Strategic Plan
2025-2028
Acknowledgements
Family Life, and all the individuals who make up our organisation respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the country on which we live and work. We especially acknowledge the Boon Wurrung / Bunurong people, and other peoples of the Kulin nation on whose ancestral lands Family Life provides services to the community. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and acknowledge their living culture and centuries of custodianship of these lands, which
were never ceded. We acknowledge that the land on which we stand always was and always will be Aboriginal land.
At Family Life, our focus is to eliminate discrimination in the service we deliver and the workplace we provide. We welcome, embrace and encourage the diversity of all of our staff, volunteers, clients and community.
Message from the Board
As we embark on the next chapter of our journey, the 2025-2028 Strategic Plan sets a bold and purposeful direction for Family Life. It reflects our unwavering commitment to strengthening communities, empowering families and delivering lasting impact.
Our deep connection to community remains central in our approach. We will build on this by listening closely to community needs, enhancing our partnerships, measuring our impact, and influencing policy and regulation to drive systemic change. We are also focused on defining and communicating our purpose more clearly. By showcasing our place-based impact and clinical expertise, we will sharpen our identity and strengthen our storytelling, making our work more visible, measurable, and compelling to those we serve and those who support us.
Our workforce remains a vital ingredient of our continued impact and central to our strategy. By investing in both capability and capacity, we will ensure our people are equipped to support growth, deliver service excellence, and achieve meaningful outcomes. This includes our Social Enterprise Team,
Message from the CEO
At Family Life, we envision a future where trauma no longer passes from one generation to the next. Our 2025-2028 Strategic Plan is a bold commitment to guiding our community to achieve this, moving toward deeper connection, lasting safety, and real wellbeing.
We are not just service providers; we are leaders and influencers. Our work shapes how communities and systems understand and respond to relational trauma, especially the kind that stems from abuse, neglect and disrupted attachments. By addressing trauma both at the individual and systemic levels, we aim to break cycles and create sustainable change.
Over the next three years our practice will continue to evolve and strengthen. We will embed a traumacapable framework across the organisation, focused on children, young people, families and communities. This approach will prioritise relational repair and shared care, driving evidencebased, safe and empowering outcomes.
We will champion the voices of those we support through authentic listening, ensuring our services
who continue to play a vital role in our mission. Over the course of the next three years, we will strengthen and elevate their contribution, highlighting how they enhance community connection and amplify our impact.
To sustain and grow our work, we will build a dynamic funding strategy, protecting existing resources while diversifying into new streams across government, philanthropic, fee-for-service and social enterprise income. Finally, we recognise the transformative potential of technology. We will continue to explore its evolving role in service delivery and impact measurement, ensuring we remain innovative and future ready.
This Strategic Plan is a roadmap for growth, resilience, and deeper impact. I thank our staff, partners, and supporters for their dedication and look forward to the progress we will make together.
Warm Regards
Catherine Parisi
reflect their needs, values and strengths. Our people are central to this mission. We will empower them with the tools, data and systems they need to work seamlessly and effectively, while fostering a sectorleading team and a vibrant volunteer community.
We will strengthen the infrastructure that enables communities to lead and advocate, and we will build collaborative partnerships with funders, government, and local leaders to innovate and reform systems. And our influence will grow through a compelling, evidence-informed story that inspires confidence and drives change.
This Strategic Plan is our roadmap to healing, connection and transformation. Together, we will create a future where children, families and communities can thrive.
Warm Regards
Allison Wainwright
Who We Are
Our Vision
Adults, young people and children engage and participate within supportive communities.
Families experience positive wellbeing and strong and respectful relationships.
Children and young people experience optimal development and are safe from harm.
Our Purpose
We Believe
At Family Life, we believe that every child deserves to grow up in the care of a nuturing family, surrounded by a strong and supportive community. This foundational belief drives our commitment to strengthen families and build resilient communities where children can thrive.
We know that meaningful and lasting change is only possible when we work together. By harnessing the collective efforts of our diverse partners and stakeholders, we can transform systems, influence policy, and improve practices ultimately leading to better outcomes in the everyday lives and long-term futures of children, families and communities.
We are deeply committed to ensuring that children’s voices are heard and that their best interests are at the heart of every decision. Our approach is grounded in evidence-informed responses that address the complex needs of children and families affected by trauma, ensuring compassionate and effective support.
Our Values
Life embraces diversity and the rights of all people.
Family Life supports individuals and families to participate in their communities.
Community
We understand that Family Life exists as part of a network of relationships and interactions vital to everyone’s health and wellbeing.
Empowerment
Family Life enables individuals, families and communities to make connections and achieve change.
Who We Support
Family Life works with individuals, families and communities.
Whether that be by strengthening community capacity, developing programs to respond to growing needs or emerging trends, or directly supporting clients and their families.
We deliver evidence-informed services grounded in the principles of trauma informed care.
Family Life Way Principles
The Family Life Way principles are at the heart of the trauma informed work that we do. They guide us to achieve the best results for our clients and the communities we service and exemplify our commitment to support our people to produce quality services and outcomes.
The Family Life Way
Listening To Our Community
As part of the development process for our 2025–2028 Strategic Plan, Family Life facilitated a series of engagement sessions with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders. These sessions provided valuable opportunities for participants to share their insights and perspectives on our vision, purpose, and strategic priorities for the next three years.
In addition to focus groups, confidential interviews were conducted with external partners, funders, peak bodies, thought leaders, and university collaborators. This approach was designed to encourage candid feedback and ensure a broad spectrum of viewpoints.
Volunteer, staff and community groups also participated along with, and most importantly, our clients. Listening to our community was central to this process, ensuring that the voices of those we serve were heard and reflected in our planning.
A comprehensive analysis of the feedback gathered from interviews and engagement sessions identified key opportunities that our community is eager for us to pursue. These findings informed a series of internal workshops, which led to the development of the initial draft of the Strategic Plan Imperatives.
Goals of the Strategic Planning Engagement Sessions:
• Identify community needs to ensure our strategic direction aligns with current and emerging priorities.
• Strengthen engagement and co-design with partners to foster collaborative and inclusive planning.
• Facilitate meaningful conversations around diversity and inclusion, reinforcing our commitment to equity.
• Create opportunities for broad participation, ensuring a wide range of voices and perspectives are heard.
• Explore collaborative approaches to working with partners in achieving shared outcomes.
• Increase understanding of our model of care, promoting clarity and alignment across stakeholders.
• Uncover strategic challenges and opportunities to inform the development of impactful and forward-thinking initiatives.
Family Life supports its community through a clearly defined Theory of Change.
Family Life uses an approach called a Theory of Change to outline how we support the community. This plan starts by identifying the big goals we want to achieve, then works backward to figure out what steps are needed to get there.
The “change” is the positive impact Family Life wants to make, and the “theory” is the roadmap of actions we take to make it happen.
Theory of Change
Transforming Lives for Stronger Communities
Long
CAPABLE COMMUNITIES
Everyone learns and participates within sustainable, engaged, inclusive, thriving communities and responsive systems
Organisations respond to the needs of their community
Individuals have social support and a sense of belonging within their community and culture
Individuals are engaged and contributing to their community through employment, training, education and volunteering
STRONG FAMILIES
Individuals reach their potential enabling families to experience positive wellbeing and strong and respectful relationships
Individuals and families experience optimal functioning and wellbeing
Families have healthy relationships and experience reduced conflict and violence
Individuals are empowered, resilient and able to manage individual and family challenges
THRIVING CHILDREN
Children are safe and reach their full potential
Organisations work together to support individuals and families
Individuals feel more connected to culture and community networks
Individuals feel empowered to seek support when needed
Individuals feel empowered to contribute to their community
Initiatives that strengthen the community
Holistic place based services with families at the centre
Individuals learn strategies and skills to support their health and wellbeing
Individuals are aware of the dynamics and effects of conflict and violence
Individuals develop strategies to safely manage individual and family challenges
Caregivers feel more confident in their parenting
Caregivers feel more connected to family and support networks
Community connection and activation
Hear the voice of the community (co-design)
Children have healthy relationships with their family and support networks
Children experience safety in their family and support networks
Children have a sense of belonging
Children experience an environment that optimises their development and wellbeing
Children feel more connected to family and kin
Children feel empowered to say what they want and need
Children feel more connected to support networks
Children engage, learn, and participate in their community
Advocate for social justice and equal opportunities to access services
Collaborate with other organisations Evaluate impact
Build social capital through volunteering and social enterprises
Innovative programs to increase knowledge and skills
Context: Communities experience a range of vulnerabilities including family violence, social isolation and mental health concerns. Factors such as intergenerational trauma and inequality (e.g. gender, social, cultural) exacerbate vulnerability. Services can support communities to heal from trauma and develop resilience.
Notes:
1. Family Life acknowledges that families are remarkably diverse both in structure and dynamics.
2. Children include children and young people.
3. Individuals include those who receive our services and those who engage in our community capacity building activities.
4. Organisation could include: government departments, community organisations, schools, businesses, etc.
Our 3 Year Commitment
Over the next three years, we will LEAD and INFLUENCE systems supporting families, driving relational repair to disrupt intergenerational trauma.
We will BUILD partnerships, grow capability, and use evidence to strengthen practice and deliver measurable gains in connection, safety, and wellbeing.
Key Commitment Themes
Lead and Influence:
We go beyond delivering services. We actively shape how communities and systems understand and respond to complex issues. Our leadership drives innovation, advocacy and transformation.
Intergenerational Impact of Relational Trauma:
We are committed to breaking cycles of trauma that are passed down through families, particularly trauma stemming from relationships, such as abuse, neglect, and disrupted attachment.
Connection, Safety and Wellbeing:
Our ultimate goals are healthier relationships, a sense of safety, and improved emotional wellbeing for individuals, families and communities
In essence, we work across both individual/family and community/systems levels to address trauma in a sustainable, long term way. Our approach integrates direct support with systemic advocacy to create lasting change.
We envision a future where trauma no longer passes from one generation to the next, by guiding our community toward deeper connection, lasting safety, and real wellbeing.
Evolve and Strengthen our approach to deliver effective and integrated outcomes in connection, safety and wellbeing
IMPACT Our Practice
Our Influence Our People
Build our Compelling Story that inspires confidence, demonstrates evidence and conveys authenticity
Empower and Equip our People to deliver our trauma capable approach
How We’ll Deliver
Our Practice
Evolve and Strengthen our approach to deliver effective and integrated outcomes in connection, safety and wellbeing
Innovate and strengthen our trauma capable practice framework embedded in every part of the organisation, to deliver a child and young person focused, whole of family and community model that prioritises relational repair and strengthening
Lead safe, evidenceinformed, and relational practice by modelling shared care and risk approaches and driving systems change to support self-determination and community strengthening
Champion the voices of those we support through authentic listening, advocating and building services that reflect their needs, values, and strengths
Our People
Empower and Equip our people to deliver our trauma capable approach
Empower our people through the development of systems that support them to work optimally, equipping them with access to data, tools and the resources to support our community in a seamless, supported way
Build an aspirational sector-leading team that co-creates a living, learning system of knowledge and skills building
Foster a meaningful volunteer community, enabling people to share their time, wisdom, and care with others, strengthening community connection and wellbeing
Our Influence
Build our Compelling Story that inspires confidence, demonstrates evidence and conveys authenticity
Demonstrate and showcase impact through an authentic, evidence-informed story that inspires confidence, influences change, and elevates the voices of people, families, and communities
Strengthen the infrastructure that enables communities to lead, advocate, activate resources, and create the conditions for local children and families to thrive
Foster collaborative partnerships with funders, government, and communities to drive innovation, influence system reform, and improve outcomes for children, families and communities
We Will...
Family Life In 2028
We will know we have been successful when Family Life has transformed the landscape of community wellbeing through its trauma-capable, relational, and evidence-informed approach. Families and children will have experienced safer, more connected relationships, supported by integrated services that prioritise healing, empowerment, and self-determination.
By evolving its practice framework and embedding tailored models of care, Family Life will have fostered environments where relational repair is central to every intervention. Our commitment to authentic listening will have ensured that services reflect the lived experiences, strengths and values of those they support, creating a culture of trust, dignity and shared growth.
Empowered by robust systems and continuous learning, Family Life’s people (staff and volunteers alike) will have become catalysts for change, equipped to deliver seamless, trauma-capable support. Their collective wisdom and care will have strengthened community connection and elevated wellbeing across generations.
Through compelling storytelling, strategic partnerships, and infrastructure that enables community leadership, Family Life will have influenced systemic reform and inspired a shift towards shared-care models grounded in community strength. The result will be thriving local ecosystems where children, families, and communities are not only supported, but sustained by the strength of their community.
Sandringham, Vic 3191
Phone: +61 3 85995433
Email: info@familylife.com.au