The Dubbo Family Referral Service (FRS), which also incorporates parts of the western region, was one of three pilot programs established in New South Wales as part of the State Government’s ‘Keep Them Safe’ child protection reforms following the Wood Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW.

As well as the Dubbo service, Family Referral Services have also been piloted in Newcastle by The Benevolent Society and in Mount Druitt by Relationships Australia, NSW.

UnitingCare Burnside chief executive officer Jane Woodruff said the service quickly and effectively links children, young people and families with the appropriate community services to address their specific support needs.

“This may mean putting them in contact with a service that provides training in parenting skills, or drug and alcohol counselling or simply help them to work out their finances,” Ms Woodruff said.

“The main aim is to ensure that children are kept safe and families receive the services they need before things escalate and Community Services has to step in.”

In keeping with the primary but not exclusive focus of the Dubbo FRS to support Aboriginal children, young people and families, two thirds of the staff members at the Dubbo FRS are Aboriginal. The Dubbo FRS connects families with relevant support services and keeps in touch with families to see how they are going.

Manager of the Dubbo FRS Angie Weir said, “One of the challenges this pilot faces is that services are limited in many of the small and remote communities in this region and people have to travel long distances to access services.

“This also means that the Dubbo FRS is linking families to support services in communities that are located four or five hours away”.

The Dubbo FRS is an augmented referral service, which provides phone information and referrals, as well as a face-to-face service from a drop-in centre with an outreach service covering Blayney, Cobar, Gilgandra, Walgett, Bogan, Cabonne, Lachlan, Warren, Bourke, Coonamble, Narromine, Warrumbungle, Brewarrina, Dubbo, Orange, Wellington, Cobar, Forbes and Parkes.

Dubbo FRS operates from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday. Call 1300 339 016 for the cost of a local call.