Embedding research in practice: Research within Family Relationship Centres in Australia

• Robyn Parker, Catherine Caruana
• Australian Family Relationships Clearinghouse

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13 July 2009Reforms to the family law system in Australia in 2006 have added legislative impetus to the view that for most separating parents, courts are not the best place to settle disputes over children following family breakdown. Complementing the reforms is a national network of Family Relationship Centres (FRCs) established to resource families in general, and parents in particular, through difficult life transitions such as separation.

The action research undertaken by FRCs fosters the development of evidence-informed practice and quality control. This paper surveys a sample of research projects undertaken by FRCs established in funding rounds 1 and 2, and provides some insight into the issues of greatest concern to centres in the first few years of operation, the usefulness of reflective practice in service development, and the experience of the research process where external research partners are involved.