Less time in court makes for happier families

Catholic Welfare Australia, one of Australia’s largest providers of family services, has welcomed today’s announcement by the Attorney General of locations for the new Family Relationship Centres.

“The new Family Relationship Centres will provide new ways for families to resolve disputes without relying on the courts. For children in particular, we know that less dispute will mean less damage in the long-run” said Mr Frank Quinlan, Executive Director of Catholic Welfare Australia. “The locations announced today include areas of real community need.”

“We welcome the Australian Government’s efforts to move family relationships out of the court system. Catholic Church agencies and other Church and community based organisations have been delivering services to families for decades. These existing services provide a strong foundation for new programs to assist families in crisis” he said speaking in Canberra today.

“Catholic Welfare Australia’s members assist over a million people every 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” Mr Quinlan said. “The family services sector is crying out for support and these centres are an important part of that response.”

“We welcomed this initiative when it was included in the budget, and we welcome today’s announcement as a further step toward making the centres a reality for Australian families. We look forward to working with both government and other agencies to ensure that Family Relationship Centres deliver on their promise.

Media inquiries to: Jackie Brady (Communications Manager) on 0417 220 779 or Frank Quinlan on 0409 655 460