Families In Difficulty 

(Article published in Australian  Catholics  2009)

Centacare is a Catholic family organisation that serves the Australian community by providing programs and services to help families and individuals develop strong and healthy relationships.  The Family Relationship Services Program (FRSP) is one of the services provided by Centacare supporting families experiencing difficulties.

The Family Relationship Centres across Australia reach out to individuals and families with parenting, conflict and communication issues, as well as supporting separating couples by providing Family Dispute Resolution services, mediation and education to the wider community.

Psychologist and mediator at the Townsville Family Relationship Centre, Manuela Valastro, says that after two-and-a-half years working at the centre not only as a mediator but also a child consultant, her job remains both challenging and rewarding.

'You deal with high conflict situations that can often involve anger, grief and resentment, but it also helps people overcome emotions and helps resolve their issues', she says.

Deputy Director of Centacare Townsville Paula La Rosa has been working with Centacare for the past nine-and-a-half years and says the Family Relationship Centre is providing a different approach to setting disputes in families.

'The centre allows separated parents the chance to avoid conflict and the court system where parents are so often forced to make a textbook decision', she says.  'This way, they make decisions through mediation and they can solely focus on their children.  We never lose focus on what is a good decision for children.'