Relationships Australia Canberra & Regions

This week marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the start of the 16 Days of Activism. This year’s theme, Unite to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls, highlights the growing harms happening online, including image-based abuse, harassment, grooming and cyberbullying. Violence against women is preventable, and we all play a role in creating safer, more respectful communities. Across the organisation, staff attended the Opening Vigil at Wollundry Lagoon to honour the women and children who have lost their lives to domestic and family violence. Forty-two white ribbons were displayed to represent lives lost this year, with additional ribbons placed along the railings to remember previous years. In the Eurobodalla, the community also showed their support by turning the town purple, with our headspace team wearing purple to stand in solidarity and raise awareness throughout the 16 Days of Activism. 🧡💜

Disagreements are a normal part of any relationship. What matters most is how we repair and reconnect. Counselling provides a safe, supportive space to explore challenges, build understanding and strengthen communication, whether individually, as a couple or as a family. Find a way that works for you. racr.org.au | 1800 960 540 #RelationshipsAustralia #HealthyRelationships #Communication #ConflictResolution #Wellbeing

Yesterday Markus and Rette visited ACT Brumbies, where Markus shared his lived experience story and started an important conversation with players about gambling harm and looking out for their mates. Players also learned about the supports available and why these chats matter in sporting communities We also introduced our Back Your Mates, Not Their Bets campaign, which encourages open conversations and reminds us that odds don’t matter, mates do. Stay tuned for more updates on our campaign! Thank you so much to the Brumbies for having us!

Relationships Australia Canberra & Regions is proud to be the lead agency for headspace Wagga Wagga, headspace Batemans Bay and headspace Narooma. This year’s headspace Day theme — make space for… — was brought to life through events co-designed with Youth Reference Groups across all three centres. In Wagga Wagga, our CEO Steph joined the team for the Mellow Minds Picnic, a relaxed afternoon focused on connection and creativity. On the South Coast, headspace Batemans Bay and headspace Narooma hosted trick or beats, a youth-led Halloween celebration featuring live music, free food and a green-screen photo booth. We’re incredibly proud of our headspace teams and young people for creating inclusive, meaningful spaces that support youth mental health and wellbeing. 💚

Good communication helps build trust, understanding and emotional safety. By practising active listening, reflecting on what you hear and asking clarifying questions, we strengthen our relationships and reduce misunderstandings. Communication is not a trait you are born with, it is a skill you can learn and grow. #RelationshipsAustralia #HealthyRelationships #Communication #Wellbeing #ListeningSkills

On Sunday 2 November, our team joined the community for Yandarra Day, a celebration of culture, connection and wellbeing. ☀️ It was beautiful to see families, Elders and young people coming together to share stories, dance and laughter throughout the day. Yandarra, meaning “coming together” in Wiradjuri, remains a much-loved annual celebration in Wagga Wagga, and we were proud to be part of it.

Our Groups Team joined Gunners Place at Gungahlin College for their Mental Health Month event. It was a great afternoon with a BBQ, live drumming, the Mini-Pat Health Van and local service providers coming together to support community wellbeing. 💙

Small gestures, big impact. Share produce, offer a lift, drop off a meal. 💙 #NeighboursEveryDay #BelongingEveryDay 

Parliament sitting weeks are always busy, and we’re grateful to the many politicians and teams who made time to meet with delegates from Family & Relationship Services Australia (FRSA) to discuss the needs of Australian families. A special thank you to Office of David Smith MP for his ongoing advocacy for Canberra communities and for hearing directly from Stephanie Hodson CSC PSM, Carley Thomas and Clare Southgate about the essential role our sector plays in family violence prevention, suicide prevention, and supporting families navigating family separation and the challenges facing our community. Collaboration between the government and community remains vital to building stronger, safer families. #FRSA #RACR #CommunitySector #FamilySupport #FamilyViolencePrevention #SuicidePrevention

Our CEO Stephanie Hodson CSC PSM joined fellow panelists Dr Russell Thom and David Spriggs at the Family & Relationship Services Australia (FRSA) Conference to discuss our organisation’s AI journey and what it means for the future of community services. The conversation highlighted how innovation, when guided by strong governance and a people-centred approach, can enhance both client outcomes and workforce support. RACR is proud to be part of this important dialogue and to contribute to shaping ethical, human-centred innovation across the sector. #FRSA2025 #RelationshipsAustralia #RACR #AIinPractice #CommunitySector #Leadership #EthicalAI