A N N UA L R E P O R T 2016 - 2017
Kicking goals, thanks to you
A Children’s Contact Service centre provides a safe and relaxed family atmosphere in which children from separated families
can connect with both parents. When there has been a long period of separation, the centre provides the space and the
expertise to assist the children and adults to get to know each other again. The centre also assists grandparents, and others
caught in the dispute between the parents, to continue or re-establish relationships that are important to the children.
Trained workers are on-hand to support a child’s comfort should a difficult or tense situation arise.
Suzanne’s case study
“Sometimes we identify that clients would benefit enormously from a collaborative approach, as was the case
with a family we started seeing this year. The father had a bit of a rocky introduction to our service; there was an
apprehended violence order (AVO) in place that didn’t allow the mediation process to proceed. Therefore, in order
for mediation to take place, he needed to get the AVO varied – but until he did so, he would not be able to see
his young son. This caused the father to become depressed, and it also concerned the mother as the child missed
his dad and she wanted them to be able to have contact. The child’s safety was never an issue, as the mother
stated from the very beginning that the father would never harm the child. Ultimately the AVO was varied, as both
parents wanted to proceed with mediation.
Children’s Contact Service workers Tanya and Nikki were there for initial contact, which was fully supervised, then
made themselves available for changeover visits. And with an interim agreement reached, Indigenous Advisor
Mary Ann and I delivered support and mediation.
In the near future, the parents will be coming in for a review, with the intention of allowing the child to stay
overnight at his father’s place. In the meantime, the father is now allowed to watch his son play soccer every
Saturday. This is just one experience we’ve been part of that has been incredibly rewarding for everyone involved.”
“The father
is now
allowed to
watch his
son play
soccer
every
Saturday”
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