which are also scheduled to commence in October 2008, will assist children from separated families to deal with issues arising from the breakdown in their parents’ relationship and to be able to participate in decisions that impact on them.
More information about these services.
Family Pathways Branch is also responsible for legislation in relation to family dispute resolution under the Family Law Act 1975, including a registration and accreditation system for family dispute resolution providers.
More information about family dispute resolution.
To help ensure an integrated family law system, Family Pathways Branch also supports Family Pathways Networks in the States and Territories, for organisations that provide services to assist separating families.