CUA and Relationships Australia partner together to support Australian families
15 August 2008
CUA (Credit Union Australia) has partnered with Relationships Australia in a deal worth more than $1 million following research undertaken by Relationships Australia which indicates that financial concerns are one of the biggest contributing factors to relationship problems.
CUA will commit over $1 million in time, money and resources to help the national counselling provider deliver a new community education program which would support Australian families and specifically target financial issues and their effect on relationships.
CUA Managing Director Mr Graham Olrich said the national program aimed to arm Australians with the life skills and resources to affect positive, personal change by building better relationships for themselves and their families which included teaching people who to better communicate about and handle their finances.
“With research undertaken by Relationships Australia indicating financial concerns are one of the biggest contributing factors to relationship problems the partnership is a natural fit for CUA,” he said.
“It is a privilege and a tremendous opportunity for CUA to be working with an organisation that shares our values so deeply and to be part of a program that will make a real change for the better in our national community, particularly at a time when the majority of families are struggling financially with higher interest rates and fuel prices.
“The education program will involve initially conducting a survey to research families and their relationships; the development of a booklet specifically targeting financial issues and how families should deal with these; the running of financial management seminars on building personal and financial resilience and other smaller initiatives and events.
“On top of that we will have a skills exchange agreement so CUA staff members can volunteer and put their skills to good use to help out Relationships Australia in areas where they are under-resourced.”
Mr Olrich said the partnership was a product of significant staff and member research, rigorous screening and due diligence, as well CUA’s commitment to corporate responsibility.
“Corporate responsibility has become something of a buzz word in recent years but the issue is at the core of CUA and something the organisation has always practised.
“Relationships Australia is the nation’s premier expert on family health and well-being and the leading provider of relationship focused services.
“We realised that by supporting this organisation we would be helping thousands of Australians every year make a change for the better.”
Relationships Australia’s National Vice President Anne Hollonds said her organisation was excited about the partnership.
“Each year over 100,000 men, women and children access Relationships Australia for personal, relationship and family counselling, relationship education, parenting skills training and family dispute resolution services,” she said.
"CUA's investment over the next three years will help continue our work in the community and allow us to develop a number of new initiatives."
There are Relationships Australia centres and services in every state and territory of Australia. For more information visit www.relationships.com.au.
