Automatic language translation
Our website uses an automatic service to translate our content into different languages. These translations should be used as a guide only. See our Accessibility page for further information.
The Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) understands that everyone’s family situation is different. Family group conferencing helps to build on people’s strengths and support families to overcome challenges.
From time-to-time, families have difficulties caring for their children and this can be for many different reasons. Family group conferencing is a way to bring family members together in a positive way with an impartial facilitator to make a plan for their child or young person. Families have found family group conferencing to be a really helpful way to work out a plan that everyone has participated in and agrees to.
A DCJ caseworker will discuss with you the reasons why your family may benefit from being part of a family group conference. If you agree, the caseworker will complete a referral and you’ll be contacted by a family group conference facilitator. The facilitator will organise the family group conference and make sure everyone who is at the conference is able to speak and be heard.
The facilitators aren’t involved in making any decisions about your children or family. They're there to support your family to develop a plan that has the wellbeing of your child or young person in mind. Everything that’s said in the family group conference is confidential. This means no one is allowed to talk to anyone else that wasn’t at the family group conference about what was said.
Before the family group conference is held, the facilitator will spend time with you and ask who you want to attend. This could include members of your family, extended family and kin, a support person or a community elder. You may also want to invite agencies that have been working with you.
Children and young people may attend the family group conference. This will depend on their age, maturity and what needs to be discussed. They can also write down their thoughts and someone else attending the conference can read this out for them.
The facilitator will ask the family when they would like a review meeting. This is an opportunity for the caseworker, your family and other agencies working with your family to meet and talk about progress of the plan.
The information on this page is from this printable brochure Family group conferencing: Information for parents and carers (PDF, 2.2 MB). It's also available in 6 other languages:
A version of this brochure has been created for children and young people (PDF, 1.8 MB) and is also available in 6 other languages:
18 Jun 2024