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Family Relationship Centres
Family Relationship Centres can give you information and confidential advice at all stages of your family’s life. Whether you are starting a relationship, wanting to make your relationship stronger, or having relationship difficulties, the centres may be able to help.
Where families separate, the centres can give information, advice and dispute resolution (such as mediation) to help people reach agreement on parenting arrangements without going to court.
The centres offer individual, group and joint sessions to help separating families make workable arrangements for their children without having to go to court. You can also get information or referral to services in your area that may be able to help with relationship issues or parenting.
All centres have facilities for children and free internet access to help you find more information online. Many of the services are free or vary in cost, depending on your level of income.
See the Family Relationships Online website (link below) for more information about the centres and their service charter.
Legal advice and representation
You cannot have legal representation at sessions held at a Family Relationship Centre. Parents can get their own legal advice at any time and centres can also refer clients to legal advice services. You may be able to be referred to a legal advice service and get information from them while you and the other parent are at a parenting advice or family dispute resolution session.
Seek legal advice before finalising your agreement to help you understand your responsibilities about your children. Also get legal advice if there is family violence or child abuse.
Costs
Many Family Relationship Centre services are free, such as:
- information and referral
- individual help
- public seminars and group sessions.
If you need individual help on an ongoing basis the centre may refer you to another service.
You can get up to three hours of joint dispute resolution sessions per couple for free, or six hours if an interpreter is required. If you need more time, the fee you are charged depends on your income.
You can only get free dispute resolution for a maximum of three times in any two-year period. The centre may not provide further help if it believes that this is not likely to sort out the dispute.
Related services
If you cannot get to a centre or would prefer to talk to someone over the telephone, you can call the Family Relationship Advice Line. This is a free, national service for anyone who has family relationship or separation issues and difficulties.
The advice line provides information on family relationship issues and advice on parenting arrangements after separation. They can also refer you to a registered family dispute practitioner who can give you certificates for parenting order applications or refer you to local services that can help.
The Family Relationship Advice Line (1800 050 321) is available from 8 am to 8 pm, Monday to Friday, and 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday (Australian eastern time), except national public holidays.
Family Relationships Online (link below) provides information for parents, grandparents, children, young people, step-parents and friends. The website includes details about changes to the family law system, a database of services that can help and information about family relationships and separation.
More information
Dispute resolution and parenting orders
Related publications
You and family law: a short guide