Australian Institute of Family Studies
Overview
The Australian Institute of Family Studies (the Institute) is an Australian Government statutory agency in the portfolio of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. It was established in February 1980 under the Australian Family Law Act 1975. The Director of the Institute is Professor Alan Hayes.
The role of the Institute is to conduct research and communicate findings to policy makers, service providers and the broader community about factors that affect family wellbeing.
Strategic plan
The Strategic Plan 2006-2008 outlines the Institute’s strategic direction and strategies to achieve our objectives. Development of a Strategic Plan for 2009-11 is currently under way in consultation with key stakeholders.
Research program
As the Government’s principal source of specialist research expertise on families, the Institute undertakes high-quality research and analysis about factors affecting family wellbeing. Research is grouped into four themes:
- Theme 1. Family relationships
- Theme 2. Children, youth and patterns of care
- Theme 3: Families and work
- Theme 4. Families and community life
The Research Plan 2006-2008: Families through life: Diversity, change and context details the Institute’s current research program.
Development of the Research Plan for 2009-11 is being undertaken in consultation with a wide range of government departments at all levels, universities, peak bodies and community sector organisations.
Major research projects
The Research Program includes six major projects that the Institute manages under contract for the Australian Government, as follows:
- Growing Up in Australia: the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC)
- Evaluation of the Family Law Reforms
- National Evaluation of the Stronger Families and Communities Strategy (SFCS)
- National Child Protection Clearinghouse (NCPC)
- Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault (ACSSA)
- Australian Family Relationships Clearinghouse (AFRC)
Communicating research
The Institute communicates the findings of its research and analysis to a range of stakeholders including policy makers, service providers and the broader community.
- Publications – publications include the research journal, Family Matters, research papers, issues papers and newsletters.
- Website – our website reports on Institute programs and activities, provides access to our publications, disseminates information from our databases and resource collections, and promotes the development of networks with individuals and organisations concerned with family research and policy.
- Seminar Series – the Institute’s seminar series presents eminent speakers focussing on contemporary issues in national and international family research.
- Information services – the Institute plays an important educational role through its research staff and library which contains a substantial, up-to-date collection of international and Australian research on family wellbeing in Australia.
- Promising Practice Profiles – based on the latest research the Institute identifies and promulgates promising practice in the areas of early childhood, community development and early intervention, sexual assault and the provision of services to families.