Who We Are About Us About Us The Family Co. believes that all children and families deserve a safe home, strong connections and opportunities to thrive. We believe in a world where people feel heard, protected and valued. Through all of life’s challenges, the good times and the hard seasons, we’re here to help create positive change. To achieve this, we provide emotional and practical support to individuals and families who work with us. We also offer education, connections, information, advocacy and referrals to other services to help people increase their knowledge and build confidence in managing challenging situations when it comes to parenting and relationships. We identify emerging issues in the community and respond with holistic wraparound services using evidence based and trauma informed programs to deliver lasting benefits and empower parents and children. Our suite of services fall under the following pillars: • Child, Youth, Family & Parenting Support • Domestic & Family Violence Support• Education & Training Our Purpose Creating safe and positive communities where women, children, youth and families can build capacity to take on life’s challenges and realise their best futures. Our Vision All women, children, youth and families are empowered to have a safe home, strong connections and opportunities to thrive. Our Values Compassion Integrity Courage Commitment to Learning Growth Guiding Principles The projects and programs of The Family Co. are committed to: Improving communication and relationships between family members to create an environment that provides brighter futures for children Enhancing families’ capacity to support the growth and development of all family members. Responses which aim to reduce the impact of poverty and disadvantage on families Practice approaches that recognise the impact of trauma, violence and abuse on child wellbeing. Affirming and strengthening families’ social, cultural and racial identities Recognising, respecting and promoting the distinctive rights that Indigenous Australians hold as the original peoples of this land. Prioritising health and safety of all employees Integrity and respect being central to all areas of service delivery. Partnerships, co-operation and collaborative arrangements that are aimed at bringing about safety and wellbeing among all family members. Accountability, transparency and accessibility. Our History Founded in 1987, and incorporated as an association in 1994, Sutherland Shire Family Services has become a leading provider of innovative and professional services for families and children living in the Sutherland Shire and St.George areas. From humble beginnings working from a small back office in Miranda, Sutherland Shire Family Services has become a key support service for domestic violence victims and their children in both areas. In 2012, SSFS extended their purpose built centre in Jannali, providing workers with much needed office space, more group work space, and counselling rooms. In 2021, SSFS changed our name to The Family Co. Read about volunteering for us