Informed public debate on family issues is desperately needed

Following the wide public debate on family issues over the last couple of days, Catholic Welfare Australia believes it is time for a forum on families.

As an organisation that provides family support, relationship education, and parenting education programs across this country to more than 100,000 families, Catholic Welfare Australia totally supports efforts to make more services available to parents in their most creative and difficult task of being good parents to their children.

Catholic Welfare Australia commends the Government on its commitment to the formation and sustenance of family relationships and is particularly pleased that Minister Larry Anthony’s reported comments flagging the concept of mutual obligation for family welfare payments have hit the scrapheap.

“The Government seems to have placed family issues firmly on the agenda,” said National Director of Catholic Welfare Australia, Mr Toby O’Connor. “Given the public response, on talk-back radio and other forms of interactive media, to Minister Anthony’s comments it is clear that the issue of families and building healthy families is one dear to many Australians.”

“Parenting is the most creative task that any person is called upon to perform, although the day to day rewards are often hidden in the struggle. It is important that any policies and/or programs in support of this effort build on capabilities rather than focus on inadequacies,” said Mr O’Connor.

“This Government has identified that Australia is rapidly approaching a population crisis and subsequent blowouts in the social security budget, it is also looking at restructuring funding to Family Relationships Services,” said Mr O’Connor. “Catholic Welfare Australia applauds this Government for bringing all these issues to the fore but clearly the time has come for a well-informed debate to ensure that policy formulation and service direction produce positive outcomes for Australian families.”

For an interview please call: Jackie Brady, Communications Officer, 0417 220 779