RAV is a community-based, not-for-profit organisation, with no religious affiliations.
We provide services for all members of the community.
We believe in core values that inform our practice and behaviour.
View the RAV Board.
View the RAV executive team.
View a list of downloadable annual reports and financial statements.
The Strategic Plan 2019-23 is the blueprint for our future.
Relationships Australia is the home of Neighbour Day, Australia's annual celebration of community.
A wide range of services to support children, young people and their families.
We offer counselling for relationships in all their aspects.
For people who have experienced violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation, and those affected by the Disability Royal Commission
A service to help couples who are separating to resolve their family law disputes, including conflicts about children, parenting, financial arrangements and property settlement.
FRCs offer a range of services and programs, which are aimed at families at all stages of their life.
We provide sensitive, supportive and professional family violence services across Victoria.
Our specialist support service for people affected by forced adoption.
We address mental health at all stages, with preventative and early intervention mental health services, as well as support for families experiencing mental health difficulties.
RAV celebrates cultural diversity and is committed to providing access to all our programs for all Victorians.
Free support for people who grew up in institutional care prior to 1990, also known as Pre-1990 Care Leavers.
We offer group work and post separation parenting courses (including some for court-mandated clients).
RAV has an established reputation for quality professional training and development in FDR, couple therapy and relationship counselling.
Relationships Australia Victoria has been funded to provide support to people contemplating or going through the National Redress Scheme.
We are committed to providing targeted and effective services addressing the needs of senior Victorians and their families.
Support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and individuals to help strengthen family relationships.
Helping to maintain and improve the health, functioning and productivity of employees and workplaces.
RAV offers a variety of relationship education courses, run in small groups.
This easy-to-complete course aims to help you keep your love relationship happy and stable.
We can tailor programs across a broad range of topics to cater varying training needs.
We have an established reputation for quality professional training in a range of areas related to family relationships.
For clinicians and practitioners working in a variety of fields in the community sector.
Our Training and Development Department delivers a range of specialist programs.
Get the latest information about training and professional development news, articles and events.
Contact us to discuss our training and development services.
Find out about our latest news, events and articles.
Keep abreast of our new initiatives, services and programs by reading or subscribing to our regular eNewsletter.
RAV has produced a variety of publications to assist with relationship needs.
View a list of links to relevant external organisations and services.
Innovative resources to support children to deal with common difficulties in the context of important relationships.
Browse a list of books recommended by our Librarian on relationship issues.
Browse a list of answers to questions we are frequently asked.
Videos providing support on a range of topics and common challenges people face.
Information, tips and resources on a range of common family and relationship issues.
RAV can provide informed commentary on a range of relationship topics.
RAV has provided written submissions to several Royal and Human Rights Commissions.
Would you like to work for us? Relationships Australia Victoria (RAV) is a leading and valued provider of specialist family and relationship services. We are a community-based not-for-profit organisation, with no religious affiliations.
We offer a range of competitive, attractive and flexible employment conditions.
RAV advertises all available positions on this careers page of our website.
All employees require a satisfactory National Police Check and a current Working with Children Check.
What do you need to be eligible to gain employment and work with Relationships Australia Victoria (RAV).
Please take a moment to read our Employment Application Privacy Statement.
Helping couples who are separating to resolve disputes about their children and parenting.
When couples are separating, it’s not uncommon for people to be in dispute about both parenting and property matters at the same time. At Relationships Australia Victoria, we can help you to resolve conflicts about children and parenting matters, or property and financial matters - either separately or together.
We are continuing to deliver family dispute resolution (mediation) during COVID-19, through telephone and video appointments.
Family Dispute Resolution, also known as mediation, uses a step-by-step process to help people involved to resolve their dispute and reach an agreement. With the assistance of a Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner (a mediator), the people involved:
Parenting Plans may be made in the Family Dispute Resolution process. More information about Parenting Plans is provided here.
Parents who want to apply to the court to resolve disputes about their children (parenting matters) need to first try Family Dispute Resolution and obtain a certificate that. This certificate is required by the Court before a parenting application can be made. All Relationships Australia Victoria's Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners are registered to provide this certificate.
There are some exceptions to the need for a certificate, such as cases involving family violence or child abuse, or if the matter is urgent. For more information, visit the Australian Government's Family Relationships Online website.
Child-Inclusive Family Dispute Resolution gives a child the opportunity to talk to a trained child consultant in a child interview about how things are going for him/her at this time of change in their lives. The child consultant then gives feedback to the parents to help them make decisions during Family Dispute Resolution about their child.
This is an opportunity for a child to talk on their own in a safe environment with a child consultant - a person trained to understand the child’s feelings and views. Children may express themselves in a variety of ways such as drawing, playing and other activities depending on the child and their age. A child is never asked to make decisions – that’s their parents’ job.
The child consultant provides feedback to parents about:
Where decisions are being made for infants or young children (under 4 years of age), a child consultant can be included in the Family Dispute Resolution process to help inform parents’ decision-making for their child’s care. This service is called Child-Enhanced Family Dispute Resolution.
More general information on Family Dispute Resolution is available here.
We offer a number of other services for people who are separating, including:
Contact us for more information on Family Dispute Resolution and how it could support you.
For more information on our response to COVID-19 and how we’re currently providing mediation during this time, visit www.rav.org.au/COVID19.