The CCS provides professional and child-focused changeover and supervision services to foster safe and positive interaction between children and their parents, and to strengthen these relationships.
Over time our aim is to help parents develop their own ways of managing contact arrangements that are in the best interests of their children.
We provide:
- staff who are professionally trained, friendly and child-focused
- separate assessment interviews
- secure and comfortable centres with toys and games
- separate entrances for parents
- orientation visits for children as required
- supervised visits in the community, in some cases observational reports.
Yes. As the CCS is completely independent from the Family Court of WA and the Federal Circuit Court, we are not able to enforce contact orders.
However, we work with parents to help them meet these orders or agreements and to ensure that the interests of children come first.
Both parents are required to contact the service. To maintain our independence we do not initiate contact with parents.
Due to high demand there is a waiting period for supervised contact.
Individual assessments to discuss concerns and requirements are held when we are able to offer a service.
To allow for more families to use the service, supervised contact generally occurs fortnightly, for a maximum of two hours.
Relationships Australia provides services subsidised by the Federal Government. As these subsidies do not fully cover costs, it is necessary to charge fees.
These are kept low and charged according to parents’ income. Special arrangements are possible for those in hardship.
Assessments
$30 (Health Care/Pension Card)
$50 (income up to $80,000)
$80 ($80,001-$100,000)
$120 ($100,001 and over)
Each parent is expected to pay for his or her assessment unless otherwise negotiated or ordered.
Handovers
$15 (Health Care/Pension Card)
$20 per handover (income up to $80,000)
$25 ($80,001-$100,000)
$30 ($100,001 and over)
Supervised visits (per hour, max 2 hours)
$20 (Health Care/Pension Card)
$30 (up to $80,000)
$40 ($80,001-$100,000)
$50 ($100,000 and over)
Off-site visits, if approved: Mileage at 80c per km if staff use their car
Cancellations without notice or non-arrival
Cost of scheduled fee
Letters
$50 (to confirm dates of attendance only)
Reports
We provide reports which help parents and the Family Court determine contact arrangements.
$150* (Health Care/Pension Card)
$200* (up to $80,000)
$400* (Legal-Aid funded, income $80,001 to $100,000)
$500* ($100, 001 and over)
*Reports will be subject to GST.
Office hours
Monday to Friday (9:30am-4:30pm)
Changeovers
Saturday (9:30am-4:30pm) and alternate Sundays (3-5pm). Weekdays can be negotiated.
Supervised time
Saturdays (9:30am-4:30pm) and alternate Sundays (3-5pm). We are closed on public holidays and over the Easter and Christmas periods.
Reports
In order to make reports fair and helpful, they are written only after a minimum of eight supervised sessions.
Please tell us at the assessment interview if a report will be required. This allows us to begin recording what is observed from the initial contact visit.
Service Agreements
Each parent is required to sign a Service Agreement outlining the requirements for using the Child Contact Service. This includes encouraging children to have a positive relationship with the other parent.
We also require a copy of your current Court Orders or parenting agreement and, if applicable, a copy of any Restraining Orders.