August  2024

This year marks the 75th anniversary of Relationships Australia Tasmania.

Our journey started in 1949 with a public meeting that highlighted the pressing need for a marriage guidance council, open to everyone, regardless of religious affiliation. With a modest grant of £25, our initial focus was on preparing couples for marriage and offering ongoing support as they navigated the challenges of married life. We also provided crucial assistance to men and women returning from World War II, many of whom were grappling with what was then called “shell shock,” now recognised as PTSD.

The Marriage Guidance Council was soon able to expand from Hobart to Launceston and the North West of Tasmania and by the mid-1980s, the concept of marriage guidance had shifted and expanded to also support couples to navigate relationship breakdown safely and respectfully, resulting in the delivery of around 3,500 counselling sessions to Tasmanians each year, reflecting our growing reach and impact.

Throughout our 75-year history, just as we have shaped the Tasmanian community through the delivery of a range of services, we have also been shaped by changing community expectations, social issues and challenges and have continually adapted to the dynamic and changing needs of Tasmanians, their families and communities. Some of these changes have included changes in relationships, family breakdown, societal expectations about gender and gender equity, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights, advocacy for LGBTIQA+ communities and marriage equality, responses to family violence, the pervasive impact of suicide on individuals, families, communities and workplaces, institutional abuse and institutional betrayal and complex trauma.

As we provide more services to Tasmanians over the years, our name was changed first to Relationships Counselling and Mediation Services before arriving at the name we are all familiar with today, Relationships Australia Tasmania.

In the last five years, Relationships Australia Tasmania have provided support to nearly 39,000 clients, including 8,991 in the 2023/24 period alone. Our work spans diverse communities through a range of programs and services, delivered by a dedicated team of 161 staff members across 14 locations throughout Tasmania. With 24 different programs in operation, we remain committed to meeting the varied needs of the Tasmanian community.

Our future vision for Tasmania is clear: we know where our goalposts are and what we need to achieve to make our state better for us all. Our aspiration is to create a connected and respectful Tasmania, where every individual feels valued, supported, and integrated into the community. This vision isn’t just a lofty ideal; it’s a roadmap that guides our daily efforts and long-term strategies.

Central to this vision is our commitment to supporting Tasmanians in building their personal well-being and resilience. We believe this, along with strong, respectful relationships and a deep sense of connection to the community are the foundations upon which a thriving Tasmania can be built. Our role is to facilitate this growth, offering the tools, resources, and support necessary for individuals to flourish within their communities.

As we look forward, we continuously reflect on how we provide this support. It’s not enough to maintain the status quo; we must continue to evolve and adapt to meet the changing needs of the Tasmanian community. This means being proactive in identifying challenges, addressing issues, and recognising areas where needs are currently unmet. As such, co-design has become a cornerstone of our strategic plan for 2024-2027. We believe that by involving the community directly in the design and delivery of services, we can create solutions that are more effective, inclusive, and sustainable.

Along with co-design, innovation is another crucial element to our strategy moving forward. To effectively address the challenges and constantly changing needs of the Tasmanian community, we must remain open to new ideas and approaches. Equally important is our ability to leverage our influence to shape public policy in ways that align with the needs of our communities. Lastly, we are dedicated to ensuring sustainable growth, which will enable us to extend our reach and provide support to more Tasmanians across the state.

However, none of this is possible without first taking the time to listen. The first step toward achieving our vision of a connected and respectful Tasmania is to engage in meaningful conversations with the people we serve. By listening to their experiences, challenges, and aspirations, we can build strong partnerships and advocate effectively on their behalf. It’s through this collaborative approach to service design and delivery that we can truly realise our ambitious goal for the future of Tasmania.

In our milestone 75th year, we are embarking on an inspiring mission. By partnering with seventy-five communities across Tasmania, we are asking the question, ‘what is a connected and respectful community to Tasmanians?’

By celebrating 75 years through conversations in 75 places across the state, our hope is to create a Tasmania where every individual is valued, every relationship is nurtured, and every community thrives.

To find out more visit:  tas.relationships.org.au

Dr Michael Kelly is the CEO at Relationships Australia Tasmania

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Media Contact: A.Mark Thomas, M&M Communications, 0422 006 732

About Relationships Australia Tasmania

At Relationships Australia Tasmania we provide families, couples, individuals, older people, children and communities with tools and strategies, so that they have healthy, positive lives. We help more than 8000 Tasmanians every year to transform and change their lives through counselling, mediation, dispute resolution, support and training.

Our focus is on:

• healthy relationships, conflict resolution, parenting, cultural issues and mental health
• We offer people the services and support they need, when they need it to assist them when life presents challenges.
• Services are available to all people regardless of cultural background, family structure, economic situation, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status.

More information about the services and support we offer can be found on our website www.tas.relationships.com.au