Individual FAQ | 26 August, 2015
Trying to convince someone to do something they don’t want to do may cause them to dig their heels in and resist your best efforts. A tip for influencing your partner in a respectful and more effective way is to use the DARN principle:-
Desire – what is it that they want?
Ability – what are they able to do right now?
Reason – what is the reason for attending the course / counselling?
Need – how could it help to get their needs met? (E.g. a need may be for a more satisfying and intimate relationship)
DARN will sound less like giving advice to your partner, and more like gentle... Read more
Blog Post | 18 July, 2023
Every relationship has its ups and downs, but mental health conditions can bring unique challenges for both partners.
Research shows almost a third of people in Australia will experience an anxiety disorder in their lifetime, so many people will find themselves supporting a partner with anxiety at some point.
Being with someone with a mental health condition means loving them in full and understanding that you may need to provide extra emotional support throughout the relationship.
It can feel helpless... Read more
Blog Post | 26 July, 2012
Stepfamilies today are becoming a prominent part of Australian family life. It is estimated that one in five Australian families is a stepfamily. National Stepfamily Awareness Day is a day dedicated to stepfamilies and an opportunity for communities to celebrate and acknowledge stepfamilies and the vital role that stepparents play in the lives of the children and young people they care for.
Friends and extended family often don’t realise just how hard it can be for stepfamilies, particularly in the first few years, when stepfamilies most need their support. National Stepfamily Awareness Day... Read more
Blog Post | 22 July, 2021
Making the decision to temporarily separate can be tough enough, but choosing a trial separation in the same house can bring some added challenges.
Trial separations don’t immediately mean the end of a relationship. This time can provide the space and opportunity for both people to consider whether they want to end their marriage or if they want to work on things.
And while a trial separation while living together may seem awkward, it can work really well if the partners are on relatively good terms.
You might be staying under the same roof due to financial circumstances or for the sake of... Read more
Blog Post | 08 March, 2019
Neighbour Day is Australia’s annual celebration of community, encouraging people to connect with those who live in their neighbourhood.
Whether through a cuppa, a picnic in the park, or a message of support; Neighbour Day is the perfect opportunity to say thanks for being a great neighbour and for being there to lend a hand.
“I had always wanted to have a caring, connected neighbourhood but didn’t really know where to start. Neighbour Day gave me ideas, tools and an excuse to get on with it. Many people say they have been meaning to get to know their neighbours, but just don’t get around... Read more
Board Member | 13 October, 2022
Neil Willmett joined the Board in 2022. He is a national leader in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander housing, health, economic development, and administration.
He is an experienced Chief Executive Officer known as a leading thinker for his work in strategy, policy development, and its implementation. Throughout his career, Neil has led a number of organisations at the Board and Executive level.
Neil brings to the Board a deep understanding and broad experience in Executive Management, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs, health, housing and homelessness, strategy, execution, and... Read more
Blog Post | 06 July, 2020
They tell you it’s going to be hard. They tell you about the sleepless nights, the spontaneous tears, and the guilt that you’re not doing it right, or not doing enough.
But what about the relationship changes that a new baby can bring?
Maybe you’re arguing more than ever. Maybe the romance seems out of reach. Or maybe you feel a distance between each other you’ve never felt before.
Every relationship changes after adding a baby to the equation. And while it might feel like things will never go back to the way they were, the good news is, it does get better.
If you’re experiencing these common... Read more
Blog Post | 30 November, 2015
Relationships Australia (National) recently launched a new website, www.humankind-relationships.com.au to support people living with chronic illness and their loved ones to achieve positive and respectful relationships.
Humankind provides relationship information, support and resources appropriate for people living with a chronic illness and for the families, friends and practitioners that support them.
“All couples experience hard times, though living with a chronic illness or with a partner who is chronically ill can have a... Read more
Blog Post | 07 January, 2011
Here we are, all set to take on the New Year, including new challenges and New Year resolutions. We all start with good intentions, but as we are all aware, good intentions do not guarantee us the outcomes we want.
How can we stay on track and break old habits?
Remember when you were learning your times tables at school? Some people picked it up straight away; others took time to learn. Some days you may have got the answers right; other days it just did not click.
The same thing happens when we are trying to break an old habit.
Habits are learned. A habit might be nail biting, a poor... Read more