Family Group
Conferencing
A Family Group Conference or Family Group Decision-Making Meeting is a process where family members and their supports (e.g. friend, advocate, etc)
1. Convene a meeting between extended family, supports and professionals
where the primary purpose is to address clear questions and make decisions.
2. Share concerns and needs of the client
3. Explore solutions and supports
4. Make decisions and develop a plan of support
5. Appoint a ‘key worker’ (usually a professional)
6. Agree how they will communicate on and review their plan
7. Hold a Review Meeting
Family Group Conferencing (FGC) is a voluntary, inclusive and restorative approach to decision-making. It involves family members coming together to make significant decisions for one of their members.
FGC promotes respectful and strength based engagement with family members and vulnerable persons in planning to meet what is in the best interests of the person.
FGC invites extended family members to take a lead role in making decisions for the benefit of, and where necessary, attending to any harm experienced by
'one of their own.'
Both Family Group Conferencing and Aboriginal Family Decision-Making are aligned with principles underpinning the Victorian Charter of Human Rights And Responsibilities 2008 here.
‘Human rights are the cornerstone of strong, healthy communities where everyone can participate and be included.’ Victorian Equal Opportunity And Human Rights Commission 2011 here
Interested in FGC Training ?
Q: When is Family Group Conferencing appropriate?
Any time a major decision needs to be made by a family.
Q: What type of referrals are suitable for FGC?
- Exploring family and community support prior to notification to child protection
- Exploring family support prior to Children's Court proceedings
- Harm to child or young person
- Exploring respite care for child or young person
- Short term care needed for child
- Permanent care for child
- Family to present a support plan to Children's Court (diversionary)
- Support to parents
- Support to kinship carers
- Decisions as to how parents are to address harm to child
- How parents may be supported in addressing parenting concerns
- How parents may be supported due to issues of:
- mental health
- disability
- drug and alcohol misuse
- family violence
- criminal matters
- As part of Family Law proceedings - being inclusive of children's views
and those of extended family members.
- Adult parent with a disability
- Adult parent with mental health concerns
- Aged - exploring support, respite and long term alternative care options
Stages of a Family Group Conference
Stage 1. Referral and Preparation
- What do the family need to make decisions about?
- What is the purpose of the conference?
- What are key concerns?
- Who is to participate?
- Meet family members
- Undertake genogram exercise
- Explore what are key issues for and needs of family members
- Undertake child inclusive practice
- Bottom lines for decision-making i.e. what’s negotiable/ what’s non-negotiable?
- Explore options of support from community and professionals
Meeting Stage
- Venue conducive to participation
- Refreshments provided
Information-Sharing
- Key Questions listed (On Whiteboard)
- Facilitated discussion on Key Issues
- Offers of professional / informal support
- Equity lens on what assistance may the family need
in engaging with Agencies?
- Solutions explored.
- Will this solution work?
- Reality check
o what could go wrong?
o what do you need?
o what will it take to do this?
Family Private Time
- Family meet in private & make decisions.
- Solutions and plan developed
- Refreshments provided
Presenting The Family Plan
• Plan put forward by family
• Negotiating and resourcing the plan
• Agreement
• Key worker identified
• Review time set
Restorative School Family Group Conferences
Family Group Conferences may be offered as an approach to support children, young people, families and schools where the following is a concern;
Student engagement
- Relationships with teachers or students
- Harm through inappropriate use of technology eg cyber-bullying
- Racial discrimination
- Theft
- Damage to property
- Use of illict substances
- Absenteeism
- Unfair treatment or harassing behaviour
- Well-being concerns for student
- Developing alternative learning pathways or Individual Learning Plan
