National Families Week: Frequently Asked Questions
What is National Families Week?
When is National Families Week 2008 happening and what are the themes?
What are the key messages for National Families Week 2008?
What sort of events are held during National Families Week?
How can I get involved in National Families Week?
Who runs National Families Week?
How did National Families Week start?
What have the previous themes been?
How is National Families Week funded?
Is there any money available for organisations to fund events?
What are the promotional products for 2008?
How can I get more information?
What is National Families Week
National Families Week is Australia’s annual celebration of the importance of families. It is timed to coincide with the UN International Day of Families (15 May) and Mothers' Day (11 May).
When is National Families Week 2008 happening and what are the themes?
The 6th National Families Week will be held between 11 and 17 May 2008. This year’s slogan is, “Work and Family - Getting the balance right ”.
This National Families Week you’re encouraged to explore ways in which you can balance your family and work commitments more effectively. You could arrive home from work in time to eat a meal with your family, read the kids a bedtime story, take the dog for a walk or just talk about what kind of day everyone has had. You could find out about any family friendly measures offered by your employer and take advantage of them to help you and your partner better juggle your work and family responsibilities.
In National Families Week organisations and individuals will be encouraged to take time to celebrate the vital role families play in our lives and community and to do things that will improve the all-round wellbeing of their families.
What are the key messages for National Families Week 2008?
The main messages of National Families Week 2008 are:
- effectively balancing work and family responsibilities makes for stronger families, workplaces and communities, and
- all Australians, particularly working parents and employers, are urged to find ways to generate ideas and take actions which will improve work-family balance for themselves and others.
What sort of events are held during National Families Week?
Each year, tens of thousands of people and hundreds of organisations celebrate National Families Week - Australia’s annual celebration of the vital role of families. In 2007, over 110,000 people participated in National Families Week events around Australia, illustrating the widespread importance of families within the community.
Participating organisations undertook a wide range of National Families Week activities such as morning teas, barbeques, sausage sizzles, playgroup visits, family picnics, artwork displays, family information days, drawing competitions, dances, art displays, photo competitions, seminars and workshops, breakfast gatherings, story-telling events, services displays, and movie nights. For a list of ideas to help celebrate National Families Week click here.
How can I get involved in National Families Week?
There are two main ways to get involved.
- First, if you know of or are involved with a local community organisation, ask them to arrange an event and register it with Families Australia. If you wish, you can contact us by telephone (02 6273 4885) or email familiesweek@familiesaustralia.org.au for further information. Events are limited only by imagination – they could be bbqs, picnics, seminars on parenting, foyer displays, an open day, morning tea, or a family-friendly day in your workplace.
- Second, you can use the Week to celebrate within your family. You could, for example, take an extra 15 minutes a day to talk, listen and connect within your family. Maybe talk as a family about things that make your family strong and things that can be worked on. Other ideas are: have a family movie marathon, or contact family you have not heard from for a while.
Who runs National Families Week?
National Families Week is run by Australia's independent, peak, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to promoting the needs and interests of families, Families Australia, on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
How did National Families Week start?
National Families Week is sponsored by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, and aims to give families, their children, young people and communities the opportunity to build a better future. National Families Week supports community organisations, and others, in achieving this aim.
What have the previous themes been?
2007
“FITT Families - Families Investing in Time Together”, reflected the importance of making an investment in family time and remembering that the family unit itself, as well its members, need special tending if it is to be strong.
2006
The special themes in 2006 were parenting and young people aged between 12 and 18 years. The main slogan was ‘take time for TLC – talking, listening and connecting’.
2005
National Families Week 2005 paid special attention to the “wellbeing of children” in recognition of the vital importance of the early childhood years between ages 0-5.
2003-2004
The themes were “Celebrate Your Family!” The Weeks provided an opportunity to think about families, whatever shape they take, and to celebrate the role families play in our lives and in our community.
If you have an idea for a theme for National Families Week 2009, please let us know. Email familiesweek@familiesaustralia.org.au
How is National Families Week funded?
National Families Week is funded by an Australian Government initiative giving families, their children, young people and communities the opportunity to build a better future.
Is there any money available for organisations to fund events?
Unfortunately there is no money available to support organisations to run events. However, Families Australia is able to provide free promotional products such as posters, balloons, temporary tattoos etc, to assist you in celebrating your event. Please remember to register so we know you are holding an event.
What are the promotional products for 2008 ?
This year the promotional products will be posters, balloons, temporary tattoos and some tips to assist in "Getting the balance right".
How can I get more information?
You can obtain more information by emailing us at familiesweek@familiesaustralia.org.au, or telephoning Jennifer Horsfield, Manager, National Families Week or Brian Babington, Chief Executive Officer on (02) 6273 4885.