About Us

Introducing Relationship Matters

Relationship Matters is a not-for-profit organisation that promotes healthy, respectful and fulfilling relationships within the Victorian community.

We are the relationships people who build connected families, workplaces and communities

We provide a range of relationship services including:

At Relationship Matters, we also recognise that work and life are intimately connected and we offer workplace services for employers and employees through Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) and our Business Services division, Relationship Matters in the Workplace.

Relationship Matters has been supporting the community through counselling and education for over 73 years and was established and supported by the Anglican Diocese over the years. Relationship Matters has a long history in marriage guidance and relationship counselling in Australia and is very proud to support marriage equality.

Relationship Matters’ recognises relationships in all their diversity and our services are offered to individuals, couples and families regardless of, gender, religious affiliation, race, cultural heritage, sexual orientation or economic circumstance. We are an “Access For All” organisation.

We welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender diverse, intersex, queer, asexual and questioning (LGBTIQA+) communities people at our services. We pledge to provide inclusive and non-discriminatory services to LGBTIQA+ clients.

We work towards building positive, safe and respectful relationships and the prevention of violence of any nature.

We pride ourselves on exceptional and responsive service delivery and a seamless experience internally through our various service streams and externally with our extensive networks with other community agencies and professional associations.

Call us on 1300 543 396, email us at contact@relationshipmatters.com.au or drop into one of our branches to find out how we can add colour to the fabric of your life.

Our Commitment

MISSION
Relationship Matters aims to promote safe, respectful and fulfilling
relationships and supports couples, families and the community.
We are committed to supporting all relationships through life’s
changes. Each life stage comes with unique challenges and transitions
and we support people through every stage in life.

VISION
Relationship Matters serves the community by promoting positive
relationships for the achievement of wellbeing and the fullness of
life. Relationship Matters reflects a compassionate concern for those
experiencing relationship difficulties, isolation and hurt and celebrates
the joy of positive relationships.
We are the relationships people who build connected families,
workplaces and communities.

OPERATIONAL MISSION
We deliver counselling, dispute resolution and group programs to help
people improve their communication and relationship skills and to
reduce conflict and hurt.
We try to find new areas of need and new ways of doing our work to
meet different ages and life stages.
We work from an evidence base, evaluating and redesigning our work
to make sure it’s effective.

Embracing Equality Pledge

AS A SERVICE PROVIDER, WE ENDORSE THE EMBRACING EQUALITY CHARTER AND PLEDGE TO:

Establish and maintain relationships with LGBTIQ+ communities and services.
Ensure all staff receive LGBTIQ+ inclusive practice training.
Protect LGBTIQ+ staff and service users from discrimination, including by promoting a culture of respect and inclusion,
and embedding formal structures that promote the reporting of instances of discrimination.
Ensure systems of care are safe and culturally appropriate for LGBTIQ+ people, including by establishing and
maintaining referral arrangements with LGBTIQ+ services, and evaluation processes that ensure the cultural needs
of LGBTIQ+ people are addressed when referrals and service needs are being considered.
Improve organisational understanding of intersectionality to address different modes of discrimination and privilege,
including but not limited to the intersections of people who are both LGBTIQ+ and Aboriginal and/or Torres
Strait Islander.

Read the Embracing Equality Pledge

Child Safety Statement

Relationship Matters is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people. This will be the primary focus of our decision-making and service delivery. Relationship Matters is committed to providing a child safe environment where children and young people are safe and feel safe, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives. Relationship Matters has zero tolerance for child abuse.

Recognising not all children are the same, particular attention will be paid to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children and children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, Rainbow and LGBTI lead families, as well as the safety of children with a disability.

Every person involved in Relationship Matters has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role they play individually and collectively to ensure that the wellbeing and safety of all children and young people are at the forefront of all they do and every decision they make.

In its planning, decision-making and operations Religious Discrimination Bill will:

Take a preventative, proactive and participatory approach to child safety;
Value and empower children to participate in decisions that affect their lives;
Foster a culture of openness that supports all persons to safely disclose risks of harm to children
Respect diversity in cultures and child-rearing practices while keeping child safety paramount;
Provide written guidance on appropriate conduct and behaviour towards children;
Engage only the most suitable people to work with children and have high-quality staff supervision and professional development;
Ensure children know who to talk with if they are worried or are feeling unsafe and that they are comfortable and encouraged to raise such issues;
Report suspected abuse, neglect or mistreatment promptly to the appropriate authorities;
Share information appropriately and lawfully with other organisations where the safety and wellbeing of children is at risk; and
Value the input of and communicate regularly with families and carers.

Relationship Matters Client Charter of Rights

Relationship Matters is committed to building positive, safe, and respectful personal and
professional relationships by providing exceptional and responsive services to the
Victorian community. Relationship Matters reflects a compassionate concern for those
experiencing relationship difficulties, isolation and hurt and celebrates the joy of positive
relationships. Our mission is to promote positive relationships.

YOUR RIGHTS
You have the right to:
• access services that are safe, appropriate, and respectful of your cultural and individual needs.
• participate in decision-making processes that affects your service, including the right to give
informed consent or refuse a service.
• receive clear and accurate information about the services provided, including the cost, and
expected outcomes.
• request a referral to other services.
• give feedback about the service received.
• decline the participation of others not directly related to your situation such as students on
placement or trainee staff.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
As part of our commitment to support you, we request that you:
• treat service providers and other clients with respect, including their privacy.
• notify us if you have specific requirements, such as the use of an interpreter.
• attend all appointments and notify Relationship Matters as soon as possible if unavailable.
• attend the service free from the influence of alcohol or other drugs that may impair your ability
to engage with the work.

Relationship Matters is focused on providing you with an excellent service and welcomes
your feedback so we can continually improve the quality of service provided. Our service
providers aim to be aware and inclusive of broad communities, including LGBTIQ+ people,
culturally and linguistically diverse people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,
their families, and communities.

Observership Program

Relationship Matters is a partner of the Observership Program, which facilitates the involvement of young, talented and energetic individuals in a structured experience on not-for-profit Boards. We have a member of the Observership Program join the Relationship Matters Board meetings for a period of 12 months. During that time, the Observer attends all board meetings as a non-voting member and learns the fundamental principles and functions of a not-for-profit board, the roles of board members, fiscal processes and other governance priorities.