Our staff

Ashleigh Daines - CEO

Ashleigh Daines commenced as the CEO of The Family Co. in October 2019. Read more

Michelle Fairweather - Operations Manager

Michelle Fairweather is the Operations Manager at The Family Co. Read more

Lola Hearn - Administration & Facilities Manager

Lola started with The Family Co over 30 years ago, and is our Facilities and Administration Manager. Read more

Belinda Harrison - Practice Manager

Belinda Harrison is the Practice Manager at The Family Co, leading the Family Case Worker programs, Group Therapeutic programs and supporting a team of Caseworkers who deliver frontline support to Families who use our service. Read more

Amber Schacht - Youth Programs Coordinator

Amber Schacht is our Youth Programs Coordinator at The Family Co. She is passionate about the important work of helping support young people in our community. Read more

Kim Byron - Youth & Family Manager

Kim leads our dynamic and creative team at The Family Co Youth Services, providing a youth-centred, trauma informed practice that encourages self-expression and self-exploration for young people to develop their skills and identity, and explore their creativity through the programs and workshops on offer. Read more

Jade Lindsay - Toolbox Talks Project Manager

Jade joined SSFS in 2017 as the Project Manager for the Domestic Violence Toolbox Talks program which is a nationally available primary prevention and bystander intervention program for the workplace. Read more

Melissa Philbrook - BRIC Team Leader

Melissa is our newest member of the Executive Team, and brings a wealth of experience in Social Work to her role as Team Leader of our Building Resilience in Children (BRIC) Project. Read more

Kate Cora - SSWDVCAS Manager

Kate Cora is responsible for managing and leading our Southern Sydney Women's Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service (SSWDVCAS) team, who support women after domestic violence incidents and through the legal/court processes that may follow. Read more

Nicki Mead - Marketing Manager

Nicki Mead is our Marketing Manager looking after our website, social media, events and collateral. Read more

Latest

Sutherland Shire Domestic Violence Committee hosts annual education event

Faith Leaders come together to deepen their understanding of how shame is enmeshed in domestic violence.
The Family Co. Launches 2021 Family Picnic Challenge

As National Families Week is around the corner, The Family Co. today challenged all Shire families to take time out and participate in their 2021 Family Picnic Challenge on the weekend of 15th or 16th May 2021
Consent Conversations: Parenting Seminar

Join us on Wednesday 9th June from 6 - 8pm for a free parenting workshop on the topic of "Consent Conversations" - for parents wanting to talk to their kids about consent, and navigating their rights and responsibilities in relationships.
Family Picnic Challenge

Join our Family Picnic Challenge and get outside with your family on the weekend of 15th or 16th May to celebrate National Families Week. By donating $10 to The Family Co as part of the Picnic Challenge, you'll receive a special e-book created by our Family Workers called the Ultimate Shire Picnic Guide to help make your family day out a great success.

National Domestic Violence issue in the news - but locally, what can we do?

Here in the Sutherland Shire, we see hundreds of “Hannah’s” each year – women who are living an unimaginable nightmare, experiencing many forms of domestic violence, trying to leave their violent partners, who fear for their and their children’s lives. Women who come to us for help.
Djanaba director Jann celebrates 30 years service

Today we celebrated, Jann Griffiths, our Djanaba Occasional Care Centre Director for her 30 years of service to SSFS, with a team morning tea. This was a wonderful opportunity to thank Jann for caring for and brightening the lives of more than a thousand children during this time.
Accessibility
Closure of Djanaba Occasional Childcare Centre

It is with deep sadness and disappointment that we advise that Djanaba Occasional Childcare Centre will close indefinitely, effective from Close of Business today, Thursday the 26th March 2020.
2019-2020 Annual Showcase Presentation & Annual Report

We are proud to present our 2019-2020 Service Showcase and Annual Report, which highlights the many programs, groups and services that Sutherland Shire Family Services provide.
Child Protection Helpline

The Child Protection Helpline - 132 111 - is a number for the general public to report child abuse or neglect.
Join our Virtual Movement Challenge to help SSFS help local families impacted by domestic violence

Sutherland Shire Family Services have today launched a Virtual Movement Challenge fundraiser, helping local families stay motivated to remain active and healthy while we self-isolate or social distance in these times of COVID-19. By participating in the Challenge, our Community can help us, as we raise funds to continue the work we do in supporting local families impacted by domestic violence.
COVID-19 Virus Update - Services Unaffected at SSFS

With the World Health Organisation this week categorising COVID-19 as a Global Pandemic.. As at today's date (Friday 13th March), there are no interruptions to SSFS programs or services. We are reviewing the situation daily and following Government about service cancellation. We have taken heightened precautions around hygeine and cleanliness, and are encouraging all staff and clients to do the same.
International Women's Day 2020 - #EachforEqual

International Women's Day is on this Sunday, 8th March, 2020.. This day is to help forge a gender equal world. Celebrating women's achievements and increasing visibility, while calling out inequality, is key.
Circle of Security

Circle of Security is a relationship program designed to strengthen the parent/ caregiver relationship through enhancing attachment security. It is an evidence based program that helps parents/ caregivers recognise new ways to understand their child’s needs and behaviours, and learn effective ways to connect with their child.