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

Volvo Group Australia funded Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Session presented by Toolbox Talks

Domestic abuse is preventable. Volvo Group Australia and The Family Co. have teamed up to deliver VGA Dealers with domestic and family violence awareness and prevention training. Book your place in one of our sessions to learn more about the types of abuse, how you might be able to identify if someone is experiencing or using violence and how you can use your positive influence to shape a safer future for everyone. All sessions are facilitated live
Volvo Group Australia funded Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Session presented by Toolbox Talks

Domestic abuse is preventable. Volvo Group Australia and The Family Co. have teamed up to deliver VGA Dealers with domestic and family violence awareness and prevention training. Book your place in one of our sessions to learn more about the types of abuse, how you might be able to identify if someone is experiencing or using violence and how you can use your positive influence to shape a safer future for everyone. All sessions are facilitated live.
Volvo Group Australia funded Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Session presented by Toolbox Talks

Domestic abuse is preventable. Volvo Group Australia and The Family Co. have teamed up to deliver VGA Dealers with domestic and family violence awareness and prevention training. Book your place in one of our sessions to learn more about the types of abuse, how you might be able to identify if someone is experiencing or using violence and how you can use your positive influence to shape a safer future for everyone. All sessions are facilitated live
Volvo Group Australia funded Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Session presented by Toolbox Talks

Domestic abuse is preventable. Volvo Group Australia and The Family Co. have teamed up to deliver VGA Dealers with domestic and family violence awareness and prevention training. Book your place in one of our sessions to learn more about the types of abuse, how you might be able to identify if someone is experiencing or using violence and how you can use your positive influence to shape a safer future for everyone. All sessions are facilitated live

About Us

We exist because all children and families should have a safe home, strong connections and opportunities to thrive in life.
Term 3 (2021) Group Programs & Activities

The Family Co's Term 3 program is now confirmed, and we're excited to add some new programs to our existing suite of support and therapeutic groups and parenting education programs.
How to Refer

Help is easy to access. You can be referred by a health professional or another agency, or self-refer. Just call us on (02) 9528 2933 and tell us what you need help with.
Family Caseworker Program

Family Workers provide assistance to families who, for a variety of reasons, would benefit from additional support.
Support for Parents & Families

We offer services that support and strengthen the capacity of families, build parenting skills, and promote safety for all family members.
The Family Co. partners with Volvo Group Australia to tackle domestic violence

Volvo Group Australia (VGA) and The Family Co., have announced a partnership that will see over 3,000 transport industry workers across Australia educated on domestic & family violence over the next 12 months through their Toolbox Talks Workplace Training Initiative.
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.
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.
Southern Sydney Women's Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service

The Southern Sydney Women's Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service (SSWDVCAS) provides information, advocacy and referrals for women and families attending Sutherland and Kogarah Local Courts for Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders.
Youth and Family Worker

The Youth & Family Worker provides a range of support, information and referrals which assist young people aged 12-18 years, their families and carers, in and environment that is non-judgemental, safe and friendly.