11 May 2009
Families week ambassador says supporting families more important than ever
The role of Australian families will be more critical than ever as the fallout from the unfolding global financial crisis continues, according to the Australian Institute of Family Studies.
Institute director Professor Alan Hayes has become an Ambassador for National Families Week, which celebrates and highlights the critical importance of families.
“Recent data from Relationships Australia shows that from 2006 to 2008 the rate of anxiety over the global financial crisis has more than doubled from 18% to 40%,” Professor Hayes said.
In the United Kingdom, where the impacts of the downturn have hit earlier, research is showing that 35% of families have sleepless nights over money worries and almost three in 10 families have rows over it.
The household costs causing the most concern are heating the home (47%), mortgage or rent payments (36%) and food costs (31%). A further 37% of British families say they can’t afford an annual holiday and 27% thought their household income would not be enough to pay the bills in six months time.
“Even though Australia seems to be faring better than the UK, this is an early-warning for Australian families and it will be important to try to do as much as possible to preserve jobs and shore up vulnerable families,” Professor Hayes said.
Some disadvantaged neighbourhoods would also need greater support to prevent disadvantage becoming entrenched through poorer job and education prospects, he said.
The central aim of National Families Week 2009 is to encourage all Australians to think about and celebrate the many different people who make families united and strong and the many different types of families across society.
Families Australia Chief Executive Officer, Brian Babington says he’s encouraging everyone to explore ways to recognise, value and support the people who make a difference to the wellbeing of their family.
“People could say thanks to a family member who has made a difference, do something with their family that helps others, take time to reflect on who makes up their family, take a walk or play a game and have some fun together,” he said.
National Families Week – from 10-16 May – highlights the critical role of families in Australian society and coincides with the UN International Day of Families on 15 May. Hundreds of community groups, businesses and government departments will be holding local events around the country.
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