The Family Inclusion Network of Australia is made up of:
QLD
FIN Townsville – located in North Queensland. FIN Townsville focuses on individual advocacy, and is a grass – roots organisation run by parents and professionals. Each member of FIN Townsville is a volunteer. FIN Townsville also engages in systems advocacy where possible.
Website: fin-qldtsv.org.au
NSW
Family Inclusion Strategies in the Hunter (FISH) - exists on Awabakal and Worimi country and acknowledges Elders past and present. FISH was established in 2014 when a group of parents and child protection workers realised that the child protection system was damaging children’s relationships with families and that children were being harmed by this. FISH has developed a range of services and activities to promote family inclusion. Our main way of working is peer parent and family advocacy and support – where parents with experience of the system help other parents to navigate the child protection system and succeed. Just like other FIN members, we provide peer advocacy and support to change the system, to educate workers and the broader community and provide workshops and individual support with parents. FISH has some funding to support our work with parents and families and charges fees for services when we are working with agencies and organisations.
Website: finclusionh.org
FIN SEQ located in Brisbane. Family Inclusion Network, Southeast Queensland (FIN) is a network of parents and their allies working to improve the child protection and family support system. FIN brings together parents with lived (and living) experience, with government and non-government agencies, to work collaboratively on policies and issues that affect families experiencing the child protection system.
The Family Inclusion Network is an activity of Micah Projects.
Website: finseq.org.au
VIC
FIN Victoria - located in Melbourne. FIN Vic is a non-profit association run by parents and their supporters.
FINV works to ensure families have access to information, support and advocacy to participate in the child protection process in an empowered way and to contribute to better child protection outcomes.
Website: finvic.org.au
SA
The Reily Foundation Incorporated - The Reily Foundation Incorporated is an independent, not-for-profit organisation offering free education and advocacy support to parents navigating the Child Protection System in South Australia.
They are committed to working towards ongoing connection and reunification of families and building parenting capacity by offering practical, solution-focused support, and working with parents to identify and overcome barriers that hinder their ability to care for their children.
Website: thereily.foundation
WA
Fin WA – provides individual advocacy and support to parents and families intersecting the child protection system; or where a family is at risk of losing their children into the care system. In country and remote areas individual advocacy is limited to over the phone/conference calls.
Systemic advocacy includes representation and participation on state-wide advisory and working bodies across all levels of government and the non-government sector. Training is delivered across the child protection system to promote an inclusive and fair system that is respectful of parents with children in the care system – training is delivered to NGOs, foster care agencies, universities and government departments.
Fin WA has peer workers (called Family Partners) who work alongside advocates to provide support to parents in a variety of ways. This includes support at court, helping to set up a new home, encouragement and support with contact, running group activities such as ‘pamper days’.
Fin WA was the first fully funded service established in 2008.
Website: finwa.org.au