Australian Institute of Family Studies

A new article from body+soul features insights from our 'Couple relationships in Australia today' snapshot report, highlighting how some Australian couples may not fully understand the legal and financial implications of separation.

As relationship patterns evolve, a gap can emerge between how couples see their relationships and how the law defines them.

Read the article here: https://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/sex-and-relationships/dating-and-relationships/the-costly-mistake-de-facto-couples-make/image-gallery/eb12e9a9ac43099514f7120ab3faa785?cspt=1780459187|d3e27cb2d99676972f3fd7137e03b4e6

Read the snapshot: https://aifs.gov.au/all-research/research-reports/couple-relationships-australia-today

Announcing keynote speakers for the AIFS 2026 Conference -
four powerful voices shaping the future for families.

Australia’s most influential thinkers and changemakers, whose work is shaping national conversations on families, wellbeing, equity and social justice.

• Professor Raymond Lovett AM
• Honorary Professor Cathy Humphreys
• Professor Leah Ruppanner
• Reverend Tim Costello AO

Bringing together research excellence, lived experience and public leadership, our keynote speakers will explore how families in Australia are navigating rapid social, technological and environmental change.

Early bird rates now available.
Register now: https://aifs.gov.au/conference/registration

How sure are you that your service caters to every young person who walks through your door?

Due to societal marginalisation and discrimination, LGBTQ+ young people with disability experience higher rates of harassment, poorer mental health outcomes and increased su***de risk than the LGBTQ+ young people without disability and the general population.

They also face unique barriers to accessing care.

Join our webinar and hear from Dylan McBurney (they/them) (Murdoch Children's Research Institute - MCRI), Dr Luke Schneider (he/him) (Adelaide Child Psychology), Bowie Stutchbury (they/them) (Australian Institute of Family Studies) and Jacquie Lee (she/her) (Emerging Minds Australia) as they discuss how services can improve accessibility and inclusion for LGBTQ+ young people with disability.

AIFS would like to acknowledge Children and Young People with Disability Australia for their support and ongoing work in this space.

Thursday 25 June 2026 1:00 PM (AEST).

Register today: https://aifs.gov.au/resources/webinars/strengthening-support-lgbtq-young-people-disability

How do you move from designing a 'monitoring, evaluation and learning' (MEL) approach, to embedding it in everyday service delivery?

Join us for the final webinar in our 3-part series on collecting and using evidence in child and family services. We’ll introduce MEL and unpack the planning, systems and oversight that support meaningful evidence for continuous improvement.

Featuring Kat Goldsworthy and Emily McDonald from the Evidence and Evaluation Support team at AIFS.

Webinar: Wednesday 17 June 2026, 1:00 PM

Register today: https://loom.ly/uz5GulA

On Monday, AIFS researchers Kathryn Goldsworthy, Emily McDonald and Sharnee Moore from our Evidence and Evaluation Support team, held a workshop on monitoring, evaluation and practice improvement at the 2026 FRSA National Conference.

Informed by the newly developed Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) guide and Evidence-informed Practice Compass, the team explored strategies for implementing evidence-informed practice, monitoring progress and embedding continuous improvement in service delivery.

Congratulations to the team on an outstanding workshop and thank you to the team at Family & Relationship Services Australia for facilitating another wonderful event.

If you are attending , don't forget to come and say hello at the AIFS booth before we wrap up tomorrow!

Come and explore the two new resources at the AIFS exhibition booth, or find them at our website here: https://aifs.gov.au/resources/practice-guides/tools-support-evidence-informed-practice-child-and-family-sector

Come and explore the interactive MEL guide at the AIFS exhibition booth, or find it at our website here: https://aifs.gov.au/mel-guide/introduction/what-MEL-is -1

The AIFS Evidence and Evaluation Support team are attending the 2026 FRSA National Conference this week.

We're looking forward to an exciting event, making meaningful connections and contributing valuable insights into the wellbeing of families, children and communities across Australia.

Thank you to Family & Relationship Services Australia for hosting an important event.

If you are attending, come and say hello at our exhibition booth!

Engaging men and boys as allies and advocates is critical in ending violence against women.

However, most research does not reflect Australia’s cultural and linguistic diversity or what works in engaging men from these communities.

Hear from our expert panel featuring Anu Krishnan AMES Australia, Jun Bin Lee, Tarang Chawla and Anagha Joshi (AIFS) as they discuss some important considerations when engaging and working with men from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Tuesday 9 June 2026, 1:00 PM (AEST)

Register today: https://aifs.gov.au/resources/webinars/preventing-violence-against-women-engaging-men-culturally-and-linguistically