ATTORNEY-GENERAL

THE HON ROBERT McCLELLAND MP

4 December 2009

BUILDING BETTER PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN FAMILY RELATIONSHIP CENTRES AND LEGAL 
ASSISTANCE SERVICES

Attorney-General, Robert McClelland today announced one-off funding 
allocations totalling $4.2 million for more than 60 successful proposals 
for legal assistance services to partner with Family Relationship Centres.

The pilot program is designed to help separated or separating families by 
providing access to early and targeted legal information and advice when 
attending Family Relationship Centres.

A greater understanding of the family law system will assist separating 
families to resolve their disputes and avoid the need to go to court, 
wherever possible, Mr McClelland said.

I am pleased by the positive response from partnering agencies in this 
pilot to build better partnerships and greater collaboration between Family 
Relationship Centres and nearby legal assistance services.

The range of services or activities to be provided through the pilot includes:

- provision of legal information and education to Family Relationship 
Centre clients on family law;

- individual legal advice for Family Relationship Centre clients;

- legal assistance before, during and following family dispute resolution 
as recommended by and in partnership with Family Relationship Centres;

- assistance with drafting parenting agreements and consent orders; and

- training and professional development of staff in centres.

These proposals provide opportunities for legal services to work more 
closely with the Centres to support separating families, but with a clear 
emphasis on resolution, Mr McClelland said.

The partnerships were recommended by a Departmental panel and will commence 
as soon as possible for a 12 month period.

The list of successful partnerships is attached.

Media Contact: Daniel Gleeson 0409 562 425