Relationships Australia NSW Annual Report | 2020-2021 by Relationships Australia NSW

Relationships Australia NSW Annual Report 2020–2021

Together in Relationship

Relationships Australia NSW acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional custodians of the land and waters on which we live and work. We acknowledge their Ancestors who first walked on this land and pay our respects to Elders past, present and future, for they carry the cultural wisdom, the stories, the traditions and dreaming. With a commitment to Reconciliation, we acknowledge the ongoing impact of past policies and practices and commit our endeavours to creating a just society and sector that celebrates the ongoing resilience and self-determination of our Australian First Peoples and Communities.

Our Vision Strong relationships, strong communities. Our Purpose Reshaping lives together: connecting people and communities. Our Focus Relationships Australia NSW is an independent, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to enhancing relationship quality, supporting relationship wellbeing, and improving our individual and collective sense of belonging. Relationships are at the core of who we are and the heart of how we live – both in our personal lives, and at work. Our ability to develop meaningful relationships in life is what makes us human. The way we relate to those around us has the power to fundamentally impact our mental health, our physical health, and almost every other aspect of our wellbeing. Relationships shape, shift and enrich our lives, and are the threads that connect us together.

A Year of Resilience

LIVING

If the pandemic has shown us one thing, it is that we are all interconnected. The sudden reality of being cut off from each other and distanced from society became a stark experience of what we lose if life is lived largely alone. For many, the isolation exacerbated an already growing sense of loneliness. 03

A PA R T

Separated from family and friends and living life apart, we saw much of the colour and connection drain from our lives. Without time with the communitites where we feel we belong, and the things that give our lives purpose and meaning, our days and weeks flattened and our wellbeing was impacted. 04

FEELING

The extreme unknown of the pandemic and the ongoing need for vigilence, created a heightened sense of stress and anxiety for many. A general feeling of unease, compounded by the devastating mix of job loss, financial insecurity and social isolation, sparked a rollercoaster of emotions. This had a dire impact on mental health, with a sharp spike in the level of distress and need for support. 05

UNCERTAINTY

Living with prolonged uncertainty, amongst a life-threatening virus, took its toll and unseated us all. Life as we knew it, was completely redefined, with every area affected. This pandemic pause plunged us into an unsettling sense of limbo, with many life events suspended or delayed, while others forged on – at times relentlessly. As mothers birthed babies alone, we also witnessed the loss of life on a scale we will never forget. 06

REDEFINING

With the loss of our freedom to gather we found new ways to connect. Without the option to get together in person, we got creative, and lived much of our lives on walks, or online. We called parents and read to grandchildren onscreen, we shared stories and meals from afar, and we checked in with family, friends and neighbours. 07

CONNECTION

For many, the separation from loved ones, and those who need us most, was a heartbreaking challenge. To keep each other safe, we kept our distance. The most vulnerable in our community – our elders, those with lived experience of disability and other at-risk groups – experienced even greater extremes of isolation, coupled with the stress and anxiety of possible infection. 08

REFRAMING

With the widespread closure of schools around the state, came the complex task of supporting children to learn from home. Creating an environment where they felt safe and unburdened by worry or confusion at what was happening in the world, while keeping them motivated and engaged, became a daily challenge. 09

OUR HOME

Our homes shapeshifted again and again, to become schools, playgrounds, workout areas, movie theatres and restaurants. For many, daily life was lived up close, and very personal. We gained a whole new understanding of communal living and shared space, tempered only by the upside of less frantic schedules and more quality time. 10

REIMAGINING

Working from home brought with it a host of new pressures and often saw the demands of the workplace and the classroom competing for time and attention. With widespread unemployment and uncertainty growing as more and more industries were impacted, job security was not a given. Being present for the needs of work life, and the needs of home life in lockdown, became a complex, and often trying, juggling act. 11

O U R WO R K

Seeping into previously personal domains on makeshift desks and in the background of Zoom calls, working from home blurred the boundaries and challenged our notions of privacy and work-life balance. Being separated from our colleagues and teams for long periods of time, redefined our world of work, and left many feeling disconnected, demotivated, and fatigued. 12

R E E VA LUAT I N G

The darker, shadow side of this pandemic saw a worrying increase in domestic and family violence. An already pervasive and hidden issue was lent greater cover by extended periods of home isolation, with many victims cut off from the visibility, and accountability, provided by support networks of schools, workplaces and communities. 13

R E L AT I O N S H I P S

With such a radical restriction of our wider relationship networks, and long stretches of time with the few people we were able to see, these already trying times were made more complex by the pressure placed on our personal lives – leaving many with frayed relationships – or relationships that broke under the strain. 14

REMEMBERING

With our busy lives ground to a halt and our social calendars wiped clear, we found ourselves savouring small details and tiny moments of respite. Forced to connect in new ways, we ultimately reconnected – with ourselves, with nature, with who and what we missed – and with what actually brings us joy. 15

WHAT M AT T E R S

If there has been one positive in these most challenging of circumstances, it is that we have been prompted to re-evaluate our lives, and what we have taken for granted. We have been reminded like never before, that what matters most is human connection, our loved ones, the freedom to enjoy all the fullness of our relationships, and life lived well together. 16

Rising to the Challenge With the pandemic rendering many of us fatigued, anxious, and with frayed relationships, the importance of guidance and support through mental health and relationship concerns has become more necessary than ever. Our waitlists have grown, and many of our clients require more intensive support as they navigate relationship conflict, domestic violence, complex family concerns, behavioural challenges and mental health issues. As our starkest example of community distress, there has been a 2,200% increase in requests for counselling, with no associated increase in funding.

Despite these challenges, as well as substantial periods of lockdown, remote working, and the need to be vigilant in adhering to evolving COVID-safe regulations, we are incredibly proud to have delivered over 96,735 services to 36,375 people. Our clients have benefitted immensely, evidenced by our Net Promoter Score (the likelihood of clients recommending us) rising from 31 to 47 since last year. We have also increased our number of programs and significantly expanded our domestic violence services. We’re working more closely with GPs and allied health in selected regions, growing our resilience-building work with communities affected by bushfires and other natural disasters, and participating in community engagement programs connecting older people isolated by pandemic restrictions.

Our achievements are due to the dedication of our talented staff who are our greatest resource. Focusing on our people has never been so important given how tirelessly they have worked, often under difficult personal circumstances. Sustained online service delivery can generate its own fatigue so we have strongly promoted our Wellness Strategy and conducted regular ‘pulse’ surveys to gauge how staff are faring and what matters to them. We have particularly focused on engagement and connection with inclusive local Centre activities and an internal communications strategy comprising monthly all-staff town halls, a weekly e-resource of enlightening stories and wellbeing tips, CEO email updates and the revival of our staff e-newsletter, ‘The Connect’. We were also fortunate to be able to hold our Staff Showcase between lockdowns and stop/start restrictions on gatherings. It was a wonderful day as many of us came together for the first time in over a year. The focus was belonging and inclusion, celebrating what we are doing well and developing ideas on where we could do more. In being genuinely committed to inclusion for clients and staff alike, and fostering a sense of belonging regardless of age, sex, cultural background, disability or identity, there is work to do, but we are well on the journey. With this in mind we have grown our work for diverse communities through our extended network of valued partners and collaborators, including Settlement Services International, the NSW Ageing and Disability Commission, headspace, Women’s Legal Service, local Primary Health Networks, Youth InSearch and the Grant Family Trust.

Our exposure to the more personal and hidden side of people’s lives, particularly during this pandemic, confirmed once again the centrality of good relationships in maintaining mental wellbeing for individuals, couples, families and communities. We have ramped up our work with government and the broader sector to provide evidence-based solutions and thought leadership on family safety, mental health issues, community resilience, trauma, isolation, and loneliness. In addition, we have contributed to public conversations through increased media opportunities across print, radio, digital and TV. We have plans to strengthen this in the coming year through coordinated marketing, media and thought leadership, and a fresh, contemporary website to engage a broader audience. Through these mediums, we’ll convey tips, strategies and discussion starters in accessible ways, which we hope can empower people to better deal with difficulties they may be facing. In line with our Strategic Plan focus on data intelligence, impact measurement and customer centricity, we recruited our first User Experts Panel to provide feedback on new ideas for services and products – an important step in building our commitment to humancentred design and innovation. We also trialled an Innovation Think Tank to generate ideas from staff, and five proposals were funded and progressed using a try, test and learn approach. Ensuring customers can access us in new ways and in their own time through omnichannel service delivery has been a key goal in our 2019 – 2022 Strategy. With online activity up 56.8% this year, our focus now is ensuring the virtual delivery of counselling, mediation, groupwork and casework is of the highest standard. We have also invested in developing contemporary online products – Couples Connect, Kids in Focus Online and the Divvito app, which assists separated parents with communication – with plans to further expand and commercialise this portfolio.

Our Board farewelled Dr Jennifer Alexander and Peter Ricketts during the year and we thank them for their contribution, governance and strategic guidance. We have recently appointed Katie Moore, a proud Wiradjuri woman, and look forward to working with her and all members of the Board, our Executive, Senior Leadership, Management and Staff as we deliver on the final year of our 2019–2022 Strategic Plan. In the year ahead, we anticipate the unfolding effects of the pandemic on the community’s sense of psychological, physical and relational safety. Online services and employment have provided us with game-changing options in terms of accessibility and flexibility. The challenges of addressing increased demand and heightened service complexity in the context of shrinking or short-term funding is especially difficult. Providing the best possible work experience for our staff and assessing our locations on whether they’re fit for purpose in the current environment, are all works in progress. This year, we performed well under the most challenging circumstances, meeting community need head on with effective responses. Despite many uncertainties ahead, we continue to be in a strong position to partner capably with funders, investors, and community, and together seek ways to foster resilience, relational strength and safety, and strong mental health for those we serve.

Elisabeth Shaw CEO

Chris Bertinshaw Chair 18

Our Impact

Highlights 96,735 SESSIONS PROVIDED

21,515

14,860

36,375

CLIENTS

COMMUNITY MEMBERS

PEOPLE ASSISTED

Our Clients:

41%

We have provided:

are presenting are Aboriginal with domestic and Torres Strait violence Islander people

10.5% 25% have lived experience of disability

6.5%

are migrants are children from diverse cultures

$103,920 in pro bono services to our clients

Our Outcomes:

9/10 people

8/10 people

7/10 people

felt listened to and understood

were satisfied with the services provided

were able to deal with their issues better

47 NPS* client satisfaction benchmark up from 31 the previous year 21

A Net Promoter Score is a client satisfaction benchmark that measures how likely it is that clients would recommend an organisation. It can range from -100 to 100, where a score closer to 100 is more desirable. The Australian Healthcare 2021 benchmark was 38 and the primary aim of a NPS is to predict client loyalty (Reichheld & Markey, 2011).

23,000+

56.8%

ONLINE COMMUNITY

Increase in our Online Delivery

200+

Over 200 media opportunities, across print, radio, online and TV, contributing to public discourse and connecting with new audiences to share knowledge and support.

We grew our online social media community across Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube to over 23,000.

80 students undertook our Graduate Diplomas of Relationship Counselling & Family Dispute Resolution, broadening the base of skilled practitioners.

1,000+ Over 1,000 hours of support delivered to employees in 133 organisations through our Employee Assistance Program.

Top 05 Presenting Issues:

CONFLICT

COMPLEX FAMILY ISSUES

BEHAVIOURAL ISSUES

DIAGNOSED MENTAL ILLNESS

CHILD BEHAVIOUR ISSUES 22

Welcoming

Inclusivity & Belonging

Diversity & Reconciliation

We are deeply committed to the provision of services that are accessible and relevant to all communities across NSW, and our goal of increased diversity and inclusion reflects that. During the year we received a Bronze award in the Health + Wellbeing Equality Index (HWEI) for our work as an inclusive service provider. HWEI helps organisations benchmark LGBTQIA+ inclusive service delivery, identify gaps, make quality improvements, and create better experiences for LGBTQIA+ people.

Throughout the year we developed our second stretch Reconciliation Action Plan for the next three years and embarked on a Diversity Recruitment Strategy to attract and welcome staff from under-represented cultural groups. We also grew our diversity leadership in the sector by contributing to research on Eradicating Racism in the Workplace and adding our voice to important issues such as the National Voice Interim Report.

This was our first submission, and in a year where our services were heavily impacted because of the pandemic. To receive the award was a huge achievement. It is exciting to have our work acknowledged, to know we are heading in the right direction, as well as showing the will and commitment to be an inclusive organisation. Our special thanks and congratulations to our dedicated Gender, Sex & Sexually Diverse Action Group for their work and passion.

Another highlight was reinvigorating our internal Diversity Action Groups. These groups have led our accessibility audits and championed organisation-wide awareness about core issues. We also held our bi-annual all-staff Showcase forum – a key event in our calendar to celebrate, as an organisation, all we have achieved so far, and to cement our commitment to inclusion and belonging even further.

First Indigenous Board Member

Best Place to Work Award

We want all our clients and audiences to see themselves reflected in the way we provide our services, in the composition of our staff and in how we demonstrate this commitment. The appointment of our first Aboriginal Board Member is an important step forward in ensuring we have representation and lived experience at all levels of the organisation.

We were proud to be named in the top five non-profit organisations in Australia and New Zealand in The Australian Financial Review’s BOSS Best Places to Work Award.

Katie Moore, a proud Wiradjuri woman, works as a Project Manager of Strategic Collaborations at the University of Sydney, and is a recipient of the UN Women National Committee Australia MBA Scholarship at the University of Sydney. She is passionate about creating meaningful, lasting change and is an advocate for transformative social impact improving people’s lives. We are delighted to have welcomed Katie to our Board of Directors and look forward to the unique insights and cultural perspective she will bring to our work.

Given our high proportion of female and part-time staff, we introduced a number of initiatives to support the juggle of added care responsibilities in lockdown. We expanded our services in response to the rising incidence of domestic violence and mental health challenges experienced by many and provided increased online service options including a free helpline, Time2Talk, for people to voice their fears and concerns arising from the pandemic. This needs-based response was specifically noted in the award as something which not only provided our clients with an invaluable and highly accessible service, but also provided our people with meaningful work during those first dark days of the pandemic.

Listening

Elevating Client Voice To strengthen our focus on ensuring client voice is at the heart of what we do, we recruited the first participants to our User Experts Panel during the year. A rolling group of around 50 clients or former clients, the panel provides input on new ideas, services, resources and programs through interviews, focus groups and surveys. Members are drawn from across our multiple locations and every client who uses our services is offered the opportunity to join the group through our monthly client survey. Several service areas and program leads have already put questions to the Panel to gather insights from those who our directly use our services, providing valuable input on everything from a new online course for couples struggling in their relationships, to the design of our new Blacktown Centre. Over the coming year we will be moving our interactions from feedback and consultation towards co-design of services in partnership with the people we serve.

Online Product Delivery

Omnichannel Delivery

With current trends showing that people are increasingly seeking to access support online and our clients telling us the same, the development of online tools is a key focus area of our strategic plan. Digital platforms are an important tool in expanding accessibility and increasing customer options. They allow us to reach more people, those in remote communities or vulnerable circumstances, as well as people who struggle to attend face-to-face sessions.

Based on extensive feedback from clients, we shifted our operating model to allow customers more choice in how they receive their services, whether face-to-face, online or by phone. This not only equipped us to continue our operations during the pandemic – it created critical uplift that saw us achieve pre-pandemic service levels in several of our core programs, and well beyond what we had initially planned.

During the year we developed three new digital products to better respond to our clients’ needs. Divvito, a messaging app for separating couples, promotes healthy communication, CONNECT is an online course to help couples repair, strengthen, and improve their relationship and Kids in Focus is for separated parents entering Family Dispute Resolution, with tips to help them focus on what is best for their children. We are excited to launch these products and further develop our portfolio over the coming year, using innovation and technology to offer more value and support to those in need.

Throughout the year we focused on the continuous improvement of our customer experience across all channels of service delivery using a human-centred approach to inform quality, design and communication. Our changes to how we organise and resource IT infrastructure to support this work have resulted not only in lower costs, but importantly, have equipped our staff to deliver services from any location. This positions us to be a workforce of the future, able to respond not only with quality services accessible to all, but in ways that clients tell us they wish to engage with them.

Influencing

Guiding Policy

Shaping Public Conversation

In March, we were invited to give evidence to the NSW Parliament Joint Select Committee on Coercive Control in domestic relationships, following a written submission earlier in the year. We shared our research and expertise with members of Parliament from all political parties, detailing the impact of controlling behaviour on people experiencing family violence, including children. We asked the Select Committee members to look for solutions beyond the criminal law, arguing for more investment in services, prevention programs for young people, and economic support for people fleeing abuse.

We are regularly contacted by media for guidance on relationship challenges and to help individuals and couples think about their relationships and explore ways of making them stronger. We have been invited to appear on popular, widely watched programs including The Project, Channel 7 Morning Show, ABC News and SBS’s Insight program, reaching a national audience in the millions. We’ve also given over 200 interviews or provided articles to a range of outlets such as The Australian, The Sydney Morning Herald, ABC, Body & Soul, Starts at 60, Mamamia and Triple J.

In Australia, every nine days a woman is killed by their current or former partner. Controlling, and coercive behaviour is often invisible but almost always a precursor to these devastating incidents. We remain committed to shedding light on this form of domestic abuse and working alongside family violence survivors to generate greater awareness of this insidious issue and advocate for better support.

In the past year we’ve been asked to unpack everything from the complexities of life in lockdown, to navigating relationship breakdown, loneliness, gaslighting and coercive control. We’ve added our perspective on multigenerational communal living, making friends as an adult, school anxiety, and the impact of COVID-19 on our many relationships. We value and welcome these opportunities to share practical knowledge with new audiences, and build greater public awareness and capacity to grow and sustain strong and respectful relationships.

Supporting Vulnerable Australians

Creating Change Across Society

Since our inception, we have been pioneers in fighting for the rights of the vulnerable, and those let down by the systems, policies and practices of the past.

Across our work, the same goal drives what we do: to support strong communities through strong relationships. We influence outcomes for those facing complex relationship challenges at all levels of society. Within communities and across NSW, our work with individuals, families and organisations, helps to build and maintain strong relationships, support mental wellbeing, and change lives. The active partnerships we create with industry experts, and our advocacy at a government level, allows us to expand our reach and ensure better outcomes for the people we serve.

During the year, we celebrated the tenth anniversary of our Wattle Place Centre, established in 2011 to support those affected by traumatic experiences within out-of-home care systems of past decades. We celebrated with our community, clients and staff, and were presented with a beautiful quilt embroidered by those who had been supported by Wattle Place, both past and present. We also formally launched a new website with resources to support this vulnerable community. It was an important opportunity to connect and reconnect with each other, our sector partners, as well as government after a year of restrictions and separation. It has been an honour for us to be part of this important work, and we are committed to giving a voice to Forgotten Australians and supporting them in their continuing journey towards healing and justice.

The widespread need for our services directly informs how we work. We design unique modes of engagement appropriate to the diversity, complexity and scale of those needs. By offering the insights and tools to help individuals, couples and families they can learn to navigate and recover from distressing relationship challenges and make better decisions in their daily lives. In this way, our work relieves the symptoms of relationship breakdown – while also helping to prevent its causes, empowering people to shape their lives for the better. 28

Our Work

We’re Relationship People

Relationship With Ourselves

Relationships With Partners

Relationships With Families

Relationships As Community

Relationships As Society

Relationship With Nature

For over 70 years, Relationships Australia NSW has provided knowledge and support to empower people to build and sustain relationships that are safe, respectful and strong. We are driven by an understanding that relationships are the heart of how we live as individuals and societies, and that relationships have the power to transform lives. As humans, we’re relationship people. We are in relationships in all aspects of our lives from the moment we are born. Whether it be our relationships with loved ones, the communities we spend time with, and the places we belong – relationships connect us to ourselves and each other. 31

Relationships With Friends

Relationships At Work

Relationships At School & Beyond

Relationship With Place

Relationship With Country

Relationship With Our Indigenous Past, Present & Future

We support people to grow their capacity to manage conflict, challenge and change, and empower them to build solid foundations and make positive choices that strengthen their relationships – and their sense of connection and belonging as a whole. Our hope is that as individuals, communities, society and as a nation, we value relationships and give them the time, energy, care and respect to allow them to grow and thrive, and to support ourselves and each other to live well together.

Our Areas of Work

Counselling, Mediation & Casework

Relationship Education

We provide a range of socially inclusive counselling, mediation and casework services, face-to-face, by phone or online. We see individuals, couples and families from across the lifespan and from diverse backgrounds and circumstances – from Forgotten Australians through our Wattle Place Centre, teens leaving out-of-home care and older Australians struggling with loneliness, to separating couples and victims of domestic and family violence. We also support mentally healthy workplaces through our Employee Assistance Program.

Our relationship education supports people to learn new skills which help them adapt to change or build capacity to deal with new challenges. Designed and offered as courses, group-based programs, online products and web-based digital content, our education platforms are created to help establish, or re-establish, solid relationship foundations. They equip people with greater understanding and the practical knowhow to manage emotions, communicate better, improve partner or parent-child relationships, recognise negative patterns of behaviour, prevent conflict before it arises, or deal with it constructively when it does.

Research & Advocacy

Professional & Community Training

Research is an important part of our role as a social change and impact organisation, and vital to ensuring that client voice informs our work. Our services are subject to thorough evaluation to drive continuous quality improvement and achieve positive results with and for clients. This also enables transparency and accountability for our use of public funds. We collaborate with community, academic, government and non-government partners to inform policy and funding models, and advocate for better client outcomes with our research findings.

Our professional and community training programs offer individuals and work teams important skills in areas such as Accidental Counselling, Effective Group Leadership and Mental Health Support. We also offer continuing professional development courses for existing counsellors wanting to keep their skills up to date, and nationally accredited qualifications in Relationship Counselling and Family Dispute Resolution to build the counsellors of the future – so vital as the demand for mental health support increases.

Our Focus RELATIONSHIP WELLBEING

ANXIETY

MENTAL HEALTH

COUPLES COMMUNICATION

CONFLICT RESOLUTION

COUPLES THERAPY

FAMILY THERAPY

PARENTING

PARENTING AFTER SEPARATION

DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES

MULTICULTURAL SERVICES

INDIGENOUS SERVICES

We offer an expansive range of products and services tailored for individuals, couples, parents, families and workplaces. With centres and outreach locations throughout metro, regional and rural NSW, our counsellors, mediators and caseworkers are compassionate and knowledgeable with decades of combined experience in their fields.

TRAUMA + REDRESS

LONELINESS

BELONGING

DOMESTIC + FAMILY VIOLENCE

MEDIATION

SEPARATION

CHILDREN’S CONTACT SERVICES

CHILDREN + TEENS

WORKPLACE RELATIONSHIPS

REMOTE + RURAL COUNSELLING

SENIOR RELATIONSHIPS SERVICES

ELDERCARE

We have a strong focus on supporting multicultural, Indigenous, and LGBTQIA+ communities, people with lived experience of disability, and regional and rural communities where counselling services are often difficult to access. We value partnerships, and frequently collaborate with organisations that help us expand our reach and knowledge, and develop the services that resonate with our clients. We are committed to listening to the changing needs of society, and the individuals and communities we work with. While every relationship will experience common challenges, we recognise that our individual experience of relationships is as diverse and nuanced as we are as people – and our work keeps this front of mind. 36

Domestic Violence

Psychological and physical safety are a human right. Coercion, intimidation, demeaning, threatening, and frightening behaviour is unacceptable and has no place in a relationship. Domestic and family violence occurs across all social, community and religious groups, in urban and regional settings, and at all life stages. Tactics of abuse and physical and sexual violence do not change on their own.

This year, we have continued to provide a diverse range of evidence-based services to support victim survivors, and those who have used violence. Our aim is to support as many people as possible with inclusive and wide-reaching services, including individual counselling; behavioural change and group programs; and educational programs and case support for those within the legal system. Along with one-on-one support, our group programs for female, male and intersex victims of domestic violence – Women: Choice and Change, and Men: Choice and Change – provide group participants with the skills and confidence to help current and former partners, and other family members affected by abuse, to move forward in their lives. We were proud to offer Men: Choice and Change for the first time – a unique and much-needed service which recognises and addresses that men can be, and frequently are, victims of domestic violence at the hands of partners or other family members. Participants in these programs form meaningful connections with others who have had similar experiences, talk through their issues with our counsellors, and consider positive choices and strategies for the future.

As part of our ongoing commitment to support linguistically diverse communities, we also continued to offer Building Stronger Families throughout the year – a culturally-adapted men’s behaviour change program and victim support service for Arabic, Tamil and Hazara communities. Our Taking Responsibility program works with men who have used violence, helping them move towards building relationships that are respectful and caring. The program involves individual casework sessions to help them understand the nature and impact of domestic and family violence, followed by an 18-session group-based behaviour change program. It’s depth of learning allows for real change in those who take part. At a policy level, we offered a written submission and gave oral evidence to the NSW Parliament Joint Select Committee on Coercive Control in domestic relationships. Using our research and experience, we shared our learnings on the impact of controlling behaviour on people experiencing family violence, including children. We asked the Select Committee members to look for solutions beyond the criminal law, arguing for more investment in services, prevention programs for young people and economic support for people fleeing abuse.

In addition, in preparation for Domestic Violence Awareness Month in May, we conducted an audit of domestic violence-related information and content on the website, to ensure resources could be easily accessed. As a result of this work, page views of relevant content went up 233%. We also added our voice to media on the issue and were featured on ABC 702 Drive, Southern Cross Austereo TV News, news.com.au and The Project, alongside a former client who shared their story of financial control. Domestic violence is a pervasive issue in Australia, and its prevalence has only increased throughout the pandemic and ongoing lockdowns. Through increased funding in a number of key regional areas in New South Wales, and by employing more designated caseworkers this year than any time in the past, we’ve been able to double our capacity for one-on-one casework with perpetrators, while also more effectively engaging and supporting survivors. Over the past financial year, a total of 591 male clients accessed casework and men’s behaviour change programs, and we provided support to 155 former and current partners. By continuing to spotlight this issue, and provide education and solutions that empower those impacted by domestic violence, our work aims to have long-lasting, positive effects in the lives of individuals, and our society as a whole. 38

Safety

Supporting Families After Separation Luke approached us for counselling and family mediation with his partner Meg, as they were separating and needed support to agree custody arrangements for their three teenage children. Caseworkers in our Family Relationship Centre conducted an initial assessment with Luke and Meg separately and learnt that Luke had a history of abuse towards Meg and their children. Luke was referred to our extensive Taking Responsibility program, which he completed over the course of six months, while Meg received support through Women: Choice & Change. One year on, Luke and Meg are divorced and Meg tells us that she and the children are safer and that their family relationships have been transformed. Names and images changed to protect privacy.

“ I felt so supported by my caseworker as my ex-partner undertook the Taking Responsibility course. She made me feel heard, understood and that I wasn’t going crazy. The best thing is that contact happened over a long time it wasn’t a one-off. Our family would not be in the shape we are now had we not had this experience and support. The Taking Responsibility course has changed the lives of all five of our family for the better. It provided a positive, proactive pathway for us all to recover and rebuild our lives after horrific trauma. I wish everyone in a family violence situation could access and benefit from this course and the support services around it. Thank you.” Meg

Mental Health

The prevalence of mental health concerns in Australia today is uncontested. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, almost half the population (45%) will suffer from a mental illness at any point in their life. But what is less often talked about is the inextricable causal link between relationships and mental wellbeing. While it may seem like common sense, systemic and coordinated approaches to mental health service delivery remain limited, as do whole-of-family or workplace approaches.

In Australia, the impact can be seen in numerous ways;

Having good-quality relationships can help us to live longer and happier lives with fewer mental health problems. When relationships are under stress or break down, there are farreaching consequences for the mental health of individuals and communities as a whole. Children especially suffer.

– survivors of domestic violence have an increased risk of mental illness, and

– separation and relationship stress are major risk factors for suicide – especially for men – loneliness and social isolation are growing concerns linked to higher rates of depression and stress – the use of violence in a relationship often co-occurs with mental illness and/or alcohol misuse

– victims of elder abuse are at increased risk of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic disorders. While our individual, relationship and family counselling services will always form the cornerstone of our approach to improving long-term mental health outcomes in NSW, our multi-faceted services to support mental health concerns are expanding. Over the last year, we’ve placed significant emphasis on our range of Community Builders programs – which aim to break the cycle of disadvantage by increasing connection in communities in the Northern Sydney area. These programs, often delivered in schools or within culturally and linguistically diverse communities, build community and support engagement for those who might otherwise be socially isolated due to cultural or language barriers, or other social circumstances.

Our myriad of Relationship Education Programs also build engagement among participants, while teaching invaluable lifelong skills. Groups include Managing Strong Emotions, Self Esteem and Communication, and for the first time this year, Mindfulness Matters – an online pilot program to reduce stress, improve focus and increase physical and mental wellbeing run by our Illawarra Centre, with resounding success and increasing demand. From a workplace perspective, support services such as our Employee Assistance Program help to build organisational communities, foster professional connections and engagements, and create healthy workplace environments. Innovative technology platforms also play a pivotal role in the delivery of mental health support at Relationships Australia NSW. Our Radiant mental health platform has continued to connect individuals with counsellors at a time when finding support has never been so needed, and yet so difficult for many. This year, Radiant was awarded a City of Sydney Community Services Grant to create a toolkit for international students – a group found to be at high risk of suffering mental health challenges, particularly through extended lockdowns and international border closures. The toolkits achieved an online reach of 61,380 people in just three months, highlighting the huge, yet still untapped potential of digital services and resources.

Our Cabera-ra Nanga Engage program works to improve mental health outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander communities through the delivery of tailored Aboriginal mental health first aid training in schools in Northern Sydney. It builds mental health awareness and literacy, and a sense of safety in talking about, and seeking help with, issues associated with mental illness. The project creates a holistic and culturally safe model of wellbeing, and provides a bridge and ‘cultural escort’ for people in accessing the mental health system as needed in culturally appropriate ways. We can’t continue doing all of this, however, without more funding. Across our 11 centres over the past three years, we’ve seen a staggering 2,200% increase in people on waitlists for counselling. When we finally see people, they need more intensive support, on average requiring 12% more counselling sessions compared to a few years ago. Relationships Australia NSW has been providing relationship support services since before there was an evidence base to demonstrate its effectiveness on mental health. Indeed, when the organisation was first formed in the 1940s, it was a completely unfamiliar concept. We now not only have that evidence base, but also contribute to it. We continue to tailor and develop our work in response to community demand, which will be a strong focus for us as we move towards greater customer-centricity over the next financial year, and beyond.

Support

Providing Support in Challenging Times Jessie approached us for counselling after a stay in hospital for her mental health. She had a long history of mental health challenges throughout her 33 years. Since returning home, Jessie was struggling to overcome resentment towards her mum, Carol, and her brother, Tim, as they had been involved in having her admitted for in-patient treatment. Attempts at communication would consistently descend into arguments and the relationship had become very fractured. We started out with individual counselling with Jessie and then supported her to bring her family members into the conversation. Through a combination of individual and family counselling, Jessie, her mum and her brother were able to get to a place where communication was much more supportive and effective. Names and images changed to protect privacy.

“ The best thing was having a great counsellor who who was able to help us navigate the difficulties we were facing as a family, and allow us to listen to each other and feel heard. They were consistent and dedicated to helping us understand our different needs, to find a way forward together.” Tim 44

Children

In the past, children have been largely excluded from family counselling services, particularly in situations where their family is separating or has separated. Understandably, many parents and caregivers want to shield them from potentially upsetting or difficult situations. There is a growing body of evidence, however, which shows that encouraging secure attachment to parents and carers, even in times of relationship breakdown, significantly lowers the risk of later-life mental health challenges. Relationships Australia NSW has provided meaningful inclusion for children over five years old in the Family Dispute Resolution (FDR) process since we began running our first Family Relationship Centre in 2006. Two years ago, however, as part of our strategic focus to build resilience and wellbeing across the lifespan, we embarked on a project to scale up the number of children being included in processes that impact them. This includes mediation, as well as relevant counselling and group programs. 45

We now know that providing a means of active participation for children is extremely positive, both for a child’s own outcomes, and for the process they are included in. Including children in family mediation also contributes to better informed decisions and outcomes. Over the past year, we have successfully increased the number of children included in the FDR process by creating a designated Child Consultant position at each Family Relationship Centre, training all FDR Practitioners in Child Inclusive Practice, and increasing access to supervision and support for all our staff. We also continue to undertake research and evaluation using a child-inclusive approach, with the voices of the children, parents, practitioners, and management guiding our future practice.

COVID-19 restrictions over the last 18 months have impacted these strategies, as our model requires that young people be seen in person for their own safety. Despite that, we have developed and piloted a model of engaging children from carefully assessed families using an online platform. Online consultation is now available for children over 12 years old at four of our six Family Relationship Centres, and early feedback is overwhelmingly positive. Despite these successes, we have not been able to develop to the level needed to honour the value of the process detailed in the literature, due to a lack of funding for child inclusion. More children from separated families still experience mental health problems during childhood than children from intact families. Child-inclusive mediation continues to be a powerful process, with huge potential to help parents to reduce conflict, and build partnerships that benefit their children for the long term. We hope that in future, with increased funding, we can continue to increase our work in this area.

Children are empowered, they learn to consider and speak about their circumstances and feelings and develop self-esteem and a sense of control from the recognition and respect accorded by ‘mattering enough’ to be included.

Growth “ Working with the Child Consultant gave us a deeper understanding of what was happening for Samuel. It made me realise that sometimes he was just saying what he thought I needed to hear. Samuel is now seeing his dad again and communication between us is much less fraught. We’re both shifting what we do and how we act so that things can be better for our son.” Zara

Prioritising Children’s Needs Amir contacted the Family Relationship Centre when his seven year old son, Samuel, stopped coming to stay with him. Zara, Samuel’s mother, engaged with the process but said there was little point in mediation because Samuel had no interest in seeing his dad. Zara and Amir had a highly conflicted relationship and Samuel often saw loud arguments at changeovers. Samuel met with one of our Child Consultants. He explained his wishes for his family were that mum and dad could be happy, that they would say good things about him when they talked and that his dad could come and watch his football games. When Zara and Amir met with the Child Consultant and mediator they were surprised by how much Samuel knew about their conflict and agreed to make a plan for Samuel to spend time with his dad. Amir agreed to communicate more with Zara when Samuel was with him, and Zara agreed to check in with Amir if she worried about anything Samuel said. Names and images changed to protect privacy.

Trauma

Relationships Australia NSW has a proud history of supporting those who were in out-of-home care as a child. This began 17 years ago with a small but important program known as the Aftercare Resource Centre, which continues to help 16 to 25 year olds transition to independent living. As we have never previously been an out-of-home care provider, or affiliated with associated institutions or churches, we are in a strong position to support young adults who have had an out-of-home care experience. Our long commitment to social justice and equity is central to the support we offer these clients.

Our Wattle Place Centre opened in March 2011 to further support clients in need. Over the past decade, our breadth of support has grown to include the Find & Connect Support Service and the Forced Adoption Service which helps clients who have been in out-of-home care through counselling, referrals, record access, and assistance with health and wellbeing costs, casework, advocacy and family tracing. More recently we have added the National Redress Support Service to our offering, for those impacted by or engaged with the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Around 1,200 people access our Wattle Place services each year. – 21% identify as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent or learn of their history through their records and family tracing work – 90% are Forgotten Australians – 10% experienced Forced Adoption – 45% are from regional NSW and 55% from metropolitan Sydney.

At the heart of what we offer is connection and belonging and a place for people to feel seen and heard. Our calendar of social activities and our drop-in centre are welcoming places where clients know they can come for support at any time. As such, many remain connected well beyond the period when they have been actively receiving support. During the year we held a number of social events to keep the community connected, and so that trust and safety can build – two of the key underpinning principles in trauma informed care. One of the most valuable was at Christmas, which can be such a triggering time for many who use our service. Wattle Place held our own “family” event to ensure our clients were able to experience the shared joy of celebration.

COVID-19 restrictions presented a number of challenges for people with a childhood out-of-home care experience, and other trauma experiences that impact their trust in institutions. The Wattle Place service model has always had a blend of face-to-face service delivery and phone or video. To maintain connection and reduce trauma in isolation we provided wellbeing calls for all who had accessed our services in the past. Additionally, we worked to build people’s digital capacity as we moved to online connection groups. Many clients re-engaged over the lockdown periods, and we were pleased that they told us they felt valued by someone caring to check on their wellbeing. At a recent event one of the community members spoke of their experience of feeling welcomed at Wattle Place without judgment and finding a place where they felt they belonged. It is a wonderful thing to be able to support and see.

Resilience “ I finally felt acknowledged and that’s all I have ever wanted. It’s a long-term process but I’m hopeful I can manage what I’ve been through as a part of my life now and not feel like I need to constantly run away. Everyone at Wattle Place made me feel so safe and supported.” Jamie

Supporting Survivors of Childhood Institutional Care Jamie came to Wattle Place with limited social support and in a crisis state after interactions with a number of services, agencies and others in the community - saying they felt anxious, agitated and overwhelmed. Jamie was eligible to access support as a Forgotten Australian, a survivor of Forced Adoption, and eligible for the National Redress Scheme. Jamie has never lived in one place for more than six months and has struggled to trust other people throughout their life. The Wattle Place team worked to gain fragments of Jamie’s trust over time. We provided support for emergency accommodation items due to domestic violence, and went on to help secure stable long-term housing. We helped to connect them with services many take for granted including a GP and a Psychologist and supported them to access their records of their time in institutional care. Jamie lodged an application to the National Redress Scheme and was relieved to receive their outcome. Jamie tells us they are now able to reflect on their trauma, manage their trauma responses and not feel so overwhelmed by ongoing flashbacks. Names and images changed to protect privacy.

Elders

Our work encourages healthy conversations among family members, supports older Australians to plan for their future and make decisions that protect their rights and safety. With developments in medicine and economic improvements over the last few decades, life expectancy around the world has increased. We’ve seen these changing demographics first hand, as a growing number of older clients seek our support each year. While the vast majority of our services are set up to support the unique needs and complex challenges of older Australians, throughout the year we delivered two specialist programs to this group – Let’s Talk and Reconnect. Let’s Talk is a targeted intervention program offering family mediation, casework and counselling for older Australians and their adult children, carers and support networks. Areas that people need assistance with include housing and living arrangements, Powers of Attorney and guardianship, end of life planning, family communication challenges and strategies to protect risk, safety and wellbeing.

Sadly and alarmingly, financial, psychological, physical, social and sexual abuse of older Australians, including neglect, is something that is becoming increasingly more common. This complex health and social problem can have devastating consequences for the older person, their families and their communities. Let’s Talk encourages healthy conversations among family members, supports older Australians to plan for their future and make decisions that protect their rights and safety. It is distinctly unique as there are no other services in NSW that apply an early intervention family lens to managing conflict, focused wholly on older people. The program has supported over 500 clients across 10 locations in NSW since 2019.

Reconnect Wellbeing Support is a free 12-month service for older Australians experiencing feelings of isolation and disconnection as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The restrictions of the past year left many unable to maintain their usual connections with family, friends, and community, as well as access health services and support networks. Reconnect encourages reengagement through educational, health-related, social, recreational, or counselling-focused support, depending on the client’s unique situation.

There have been a number of other initiatives undertaken throughout the year. These include a focus on building staff capacity to support the unique challenges and needs of older Australians thanks to the delivery of Elder Abuse Awareness training for all staff. We developed a Memorandum of Understanding with the NSW Ageing and Disability Commission and are key contributors and members of Elder Abuse Collaboratives in Sydney and Bathurst regions. We are also drawing on the strength of our federation by working closely with our national office and Relationships Australia centres across Australia to build our collective knowledge, thought leadership and influence with government and the broader sector in this important and growing area of work.

Respect “ Relationships are the first thing in our lives, and getting the right support in times of need is fundamental. Being able to access such an excellent service with the kindest and most professional counsellors has been priceless. Let’s Talk is an Australian treasure, getting us through a particularly difficult time for our family.” Ada

Supporting Families with Mediation Ada was the primary carer for her partner Giorgio who had Parkinson’s disease. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ada’s daughter Bella and two young children needed to move in with them, and they were supporting them with housing and other financial support. Bella had lost her job as a result of the COVID-19 closures and had been through a challenging separation from her partner Steve shortly before the pandemic began. Loud arguments and disruptive visits from Steve suddenly became a part of Ada and Giorgio’s life. Ada was very worried about how the frequent arguments were affecting Giorgio, as Parkinson’s made it challenging for him to communicate. Ada approached Let’s Talk seeking help for mediation with Bella to put in place some rules in the household and limits on financial support that would allow some return of comfort and security for the couple. The support repaired an increasingly fragile relationship, offering piece of mind for Ada and Giorgio, and clarity for Bella, at a particularly stressful and challenging time of their lives. Names and images changed to protect privacy.

Lived Experience of Disability

Two years ago, Relationships Australia NSW sought additional funding to assist clients with lived experience of disability, noting a gap in service support for those most in need. We were successful in securing three-year funding to provide counselling for those affected by the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (Disability Royal Commission). Established in early 2020, our Disability Royal Commission Counselling Service provides face-to-face, telephone and online counselling, casework support, groups and advocacy to help clients who are not only often marginalised and disadvantaged, but who have also experienced violence, abuse, neglect or exploitation. The service extends to parents, relatives and carers who have had loved ones die whilst in care, or those who are experiencing high levels of stress due to long hours caring for, and supporting, their family member living with a disability.

The need for services like this is reflected in the high volume of referrals, which has continued throughout both lockdown periods in 2020 and 2021. The establishment of a strong therapeutic relationship with all clients as a central element of our service model has proven essential over these past few COVID-19 impacted years. It has ensured a readiness in all our clients in accessing therapeutic and case work services via phone or online with high levels of engagement and satisfaction.

The provision of regular counselling and care has offset some of the effects of social isolation and disconnection from family, friends and established community support services, for our clients during the pandemic. It has also ensured that support has been available when most needed for clients experiencing suicidal ideation or domestic violence.

In providing such services to clients with a wide range of presentations – whether intellectual, physical cognitive impairment, vision, hearing and speech impairment, mental health conditions including acute anxiety and depression, or invisible disabilities – our close working partnerships with community organisations such as Side by Side Advocacy which supports people living with an intellectual disability, have been invaluable and an essential part of our service brief. We have conducted numerous online support groups over this past year for clients and carers to equip them with the tools to have great relationships, manage emotions and improve self-care practices. Topics covered have included safety in online dating through Sex, Love and Dating, eSafety training, improving self-esteem through Feeling GREAT About Me, and carer support in 24/7 Love. Feedback on these courses has been some of the most complimentary and humbling that we have seen throughout the pandemic. We look forward to continuing these groups over the coming year.

Dignity

“ The counsellor helped me so much, in so many ways. I was feeling trapped, isolated and scared. I felt let down by the rejection of my NDIS application and like I had nowhere else to turn. Through the support I received, I was able to move towards independence and take back control in my life. It really has been life-changing.” Debra

Promoting Independence & Wellbeing Debra came to Relationships Australia NSW seeking help with her increasingly unstable circumstances. She was living with a disability and chronic illness and was subject to ongoing and worsening domestic violence. Her partner had lost his job due to COVID-19, they were in lockdown together for 14 weeks, and she was feeling more exposed to her partner’s unregulated behaviour as his reliance on alcohol to self-medicate intensified. Due to physical weakness and an inability to drive a car, Debra was struggling to access community supports or experience any independence. She had previously applied for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, but her application was rejected due to poor advice and flaws in her submission. Debra’s counsellor researched the NDIS qualifying criteria and secured her an advocacy agency who oversaw her application to maximise her chances of success. In addition, she worked with her to provide trauma-informed counselling, domestic violence psychoeducation, referral networks and casework support. Names and images changed to protect privacy.

Looking Ahead

The world has changed, and with it, the need for services and products that support strong relationships and wellbeing. This is especially true given the troubling rise in mental health issues, domestic and family violence, disconnection and loneliness. A staggering four out of five people suffering with mental health issues do not currently access support, and it is our aim to ensure we are available to all of them. We know that not everyone wants to, or is ready to, book an appointment in a conventional way. That’s why we are changing the ways we work – with innovation a key focus. We are extending our investment in a range of products and resources that could provide the first step or a valuable alternative to booking a session with a professional. We are also actively investing in our communications to ensure they connect with those who need our services but may not be aware of them, and that they are inclusive of the diverse communities we serve. We will deliver these communications in new forms that reflect how people are telling us they wish to access guidance and support. We are focused on furthering what we do through strategic partnerships, new ways of structuring our workforce, internal systems improvement, and active collaboration with others, including those with lived experience. Our determined efforts to build our diversity, inclusion and belonging strategy will be critical in being genuinely responsive to all communities across New South Wales. We will continue our commitment to our commercial work, through the delivery of quality employee programs and educational services. This work builds resilient businesses with quality support systems in place for staff, and ensures we expand our reach and support exponentially via the businesses that utilise our services. 61

Our clients will always be our first priority. This matters more now than ever. As such, we are undertaking a major strategy shift this coming year through our investment in customer experience and impact driven work. Making sure the voices of our customers ring throughout the organisation keeps our work clear and true to purpose. This includes generating smart data, reports and insights, so that the voice of the customer, ‘our clients’, truly drives quality improvement and the design of our work. In addition, we are excited to be investing in a portfolio of work to enhance customer interactions, ensuring services are accessible and best practice at every point. While our aspirations are significant, funding remains a perennial challenge. We have seen an increase in counselling demand over the past year of 2,200%, but with services at capacity, it is heartbreaking to know that clients are waiting longer than ever to receive the help they need. We will actively advocate for urgent increases in funding to bridge the growing gap between those in need and the services available to support them. Given the breadth and depth of our experience in working with family violence – being the largest provider of men’s behaviour change programs in the state and complemented by a host of other tailored programs – we will likewise seek greater funding that will enable us to address this pervasive and entrenched problem. It is one that literally costs lives. As we move into a ‘next normal’ in the postCOVID world, organisations need to move quickly, in pace with the community, and where possible, anticipate needs and commence work ahead of time on effective solutions. Over the last year, the ways in which we have risen to demand, developed new products and services, changed the way we do business, and invested in digitally-enabled systems and infrastructure, has set us up well to greet whatever lies ahead.

Why do Relationships Matter? Sarah Rowley, General Manager Business Development, Commercial & Social Enterprise

“ Relationships are the oxygen in our lives... they enrich us and teach us new things every day. To not be in relationship is to stop existing.”

Miguel Lane Mullins, Manager - Northern Sydney Centre

“ Relationships to me are all the things. Lovely, interesting, complex, beautiful. I try to learn from them and become a better person through them.”

Devin North, Manager, Risk & Governance

Mia Lumb, Manager Strategic Communications, Open Dialogue Centre

“ Every relationship I have had in my life, whether good, neutral, or bad, and for all those I will have in the future, give me the opportunity to be who I want to be. And equally, my relationships with others seek to do the same.”

“ Relationships connect me to myself, my loved ones, different perspectives, and the wider world. The relationships that I have with my family and friends enrich my daily life and support me when I need it most.”

Andrea Christie-David, Board Director

Ruben Ruolle, Head of Operations

“ Because they give you perspective, enable you to share the ups and downs.” 63

“ Relationships are what make life meaningful. The sharing of time, thoughts, feelings, vulnerabilities and experiences is the gold.”

Kathi McCulloch, Manager Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

“ Because I experience what it is to be fully human and share that with others.”

Sarah Munro, Manager Brand, Marketing & Communications

“ Relationships are what make us human. Having connections or bonds with people are the single biggest joy in my life. My relationships help me reflect on who I am in the world, and allow me to share life’s joys and challenges.”

Maria Comino, Child, Family & Youth Project Worker Community Builders

“ They build connection, community, support and bring a richness to life that we can’t have alone.”

Cameron O’Reilly, Board Director

“ Relationships are both the bedrock of our life but also the cause of greatest stress. They are more complex than other aspects of life such as the workplace. If they are healthy your life seems much more complete.”

Anna Schrafft, Digital Product & Customer Success Lead

“ Relationship for me is about connection – to other people, to my community, to the moment and to myself. That I am not alone in the world and I have people to share life with. It’s also about having people in my corner, cheering me on no matter what season of life I am in.”

Shannon Harvey, Principal Researcher

“ Relationships are how we change the world. When we live our values through care for people we’re in relationship with, we make the world a better place. That is so hopeful to me.” 64

Why do Relationships Matter? Elisabeth Shaw, CEO

“ Relationships are critical to me for sustenance, joy, and meaning. They make everything worthwhile. Doing things together makes everything more pleasurable and successful.”

Rochelle Dawson, Child, Family & Youth Project Worker - Community Builders

“They’re what our hearts long for.”

Karen Drake, Senior Relationship Educator

“ Relationships add so much to my life being the giver of love and care and also receiving it, is the bread and butter of life for me... not always easy but worthy.” 65

Nick Ludgate, Manager - Sydney City Centre

“ For me, when my relationships are going well, I’m going well. Knowing you are loved and valued and that you love and value others is so important for your sense of self-concept and self-worth.”

Marina Pliatsikas, Digital Engagement Specialist

“ My relationships are my biggest daily source of inspiration, energy and guidance. The people you surround yourself with can have the greatest influence on your life. I think that others have so much to teach us, about the world and ourselves.”

(Zuc) Tang Duc Dao, Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner – Blacktown Family Relationship Centre

“ To a significant extent, my relationships define who I really am.”

Clare Henderson, Manager Business Development

Hale Adasal, Community Engagement Officer, Disability Counselling & Support

“ Relationships are my everything. Without them I would be lost. Whether it be friends, family or my colleagues at Relationships Australia NSW, thanks to them all I am a better person.”

“ Relationships are what makes us human, connecting us to one another, giving us a sense of place, an understanding of self – relationships are everything.”

Andrew King, Practice Specialist - Groupwork & Community Education

“ Relationships are the most important connections in life. They create a way of being with yourself and the world. Without them, we would suffer greatly.” Gillian Brown, Ryde Community Hub

“ Relationships enable connection, alignment of values, shared and diverse experiences and an opportunity to grow as people for the good of all.”

Melissa Cowan, Content Producer & Community Manager

“ My relationships are the most important thing in my life. They’re what motivates me to be the best person I can be.”

Robyn Mason, Acting Learning Manager

“ To me, relationships can magnify the experience of beauty, wonder and humour. I love to share a view, a good meal and a joke. Relationships can mean we are not alone when we walk though the dark times.” 66

Why do Relationships Matter? Emma Moore, General Manager Operations

“ Relationships are key for me to be seen, heard and challenged - as well as supported and enabled to be a better version of myself.”

Jian Hua, Child, Family & Youth Support Worker Community Builders

“ I compare it with a net, with boundaries and protection function. Both give me a sense of security.”

Fiona Harding, Talent Business Partner

“ My relationships support me and my family to manage our busy life. They are always there for me. I’m never alone.” 67

Holly Lees, EAP Account Manager

“ Good relationships are imperative. They help us navigate our way through life’s difficulties, they show us parts of ourselves we can’t see and they allow us to enjoy life through another lens.”

Steve Rust, Board Director

“ Relationships centre me. They are on my mind every second of every day. Relationships bring me joy and help me in times of stress and uncertainty.”

Devlin Swain, Relationship Education Programs Team Leader - North Sydney Centre

“ My relationships - both professional and personal have been the key factor in my ability to endure the challenging times of the last 18 months and come through in one piece!”

Sunny (Jisun) Kim, Child, Family & Youth Project Worker - Community Builders

“ Relationships mean feeling connected and sharing each other’s experiences which make us feel like we belong. By caring and supporting each other, we can make the world better place.”

Mrugesh Desai, IT Operations Manager

“ Relationships assist you, adore you, embrace you at any situation or struggle you may facing. They may have some ups and downs but if valued rightly they always give you positivity.” Sun Young Kim, Community Builders

“ Relationships are one of the components of a flourishing life. People need material and mental elements to live in sense of satisfaction. Both are important and they will not be able to build up without various types of relationships in society.”

Selina Brandy, Couple & Family Therapist – Bathurst Centre

“ My relationships are formed by trust, kindness, similarities, honesty, feeling safe and supported. I’ve learnt to be more patient, compromising and open to sharing my vulnerabilities, and let others in so I can feel their genuineness, and kindness, bringing us closer and more connected.” Julie Wilson, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Practice Specialist

“ Relationships are the core of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. They have sustained us and our culture for millennia and to where we are now acknowledged as the oldest living culture on this earth.”

Jacinta Rich, Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner Blacktown Family Relationship Centre

“ Relationships are important as they give us an opportunity to look in the mirror of how others might love and perceive us.” 68

Supporting NSW With centres and outreach locations throughout metro, regional and rural NSW, we have supported people in their relationships through counselling, mediation, casework and group programs. We assisted many others via broader community, school-based, online and telephone support.

457

TEAM MEMBERS

LOCATIONS

CENTRAL OFFICE

PROGRAMS OFFERED

36,375

PEOPLE ASSISTED

Locations:

•

MACQUARIE PARK

•

WEST RYDE

•

SYDNEY CITY

•

BLACKTOWN

•

PENRITH

•

MOSS VALE

•

PARRAMATTA

•

LALOR PARK

•

WOLLONGONG

•

GOSFORD

•

NEWCASTLE (BROADMEADOW)

•

FORBES

•

BERKELEY VALE

•

ORANGE

•

HARRIS PARK

•

RAYMOND TERRACE

•

BATHURST

•

CESSNOCK

•

NORTHERN BEACHES (DEE WHY)

•

KATOOMBA

Financials In this financial year, Relationships Australia NSW achieved a net surplus of $3,724,986. We received funding of $41.7M from various government sources including the Department of Social Services, Attorney-General’s Department, NSW Department of Communities and Justice, Primary Health Networks and Legal Aid NSW. Additional Financial Report details are available on our website.

REVENUE

EXPENDITURE

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GRANTS

STAFF

STATE GOVERNMENT GRANTS

PROPERTY

OTHER GOVERNMENT GRANTS

DEPRECIATION

JOBKEEPER

BROKERAGE

FEES

ADMIN, IT & PROMOTION

EDUCATION REVENUE

NATIONAL LEVY AFFILIATION

OTHER INCOME

OTHER

Governance Relationships Australia NSW is a company limited by guarantee, incorporated in Australia and governed by a Board of Directors. We are grateful to our Board for their guidance and support this year. Directors who served during the year include: • ANDREA CHRISTIE-DAVID

• CAMERON O’REILLY

• C HAIR: CHRIS BERTINSHAW

•D R JENNIFER ALEXANDER (LEFT SEP 2020) •K ATIE MOORE (JOINED JUN 2021)

•D EPUTY CHAIR: STEVE RUST •K ATHRYN GREINER AO

•D R STEPHEN HOLLINGS

•P ETER RICKETTS (LEFT JUN 2021)

We made it through this challenging year.

Together.

They connect us to ourselves, and each other, and to the world we all shape and share.

REL

Quality relationships are the fabric of full and meaningful lives, resonant partnerships, connected families, vibrant cultures, thriving organisations and healthy societies.

AT I O N S H I P

For judgement free support, contact us today. relationshipsnsw.org.au

1300 364 277