Rudd to pay for new Services for Children after Separation

Attorney-General Robert McClelland has announced that the Rudd Government will provide $17 million over the next three years to help fund eighteen new services, which will support children dealing with the breakdown of their parents’ relationship.

These services are part of the Supporting Children after Separation Program, which provides help and support to children whose parents decide they can no longer live together. “This important program will help children throughout this traumatic time to understand and manage the changes in their family relationships, both during and after the separation of their parents,” Mr McClelland said.“The new services will be placed in areas of need across Australia and will support children through a range of counselling and group activities.”

“I would like to congratulate the organisations selected to operate these valuable services, which will not only benefit children and their families but also the wider community.” The organisations invited to begin funding negotiations were recommended through the 2008 Supporting Children after Separation Program selection process. Services are expected to open by the end of November 2008.

Supporting Children After Separation Program 2008

• AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
• Canberra Marymead Child and Family Centre Suella Jarvis (02) 6162 5818 suella.jarvis@marymead.org.au

• NEW SOUTH WALES
• Sydney Uniting care Unifam Clive Price Director, UnitingCare Unifam. (02) 88300777 or 0417 681 686
• Gosford/Wyong Uniting care Unifam Newcastle Uniting care Unifam
• Wollongong Uniting care Unifam

• NORTHERN TERRITORY
• Darwin Centacare NT Jayne Lloyd Director of Centacare NT (08) 89442033 or 0416167728.

• QUEENSLAND
• Brisbane Lifeline Community Care Queensland Elissa Jenkins 0409 894 200 or (07) 3250 1966 elissa.jenkins@lccq.org.au
• Bundaberg Lifeline Community Care Queensland
• Caboolture Lifeline Community Care Queensland
• Cairns Relationships Australia Qld Adina Pizzato Marketing Manager (07) 3423 6910 or 0428 755 925 apizzato@relateqld.com.au
• Ipswich Lifeline Community Care Queensland Elissa Jenkins0409 894 200, 3250 1966 elissa.jenkins@lccq.org.au
• Toowoomba Child And Family Support Centre (Consortium members: Lifeline Darling Downs and South West Queensland Ltd; Centacare Toowoomba)Paul Jensen Manager Counselling Services Lifeline Darling Downs and South West Qld Ltd (07) 46329299 or 0437833375 pjensen@lifelinedarlingdowns.org.au
• Gold Coast Centacare Brisbane Catholic Family and Community Services Kay Hyatt, Regional Manager Centacare CFCS Gold Coast.(07) 5527-7211 khyatt@centacarebrisbane.net.au

• SOUTH AUSTRALIA
• Adelaide Relationships Australia SA Simon Curran Senior Manager, Family Services s.curran@rasa.org.au 04357797790 or Virginia Leeuwenburg Practice Manager, Separation Services 0424145627

• TASMANIA
• Hobart Relationships Australia Counselling and Mediation Service Susan Holmes, CEO(03) 6211 4050 switch (03) 6211 4070 Direct Line 0418 126 605

• VICTORIA
• Melbourne FMC Relationship Services Mary Rose Yuncken Chief Executive Officer (03) 9556 5316 or 0400 670 363
• Geelong Bethany Community Support Robert De la Lande Executive Manager – Corporate Services Acting Chief Executive Officer (03) 5245 2808 or 0448 876 018

• WESTERN AUSTRALIA
• Perth Perth Supporting Children after Separation consortium (Consortium members: Anglicare WA; Ngala; Edith Cowan University) Jennie Hannan Executive General Manager Services ANGLICARE WA(08) 92632092 or 0418902655 Web: www.anglicarewa.org.au