Fams' 40th Anniversary

40 YEARS → OF \"Very great change starts from very small conversations, held among people who care.\" MARGARET J. WHEATLEY

TO CELEBRATE OUR 40-YEAR ANNIVERSARY, 40 YEARS OF FAMS WE SPOKE WITH FIVE PEOPLE ABOUT THE PRINCIPLES AT THE HEART OF FAMS AND THE IMPACT OUR PEAK BODY HAS MADE OVER FOUR DECADES. OUR INTERVIEW SUBJECTS INCLUDED: KERRY THOMAS LOUISA MCKAY MARION GLEDHILL MARNEL LAGARDE TERESA FINDLAY-BARNES

\"IMAGINE A LIFE WITHOUT FAMS…\" A conversation with Kerry Thomas, Former Fams District Representative 40 YEARS OF FAMS Kerry Thomas describes herself as “an interested \"It’s an ongoing battle and will be for the next 100 onlooker” of Fams. years. We know political cycles are every four years She retired from her position of CEO of Gateway and it may not get better. Fams has always held Family Services two years ago. Prior to that she government to account. It’s a hard road which hasn’t was a Fams District Representative in the Nepean always been travelled by the other peaks. Fams is Blue Mountains area for close to 10 years. about bringing service providers together and Kerry says Fams helped Gateway (then Lower keeping connected, and their work is vital. As funding Mountains Family Support) push their case for has expanded to different streams, services haven’t secure funding from government. always realised the importance of being a member “Our service was often under threat due to not organisation. But they need to. having enough money to do what we wanted to do. \"Imagine a life without Fams, with no one to advocate Fams were incredibly supportive of our for family services or children in need, or early organisation.” intervention services before child protection,” she Kerry fondly recalls attending Fams conferences. says. “I went to the first conference and wondered what “The lens of other peaks is not on children and I’d got myself into, seeing this incredible families in the way Fams’ lens is. Everything they do movement of women (since family work was keeps the focus on family and community well-being female-dominated at the time). and early intervention.” “Fams has been integral to developing me as a Kerry has a word of advice for the sector. person and a professional, having come from a “Stay connected and value your peak organisation,” background in high school English teaching and she says. entering this whole new world. “Understand they are incredibly under-resourced and “Certainly the support I received from Fams early do a mountain of work that makes your service on gave me the courage to speak up and keep relevant today and in the future. They are the voice pushing forward. It helped me develop Gateway and champion of children and young people, families and think about ways we could grow. Being part of and communities in a way that no other peak is. Stay that big group was really crucial for me and our strong and stay connected. Fams’ commitment organisation.” matches your commitment to children.” Another memory Kerry has is of the laughter workshops run by Shane and Patricia Yates. Kerry Thomas, Retired Chief Executive Officer, “All the skits were based on family work – and I do Gateway Family Services (Former Fams District remember the year we all got tiaras and magic Representative, Nepean Blue Mountains) wands as part of the activities. These were great times of bringing people together – as were the regional reps meetings.” Kerry comments that Fams has been instrumental in collecting information and advocating for family services, modelling best practices for the sector. She says Sue Richards was strong in communicating with DCJ, and wrote an impressive paper about early intervention using the phrase “For want of a nail a kingdom is lost.” “It’s great to see Julie [Hourigan Ruse] championing early intervention too.” Fams does not let DCJ off the hook in terms of focusing on early intervention. They fight to ensure they aren’t putting all their resources into child protection.

40 YEARS OF FAMS TRANSFORMING CULTURE TAKES TIME Louisa McKay worked across such roles as \"We were leading in this space and also setting Capacity Building Consultant and General an example to others in terms of keeping that Manager in her eight years with Fams, until she accountability. left six years ago to become Executive Leader \"When you talk about impact rather than at The Y NSW. busyness, it’s a slow build. Changing culture At Fams, she provided training about best takes time. And I think Fams should be proud of practice and case management. the work that's been done in that space. “I loved being part of Fams. I got so many “Fams has built trust with so many family learning and networking opportunities during support services across NSW, advocating for that time,” Louisa says. them and providing support.” “It was a privilege to be able to work in a peak Louisa wishes Fams the very best on its 40th and support and represent the sector, as well as anniversary. children and young people.” “Congratulations to Fams. The work you do “Having a seat at the table with Ministers and supporting children and families in the sector is representing the sector was a privilege,” Louisa crucial, so be proud and keep going. The sector says. \"We were ahead of the game in terms of – children and families and young people – need capacity building in outcomes measurement. you.” → Top right: Louisa McKay, Executive Leader, Children, Youth and Community, The Y NSW (Former Fams General Manager)

FORMER EO AND OAM CHEERS FAMS ON A conversation with Marion Gledhill, former Executive Officer, Family Support Services Association of NSW 40 YEARS OF FAMS Marion Gledhill was with Fams at the very values and principles about working with beginning. In fact, she was its first official families – not for families. employee. She even received an Order of Australia Medal in Back then, Fams was named Family Support 2018 for her service to social welfare. Services Association of NSW (FSSA). “The term ‘empowerment’ was fairly new in “When we first began in 1982, we met as a policy those days, and we incorporated it into the group,” Marion recalls. advocacy work we did,” she says. “We were managers of various family support Marion recalls many meetings with government services and met together as people who were Ministers and their offsiders. concerned about funding. Before anyone was She also has memories of Paul Bullen’s work employed, we gathered at conferences to with data collection. discuss how to access funding to do the family “Data became a tool for our advocacy,” she says. work that was needed.” “When we had the facts and figures we could Marion recalls one particular conference. quote them on our materials and resources, \"A Department officer who sought data from us including information on the proportion of made the point that a paid employee would families involved in child protection services.” ensure data was provided.\" Marion says Fams should be proud of bringing Thus, the position of Policy Officer was born – like-minded services together and providing an and Marion filled the role. opportunity to share and encourage each other. “My duties as Policy Officer were to organise in- In terms of advice for the future, Marion says to service training for family support workers and be careful to maintain values and principles coordinators, and provide appropriate regarding how the work is done, and stay open resources for the Family Support Program to learning from other states and countries. throughout NSW,” she explains. “Be brave and courageous. Don’t hide your light. “This included the development of a newsletter Get in front of the media and talk to politicians which helped us liase with family support that count. Let them know the good work services throughout NSW, as well as services are doing. Fams are here to represent government and non-government bodies. I also its many member organisations who support conducted research and developed policies on families. The need for funding hasn’t changed. matters relating to family support services.” Good staff who are adequately paid are During her 10 years in the job, Marion’s title essential. changed from Policy Officer to Executive “Good on you all. Keep up the good work and tell Officer – and the team grew in number. everyone what you do.” “Teamwork was a critical to us operating well,” she says. Marion Gledhill, Retired Deacon, Uniting Church of There was a team of people involved from 1982 Australia (Former Executive Officer, Family onwards in the policy group. They formed a Support Services Association of NSW) board for the association, which included NSW program managers. “They were great people who always worked together very well,” Marion says. Louise Maroney was the Training Officer for over 10 years, taking responsibility for courses and conferences. Marion left Fams to become a Uniting Church of Australia deacon, taking with her a number of

FUN AND LAUGHTER AT FAMS CONFERENCES Marnel LaGarde is a passionate advocate for Accountability (RBA) workshops. Her team stronger communities, particularly in Western followed the guidelines closely and found it Sydney. helpful when entering data into Program Logic. She began her career as a social worker at “Because of the RBA evaluations, we could Parramatta/Holroyd Family Support Service and establish the needs of the community, such as rose through the ranks to become CEO. parenting groups, and for what age group the She was on the Fams Board for over 25 years in community wanted them. Supported Playgroup total, and also worked as a District was very popular because there was always a Representative. family support worker working with the child Her time with Fams goes back to 9 September care worker, who could follow up on any issues 1985, when it was known as Family Support if needed. This came strongly out of the RBA Services Association (FSSA). report: the high number of people attending Marnel recalls her first conference – held a these groups.” month into her new role. It was on a beach in Many Triple P parenting groups partnered with Toukley NSW, which was unlike anything she’d other community organisations to cater for the experienced in her home province of Holland. needs of communities in different areas of “That was fun, and I thought ‘if this happens Parramatta and Holroyd. every year I like my job already!’” she laughs. Marnel has a message for the Fams team as we “A highlight was the performances at night- celebrate 40 years of service: time. They were so much fun. It was always a “Keep up your good work. You have done a very positive experience with Fams.” brilliant job. Keep the Zoom meetings going as She says Fams should be proud of its policy they have been popular and attended by a large writing over the years. number of organisations. Keep the door open to “This is something organisations wanted but the Department and make sure it’s a two-way didn’t have time for. Their advocacy work is street. Keep the sector informed, as you have amazing. They never give up.” done. Congratulations on the great job you’ve Marnel valued the Mark Freeman Results Based done over 40 years.” → Top right: Marnel LaGarde, Retired Manager, Parramatta Holroyd Family Support (Former Fams Board Member and District Representative, Western Sydney)

45 YEARS OF FAMILY ADVOCACY A conversation with Teresa Findlay-Barnes (Former Policy Consultant, NSW Family Services) 40 YEARS OF FAMS When Teresa Findlay-Barnes founded the protection. Wyong Shire Family Support Service 45 years \"As we all eventually came into DoCS/ state ago, it took her a while to find her feet. funding, things changed. The need to be clear “When we started, we thought ‘what on earth are about what we were doing was then articulated we supposed to be doing?’” she says. through Fams, while acknowledging the The service was auspiced the Home Care importance of local solutions for local issues of Service at the time. concern. Our shared principles and values didn’t “There was confusion about the funding source, mean we all delivered cookie cutter services principles or expectations of that funding, and across the state.” the makeup of management committees,” A formal committee was formed whereby Teresa recalls. members could learn about each other and The Home Care Service was practical and recognise the needs in the community that focused on skill-sharing, parenting, and weren’t being met. empowerment of women through information “We discovered we’d become an arm of the and advocacy. The Royal Commission into Department,” Teresa says. Human Relationships in the 1970s addressed the “It suited some members, but others wanted to family, social, educational, legal and sexual keep more of a gap. When you’re struggling for aspects of male and female relationships. identity as we all were, we did whatever we “The findings of the Commission meant [family] could to get that identity. services had a bigger brief about empowerment “We were told we needed to be more coherent of people, especially women. And of course, about what we were doing, so we sought to DoCS was focused on the funding of more child identify the families we were working with and Teresa Findlay-Barnes (Former Policy Consultant, NSW Family Services)

45 YEARS OF FAMILY ADVOCACY 40 YEARS OF FAMS (cont'd) For a long time, Teresa was Chairperson of Fams, as well as on the Board for 20 years. She their specific needs. remains a strong supporter to this day. “We wrote set a set of principles and values that “I’ve been impressed with the things Fams has underpinned the work and reflected what was been doing during COVID, finding new ways of going on in child protection. There was a working,” she says. growing awareness of domestic and family Teresa offers some words of advice for the violence, and we knew DoCS couldn’t address Fams team. every family issue on their own. That’s where we “Keep the flag flying at the highest level you can came in. The role of Fams back then was to and do that with the support of the Board to articulate who we were and what we wanted to ensure Fams’ model of support is valued,” achieve. Our policies, principles and values were Teresa says. our guiding light, helping us to present a “A lot of thought went into developing Fams’ coordinated view to government and the values and principles, so make sure they’re funding bodies.” maintained. Fams should be proud of the fact Teresa says it was easier to access politicians in they have survived and are still respected. The those days and remembers a number of formal organisation has contributed to the ongoing and informal meetings which gave the team the development of good practice in communities. chance to bring up issues. The revision of the national framework around “We needed to represent the needs of the child protection is vital work. families we were seeing as much as the needs “Stay strong. Stay true to your principles. Just of our services. Localised knowledge was keep doing what you do well. valued and used.” “Believe in what you do. Believe in your work. Teresa thinks it’s “absolutely marvellous” that And believe in the families you work with that Fams is still operating. they can make enormous changes in the lives of “It’s amazing. So many things come and go, yet their children. Honour and respect the people to retain that strength and network is you work with. Work alongside them and something Julie [Hourigan Ruse] needs to be empower them.” congratulated on.” Teresa says she made several friends who had a common vision of what they were trying to do.

THANKS FOR CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF FAMS 1981 - 2021