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- Title
Reaching 'Vulnerable' Families Through Court-Based Referral Projects: Professional Accounts of Two Models in Urban and Regional New South Wales.
- Authors
Gray, Rebecca; Calder-Hickey, Silvie; Bishop, Leona
- Abstract
Changes to the Family Law Act (2006) triggered the establishment of Family Relationship Centres (FRCs) throughout Australia. Tasked with supporting the local community, these centres provide an entry point for people experiencing relationship distress, family dysfunction and parental separation. For the most part, centres provide referrals and direct services include case management, parenting seminars, and dispute resolution. While positioned as shopfronts in prominent community spaces to enable access, engaging potential clients requires initiative. One such initiative is the Court Referral model where professionals from the local FRC are situated at court, in this case Bathurst Local Court and Sydney Family Court. Findings indicated that these initiatives achieved intended outcomes, that being an increase in the engagement and retention of 'vulnerable' clients who would not otherwise have approached relationships services. Interestingly, respondents reported some unforeseen benefits in that court-based professionals and the e stakeholders noted reductions in court presentations for some clients. The aim of this paper is to describe the potential benefits of outreach referral officers in courts, and contribute to what is known about how professionals perceive the impact of these projects. Study limitations and research recommendations will also be provided.
- Subjects
AUSTRALIA; FAMILY relations; SEPARATION (Law); MARITAL disruption; FAMILY services; UNIFIED family courts
- Publication
Communities, Children & Families Australia, 2016, Vol 10, Issue 1, p59
- ISSN
1833-6280
- Publication type
Article