Attorney-General Robert McClelland has today welcomed the outcome of performance reviews for the first 15 Family Relationship Centres, which has resulted in eight being paid funding bonuses.
The Centres opened their doors in July 2006 and have been the subject of a performance review over the past six months.
“I am pleased to announce that all 15 Family Relationship Centres are performing well and that eight have been awarded a performance payment for achieving high quality outcomes for their clients,” Mr McClelland said.
"These eight Family Relationship Centres, in particular, focused on keeping matters out of the courts."
Five Centres have been rated as exceptional:
* Darwin Family Relationship Centre, $145,390
* Hobart Family Relationship Centre, $86,172
* Joondalup Family Relationship Centre, $110,676
* Salisbury Family Relationship Centre, $108,532
* Sutherland Family Relationship Centre, $110,165
A further three Centres have been rated as performing highly:
* Lismore Family Relationship Centre, $74,813
* Mildura Family Relationship Centre, $58,120
* Townsville Family Relationship Centre, $94,305
The amount of the performance payment takes into account the size of the Centre and the population it serves.
All 15 Centres have met the required standards, which are to assist families going through difficult times and if separation does occur, keeping the parents out of court, wherever possible.
Centres are also required to help separating parents to agree to parenting arrangements in the best interests of their children by providing information, advice, dispute resolution and, if necessary, referral to other community-based services.
A further 25 Centres opened in July 2007, with another 25 opening this year. Performance reviews for those Centres will take place in the future.
