- by Christian Dahl
External Relations Officer
Child Support Agency

National President, Barry Williams, Lone Fathers Association of Australia Inc., will be visiting Cairns and leading a FREE public information seminar this Thursday on major reforms to both the Child Support Scheme and Family Law.

This FREE seminar is being held at the Cairns RSL, 115 The Esplanade, on Thursday 8 March 2007, commencing with morning tea at 9.30 am and concluding at approx. 12.30 pm.

The Child Support Agency (CSA) will be represented by Ms Judy Paton, Service Delivery Manager and Regional Director, based in Townsville, in addition to a senior Cairns based officer who will present an audio-visual presentation highlighting the FAMILY LAW AMENDMENT (SHARED PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY) ACT 2006 (NO. 46, 2006) http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/num_act/flapra2006462006527/sch1.... passed in the Federal Parliament in 2006.

I'm hoping you might take this opportunity to inform your many listeners of this FREE community seminar to help raise awareness as there is so much happening in this arena.

If you would like to interview Barry Williams his number is 0417 668 802.

From CSA's perspective, there are several angles you could pursue.

There are more than 24,000 parents registered with the Child Support Agency in the Leichhardt and Kennedy federal electorates.

Cairns Area - Figures as of 30 June 2006
Leichhardt: 10,600 children and 12,975 Parents (payers + payees)
Kennedy: 10,000 children and 12,000 Parents (payers + payees)

We want to raise awareness that face-to-face service is available in Cairns.

This is a link to CSA's new quarterly update to customers http://www.csa.gov.au/newsletter/index.aspx . "Child Support Matters - The latest information on the Child Support Agency" the scheme reforms up to July 2008 as well as:

* New CSA online services for customers and how to use it
* Building A Better CSA - major customer service improvements, such as customer receipt numbers for enquiries
* Major new CSA compliance activities
* New and existing CSA products for separated parents such as our translated child support publications that are now available.

I have attached some of our recent media releases you might find useful.

2006-10-12 Staying Connected.doc
MRfinal Back to school 2007 - Qld.doc
2006-12-12 Me and My multicultural MR.doc
2007-03-06 Open for Business - Cairns.doc

For further information on the FREE seminar, contact...

George Donnelly: 0438 465 883
Barry Williams: 0417 668 802
Selwyn Johnston: 0418 243 652

This FREE seminar is open to fathers, mothers, grandparents and all interested community members of the Cairns & surrounding districts.

Please let me know if you would like more info or explanation on any of the above.

Many thanks.

Christian Dahl

External Relations Officer
Child Support Agency
Tel (07) 300 14603
Mobile 0419 448 306
Fax (07) 300 14699
Christian.Dahl at csa.gov.au mailto:Christian.Dahl at csa.gov.au