Media Centre

Who is Stepfamilies Australia?

Stepfamilies Australia is a partnership between the Stepfamily Associations of Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania, formed in July 2007, and formally incorporated in 2008.

Stepfamilies Australia works for social inclusion of stepfamilies by
  • Developing better community recognition, understanding and acceptance of stepfamilies
  • Strengthening stepfamilies to reduce the higher rates of stepfamily breakdown and youth homelessness
  • Working with the service delivery sector and government to build capacity to strengthen stepfamilies
Stepfamilies Australia works as a catalyst, adding value to the family relationships sector. The innovative work of its members takes a lead to break through myths and sends a message to the community that stepfamilies are complex and hard work, but also achievable, with support.
Stepfamilies Australia is uniquely positioned to respond to unmet stepfamily need. Its expertise is increasingly recognised by community organisations and government. Stepfamilies are generally viewed as hard to engage but in our experience they respond well when they
  • can access services targeted to their unique needs
  • have confidence the practitioner will understand their issues and have skills to respond.
How Stepfamilies Australia differs from other community organisations
Stepfamilies Australia through its partner organisations
  • specialises in supporting stepfamilies adjusting to enormous
  • complexity and massive ongoing changes
  • has a catalyst role in training other community organisations
  • to become ’stepfamily inclusive’ through community partnerships
  • provides leadership in developing resources for stepfamilies
  • unique needs
  • collaborates extensively across Australia with peak bodies and
  • core networks
  • innovates stepfamily services and
  • promotes stepfamily research and dissemination
Track Record
Stepfamilies Australia has an 11 year funded history
  • as  an accredited, low cost, reliable provider of quality family
  • relationship services and practitioner training, through
  • Stepfamily Association of Victoria.
  • through Stepfamily Association of South Australia of providing
  • extensive web-based information and support services to
  • stepfamilies throughout Australia.
  • Stepfamilies Australia member organisations have developed a
  • range of books, Tip Sheets, face to face support groups and
  • online resources for service users.
Stepfamilies Australia is thus uniquely positioned to respond to
unmet stepfamily need. Its expertise is increasingly recognised
by community organisations and government. Stepfamilies are
generally viewed as hard to engage but in our experience they
respond well when they
  • can access services targeted to their unique needs
  • have confidence the practitioner will understand their issues
  • and skills to respond.
Generic family services see Stepfamilies Australia practitioners
as experts in resourcing stepfamilies and refer stepfamilies for
information, education, support and counselling. Few targeted
services are available from generic family services.
Stepfamilies Australia adds value to generalist family services by
sharing specialist knowledge and strategies – through
training, consultations, publications and conference
presentations.