Relationship Education & Counselling
If you’re looking to make your relationship even better, you may find some of the following resources helpful.
Firstly, head to Family Relationships Online to find a whole wealth of knowledge on the subject.
A few places that offer relationship and family support are listed below.
Family Life Limited
Family Life offers specialist family services that work with vulnerable children, families and communities. They offer counselling services for couples, separation services, family violence services, and training and development. They also offer a new initiative called Catch Up 4 Women, which seeks to identify better strategies for raising awareness and education for women regarding what they need to know and be prepared for, in order to age well and in control of their own circumstances. Family Life is a charity foundation, registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. They offer Family and Relationships Services, which is a government-funded program available to most couples. This includes four to six 50-minute counselling sessions, which are available 9-5pm Monday-Friday.
Fees are charged based on the couples’ capacity to pay; you let them know your situation and they’ll help you to find an arrangement that works. The couple needs to contact the organisation to see if they are eligible for this service.
Located: Sandringham, Frankston
Contact: (03) 8599 5433 or email info@familylife.com.au
Relationship Matters
A not-for-profit organisation that aims to promote healthy, respectful and fulfilling relationships within the Victorian community. Services are offered to individuals, couples, and families regardless of their gender, religion, race, cultural heritage, sexual orientation or economic circumstance. Services include individual counselling, relationship counselling, family therapy, relationship education programs, family dispute resolution and mediation, family violence prevention programs, and adoption family support service.
As Relationship Matters is a not-for-profit community organisation, it is partially funded by the Federal Government. Fees are based on how much a person or their family earns per year (gross household income); hence, the counselling fee will be based on the person’s annual household income and the type of counselling they have accessed, whether it is couple, individual or child counselling. The cost of counselling will be discussed when an individual makes their first appointment.
Located: All over Victoria, including Melbourne CBD and Caulfield South
Contact: 1300 543 396 or email info@relationshipmatters.com.au
Better Place Australia
A provider of relationship services in Victoria (the state’s third largest recipient of federal government funding under the Families and Communities program), with a focus on helping people “take back control over their lives” by helping people build better relationships. Services offered include family dispute resolution and mediation, parenting plans and programs, property and financial matters mediation and settlement, child counselling, counselling for individuals, couples and families, financial counselling and capability, family mental health support services, and general advice and referrals for families and separating couples.
Better Places Australia provides all different types of counselling, including for individuals, couples and families, and is usually for 8 sessions. As a not-for-profit organisation, the cost of some services is partially funded by the Government, and the balance is covered by minimal fees dependent on personal circumstances. There is also a program called Prepare/Enrich, which is a research-based program to help couples at any life-stage work to strengthen their relationships, enrich communication and learn positive styles of conflict resolution. This program is also available for parents.
Located: All over Victoria, including Chadstone and Cheltenham.
Contact: 1800 639 523
Drummond Street Services
One of the longest serving welfare organisations in Victoria. A not-for-profit community service organisation that aims to support the needs of its diverse community through programs for people and families, working with small and emerging populations with specific needs, acknowledging families who have different structures and complexities, and working across the life cycle.
Fees vary across different services but are based on the principle of the client’s capacity to pay. They offer free community education seminars, family mental health support services at no cost, and family and relationship services with fees based on a capacity to pay. If a client’s only source of income is a Centrelink benefit, the sessions will be free. If the client receives an income from employment, then the fee is calculated based on the annual gross income.
Flexible and low price points.
Located: Carlton, Coburg and Wyndham
Contact: 03 9663 6733 or email enquiries@ds.org.au