Media Release
21 July 2010
SUPPORT FOR AUSTRALIA’S MANY STEPFAMILIES
National Stepfamily Awareness Day (Sunday 25 July) is a chance for step and blended families to
celebrate their success in creating, sustaining and nurturing their families.
Child Support Agency (CSA) Director of Parent Support Services, Toni Brown, said the CSA works with
organisations such as Stepfamilies Australia to help support families affected by separation.
“Many CSA customers live in step or blended families. The CSA has a variety of resources as well as
links to organisations such as Stepfamilies Australia to support separated parents who repartner,” Ms.
Brown said.
Stepfamilies Australia Executive Officer Steve Martin said, with one in five families in Australia either a
step or blended family, there is a need for more support services for families repartnering after separation.
The recent launch of the National Stepfamilies Australia Network ensures that repartnered families have
increased access to information, resources, counselling and education.
“Step and blended families face a range of unique and complex challenges, from dealing with the
breakdown of the original family to developing relationships with new partners and siblings as well as
their extended families,” Mr Martin said.
“More than half of parents who separate, re-partner. Yet the dynamics and complexity of the new family
relationships mean step or blended families are at a higher risk of separation than so called ‘intact’
families.
“Biological families may have family trees but stepfamilies have family forests! It is important they are
aware there are variety of support services to help them through the more challenging times.
families. These include practical tips and information on the latest Family Relationship Centre courses
and workshops to help make stepfamilies work,” Mr Martin said.
Toni Brown said the Child Support Agency has a range of support products and services for separated
parents.
“CSA publications such as the Me and My Changing Family booklet www.csa.gov.au are designed to help
stepfamilies build healthy relationships and deal effectively with the tensions and challenges of new
family arrangements,” she said.
“Although stepchildren are not included in child support assessments, I encourage parents to contact the
CSA on 131 272 to update their contact details and advise of any change in circumstances (such as the
birth of a new child) to ensure their child support assessment is accurate.”
Parents can visit www.csa.gov.au or call 131 272 to find out more about support services in their local
area.
Media Enquiries: Declan McGrath 0434664802
NEWS 
