Relationships Australia – 60 years in 2008

In 60 years, Relationships Australia has advanced from exclusively providing marriage guidance, to providing multi-dimensional counselling, mediation, education and healing across a broad canvas of personal and professional relationships.

Our beginnings grew from a country torn by war in the late 1940s.  After World War II, the enormous task of rebuilding the country began.  Two pioneers named Reverend W G Coughlan and Reverend E P Blamires, embarked on what Blamires called ‘an intense, eager persistent quest’, to respond to the steep rise in divorce and marital troubles that arose under war conditions.

Based on the model of the National Marriage Guidance Council in London, Coughlan and Blamires founded the Marriage Guidance Councils in Australia.  Between 1948 and 1951, all capital cities of states were forming councils on a community basis.  The members and staff were initially volunteers, described as ‘a group of intelligent happy people working with the devotion and humility of those faced with a mighty task and dedicated to its accomplishment’.  

In 1952, the first national conference of councils was held in Melbourne and the National Marriage Guidance Council of Australia (NMGCA) was formed in 1953.  From the start, Relationships Australia’s focus areas were marriage and relationship counselling and education; setting professional standards; training and accreditation; and the impact of immigration on marriage and family living.

The name National Marriage Guidance Council of Australia was retained until 1994, when it was changed to Relationships Australia Incorporated.  This was a change of both name and concept, responding to social shifts which brought more fluid arrangements into couple and family life.

The Relationships Australia of today has a wide range of clients which includes married and de-facto couples, same-sex couples, people from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with difficulties regarding mental health; people with disabilities; and people living in rural, regional and remote communities.

After six decades, we know our ‘quest’ to build stronger relationships for all Australians has made a difference and we will continue to do so with dedication and commitment for many years to come.

60th Celebration Events

• 'What Matters Most' Relationships Australia photographic competition
• 60th Events in Sydney

•  “How the Australian social landscape has changed over the past 60 years” LIVE Panel discussion on 702ABC Radio