Darwin Family Relationship Centre

  

Who we are

The Family Relationship Centre Darwin is managed by Relationships Australia NT (RANT).   

Consistent with Family Relationship Service Program (FRSP) principles and the Centre’s objectives, the Family Relationship Centre Darwin is available to all people and directed to the needs of all family members which includes men, women, couples, children, grandparents and cultural groups whose families involve a wider kinship group.   

The Family Relationship Centre also provides direct support services to Indigenous families and communities.

The Centre provides a wide range of services which assist people at all times in their relationship with both preventative services (warm referral to appropriate services) and assistance once difficulties have arisen. This includes pre-marriage, relationship enhancement and separation support.

Where we are

The Family Relationship Centre is located in the CBD on the Ground Floor at 43 Cavenagh Street in Darwin. It is conveniently located next door to the new Woolworths shopping complex and directly opposite the Darwin General Post Office car park.

The site is within easy walking distance of the Harry Chan Avenue Bus Interchange which connects with the other major Interchanges at Casuarina Square and Palmerston. The Relationships Australia NT (RANT) head office is located on the 2nd Floor of the building, for clients who are utilising both services.

The Alice Springs outlet is also centrally located in Railway Terrace (the Old Repeater Station) and has 150 car parking spaces available on-site. Several staff are permanently located there to service the Central Australia and Barkley region including Indigenous advisors and part time FDR practitioners.

About the Centre

The criteria to access our services are that there must be children involved. When you call, or drop in, an appointment will be made with an Intake Officer who will provide you with information and arrange a time for an appointment with a Family Dispute Resolution

Practitioner or referral out to a more appropriate service.  The Practitioner will talk with you about the relationship matters that you wish to discuss. Once they understand your family’s needs, they will work with you to plan the next step forward. Often this will involve inviting your spouse or partner (current or former) to attend a similar session.

It is compulsory for clients entering into the Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) process to attend a Kids Come First group information session. People who are unable to attend a Kids Come First session in person will be required to complete a Kids Come First External Pack and return an evaluation form. One-to-one sessions can also be provided to those who have special needs.

The Kids Come First information sessions are held regularly at FRC Darwin and Alice Springs. Each session runs for approximately one and a half hours and includes a DVD which demonstrates the differences between Family Dispute Resolution and the Family Court process.

The aim of the session is to help families prepare for FDR while focusing on the best interests of the child/ren and is divided into three sections:

• The Impact of Ongoing Conflict on Children
• Changes within the Family Law Act
• The FDR Process

During the FDR process, practitioners work with parents separately and together to facilitate ‘child focused’ discussion about ongoing family issues and disputes. For some families FDR will require two practitioners to ensure the best outcome is achieved for assisting parents to reach agreements on parenting arrangements that are best for their children.

Issues that you might want to discuss

Family Relationship Centres have been established to help people discuss any matters relating to strengthening family relationships, keeping families together, and assisting families through separation.  We have a wide range of resources available including printed material, CDs and DVDs and you can also access the Family Relationships Online website www.familyrelationships.gov.au and the Family Relationships Advice Line 1800 050 321 free of charge.

Referrals and other services

The Family Relationship Centre Darwin works closely with many other community and government organisations and is a key referral point to a variety of services including counselling, legal advice and Relationship Education courses.

Outreach Services

Through existing Relationship Australia NT (RANT) locations and our Consortium partner Resolve Anglicare’s existing locations, the Family Relationship Centre also provides services for clients in Alice Springs and Nhulunbuy.

A Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (FDRP) is available two days per month to see clients in Katherine. Outreach services are provided to clients in Tennant Creek and a number of remote communities. Additional outreach services can be made available on request.

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Services

Staff are trained and experienced in the use of interpreters with clients.

Cost

Information, referrals and individual sessions are free of charge. The first three hours of joint Family Dispute Resolution are also free. After that, fees may be charged on a sliding scale, depending on each person’s individual circumstances.

Attorney-General's Department Disclaimer - The information on this page has been provided by this Family Relationship Centre.

Contact us

Darwin:
Physical Address: Ground Floor, 43 Cavenagh Street, Darwin NT 0800
Postal Address: GPO Box 1577, Darwin NT 0801
Phone: (08) 8923 1400    Toll Free: 1800 650 276    Fax: (08) 8941 7941
Email: reception@frcdarwin.org.au
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Operating Times

• 8:30am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday
• Closed on public holidays

Alice Springs outlet

Physical Address: 4/11 Railway Terrace, Alice Springs NT 0870
Postal Address: PO Box 8367, Alice Springs NT 0871
Phone: (08) 8950 4100 Toll Free: 1800 634 405 Fax: (08) 8952 5878
Email: receptionas@ra-nt.org.au
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Operating Times

• 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday
• Closed on public holidays

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