Family Group Conferencing brings families and professionals together to talk about concerns for children and young people, identify available supports, and decide on the best way forward. 
 
Participation by a family in a Family Group Conferencing is voluntary. The process is confidential and facilitated by an impartial facilitator. 

How does Family Group Conferencing work?

The Family Group Conferencing model consists of five stages:
1. Referral
2. Preparation
3. The conference
4. Plan implementation
5. Review the plan

The conference (stage 3) consists of three significant components: 
1. Information sharing. Everyone introduces themselves and talks about the family’s strengths, needs and concerns for the child or young person and their family.
2. Family time. Private time for family only to discuss and develop a plan about the concerns that were raised.
3. Agreeing to the plan. The family plan needs to be clear and realistic, and identify who will do the tasks, when they need to be done by and who will monitor them.

Who can attend a conference?

Before a conference is held, the facilitator will spend time with parents to decide who will attend. This may include the child or young person, extended family, kin or community members. It may also include professionals who can provide information or cultural and other support to assist the family in developing a family plan that addresses the concerns for the child or young person. 

If you are invited to participate in a conference, you will be contacted during the preparation stage by the facilitator and/or caseworker for the child or young person to discuss your participation. You will be given information about the purpose of the conference and informed of the concerns and issues to be discussed.
 

  • Western
  • Hunter
  • Lower Mid North Coast
  • Sydney North
  • Sydney South
  • Upper Mid North Coast

Program locations