What are Family Relationship Centres?

Our Family Relationship Centres will support you and your family at any stage.  We can help you to strengthen your relationship and stay together, deal with relationship difficulties, or assist you and your family in separation.

We can also refer you to counselling, relationship education and support services.

When families separate, parents want to do the best for their children.  We can help you to stay focused on the childrenand to develop parenting arrangements without going to Court. The Family Law Act now requires separating parents to make a genuine effort to resolve their parenting disputes through family dispute resolution before applying to the Court for a parenting order.

Relationships Australia manages Family Relationship Centres in Bathurst, Blacktown, North Ryde, Northern Beaches, Penrith and Sydney City. There are 65 Family Relationship Centres are supported by the Federal Government.

Who will I see?

We have an experienced team of Family Advisors and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners with qualifications and experience in social work, psychology, counselling and/or law. Our Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners are accredited and registered with the Attorney Generals Department.

If you make an appointment for family dispute resolution, you will initially be seen by a Family Advisor for an individual session. If a joint session is then agreed to, you will be seen with the other parent or family members following attendance at a Kids in Focus education seminar and/or other recommended information sessions.

For a video explanation of the Family Relationships Centre Pathway please click here

What will it cost?

The individual appointment with the Family Advisor, the Kids in Focus seminar and the first individual Family Dispute Resolution interview prior to the joint session are all free.
Fees are charged from the first joint session onwards depending on income. While those earning less than $50,000 per annum will not pay for the first three hours those on incomes of more than $50,000 will pay $30 per hour for hours 2 and 3.
Following the first three hours fees will be charged at the Relationships Australia FRC sliding scale rate depending on income. Please make sure that you are aware of these fees when you book your sessions.

What is the difference between Relationships Australia Mediation Service and the Family Relationship Centres?

Relationships Australia Mediation Service (RAMS) and the Family Relationship Centres both provide family dispute resolution. In addition to parenting related issues, RAMS is also able to mediate property disputes.  Family Relationship Centres charge fees only after the first three hours of a joint session. RAMS charges fees from the commencement of service but can generally see clients within a shorter time frame.

How do I make contact?

Call us on 1800 050 321 between 8am – 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am – 4pm Saturday. 

Make an enquiry by activating the enquiry icon at the top of the page.

For FRC Locations, click here.

Visit Family Relationships Online to access information about changes to the family law system, family relationship issues and services available to assist you and your family.