Family Referral Services (FRS)
What are Family Referral Services?
Family Referral Services (FRS) are a key initiative under the whole of Government Keep Them Safe Action Plan. These new services are implemented by NSW Health.
Family Referral Services assist children and young people who do not meet the statutory threshold for child protection intervention but would benefit from accessing support to address current problems and prevent escalation. FRS provide information and link vulnerable children young people and their families to a range of support services in their local areas.
FRS were piloted over 12 months from May 2010 to April 2011 with two types of service delivery model being trialled and evaluated: a telephone only service and an “augmented” face to face service with capacity to coordinate active referrals and use of brokerage funding to improve access to support.
The three services piloted are now continuing their operations beyond the pilot phase. Two additional new services are being implemented as of April 2011 and are expected to start operations on 6th June 2011.
Service delivery is guided by FRS Best Practice Standards which are being trialled until June 2012 and reviewed on a regular basis.
Formal protocols defining communication and referral processes have been developed and entered into by FRS and the Child Wellbeing Units operated by the NSW Police, the Departments of Health, of Education and Training, and of Human Justice.
A set of guidelines have been developed with FRS input to guide the referrals from Mandatory Reporters who do not access Child Wellbeing Units to FRS.
Where are Family Referral Services located, and what are their catchment areas?
Western FRS (formerly Dubbo FRS) – an Augmented FRS with an Aboriginal focus - 1300 339 016
Western FRS (operated by Uniting Care Burnside) covers 19 local government areas:
Dubbo, Wellington, Walgett, Narromine, Coonamble, Parkes, Bogan (Nyngan), Gilgandra, Warrumbungle Shire, Brewarrina, Bourke, Cowra, Forbes, Lachlan (Condobolin), Warren, Orange, Cobar, Mid Western Council (Mudgee), Blayney.
The augmented service is provided from a Drop-in Centre in Dubbo with the service supplemented by home visiting and an outreach service to remote and rural areas.
http://www.burnside.org.au/content/Dubbo%20Family%20Referral%20Service.pdf
Western FRS operates from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday.
Hunter Central Coast FRS (formerly Newcastle FRS) - Augmented FRS - 1300 006 480
Hunter Central Coast FRS (operated by The Benevolent Society) covers the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie and Hunter region which includes the following 12 local government areas:
Upper Hunter Shire, Muswellbrook, Singleton, Cessnock, Maitland, Gloucester, Dungog, Port Stephens, Lake Macquarie, Wyong, Newcastle, Gosford.
An augmented service with intake and outreach is provided from 4 sites:
- Carrington (servicing Newcastle, Northern Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens)
- Muswellbrook (servicing the Upper Hunter region)
- Watanobbi (servicing the Southern Lake Macquarie and the Central Coast region)
- Rutherford (servicing the Lower Hunter region)
http://www.bensoc.org.au/director/whatwedo/familyreferralservicenewcastleregion.cfm
Hunter Central Coast FRS operates from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday.
Mt Druitt FRS - Telephone FRS - 1300 403 373
Mt Druitt FRS (operated by Relationships Australia) covers the following suburbs/localities within the Blacktown LGA:
Mt Druitt, Whalan, Tregear, Lethbridge Park, Emerton, Blackett, Dharruk, Hebersham, Bidwill, Shalvey, Willmot, Hassall Grove, Minchinbury, Oakhurst, Plumpton, Glendenning and Rooty Hill.
Mt Druitt FRS operates from 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday.
Illawarra FRS - Augmented service – 1800 663 863
Illawarra FRS (operated by Barnardos Australia) covers the LGAs of Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Shoalhaven and Wingecarribee.
An augmented service with intake and outreach is provided from 3 sites:
- Warrawong (with outreach to Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama)
- Bowral (with outreach to Wingecarribee), and
- Nowra (with outreach to Shoalhaven)
Illawarra FRS operates from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday.
New England North West FRS - Augmented service with an Aboriginal focus – 1800 597 589
New England North West (NENW) FRS (operated by Pathfinders) covers the following LGAs:
Tamorth, Walcha, Gunnedah, Tenterfield, Glen Innes, Guyra, Armidale, Dumaresq, Uralla, Inverell, Gwydir, Moree Plains, Narrabri and the communities of Tingha and Bundarra.
An augmented service with intake and outreach is provided from 3 sites:
- Tamworth with outreach to Gunnedah
- Inverell with outreach to Tenterfield, Glen Innes and the communities of Tingha and Bundarra
- Moree with outreach to Moree Plains, Gwydir and Narrabri
NENW FRS operates from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday.
Referrals to and from FRS
Referrals to the FRS can be made by:
- staff from Government agencies (including mandatory reporters following advice from Child Wellbeing Units)
- the non government and private sector
- self referrals from children, young people and their families.
FRS may refer clients on, to services provided by non government organisations and by government agencies such as Health, Juvenile Justice, Housing, Ageing Disability and Home Care, Education and Communities.
FRS clients may be referred to services such as case management, home visiting, intensive family support, quality child care, housing, parenting education, supported play-group, drug and alcohol / mental health services, youth support services and respite care.
FRS contact numbers and hours of operation
Western FRS (formerly Dubbo FRS)
- All callers: 1300 339 016
Hunter Central Coast FRS (formerly Newcastle FRS)
- All callers: 1300 006 480
- familyreferral@bensoc.org.au
Mt Druitt FRS
- All callers: 1300 403 373
Illawarra FRS
- All callers: 1800 663 863
New England North West FRS
- All callers: 1800 597 589
- nenwfrs@pathfinders-aus.org
What do I do until a FRS has been established in my area?
Staff should continue to use current referral pathways and provide access to services to children, young people and families. If unsure of what services are available, databases such as the Human Services Network (HSNET) ServiceLink www.hsnet.nsw.gov.au, may be used for details of services available within the local community.