Our Publications

Relationships Australia is involved in a wide range of research, practice and social policy activities. Listed here are recent publications that Relationships Australia has produced or has contributed to.

Booklets available

Women and Separation - Managing New Horizons
Men and Separation - Navigating the Future
Migrant Men and Separation - Choices in Tough Times
Parenting Plan "Share the Care" - Collaborative Parenting Apart
What about the Children? - Parenting Information
Renovate your relationship: a manual for men
More Birthdays Behind You
On Being a Dad
Partners - A Guide to Successful Relationships
Safe from violence - a guide for women following separation
Breaking Free - A Practical Approach to Quitting Gambling

An overview of each booklet is shown below along with links to download and view the booklet (in Adobe pdf format).  You can also order printed copies of some of the booklets.

Women and Separation - Managing New Horizons

This booklet is for you if you are a woman who is going through a separation or divorce. It covers topics such as:

• separation and women's experience
• looking after yourself
• mothers and children
• relating to your former partner
• making formal arrangements
• the future
• research about women and separation
• where to get further assistance.

Order a printed copy of the booklet by clicking this icon  
or download the Women and Separation Booklet (pdf).

Note: this publication is temporarily out of stock in Victoria.

Men and Separation - Navigating the Future

This booklet is for you if you are a man who is going through a separation or divorce, or if you are someone who is supporting a man who is experiencing a separation.  The booklet has been updated with the assistance of beyondblue: the national depression initiative.  It covers topics such as:

• separation and men's experiences
• you and your former partner
• looking after yourself
• fathers and children
• relating to your former partner
• getting a settlement
• the future
• research about men and separation
• where to get further assistance
• suggested reading.

Printed copies of this booklet are available from the beyondblue website.  You will find the order form for the Men and Separation booklet on the page titled "Organisations, health professionals and event organisers" at the bottom of the Depression section.
Order a printed copy of the booklet by clicking this icon  
or download the Men and Separation Booklet (pdf).

Migrant Men and Separation - Choices in Tough Times

(available in English, Arabic and Vietnamese)

Download the Migrant Men and Separation - English Booklet (pdf)

Download the Migrant Men and Separation - Arabic Booklet (pdf)

Download the Migrant Men and Separation - Vietnamese Booklet (pdf)

Parenting Plan "Share the Care" - Collaborative Parenting Apart

This Parenting Plan booklet is designed to help separating parents draw up a written agreement covering practical issues of parental responsibility in such areas as:

• communication
• parenting style
• living arrangements
• finances
• religion
• education
• health care
• emotional well being.

Order a printed copy of the booklet by clicking this icon
or download the Parenting Plan Booklet (pdf).

What about the Children? - Parenting Information

This booklet covers issues that parents need to be aware of when considering their children's needs during the separation process. The booklet covers topics such as:

• coping with the break-up
• issues to discuss with the other parent
• explaining the separation to the children
• what to expect with children of different ages
• what can you do to help children of different ages
• ground rules for parenting successfully after separation
• issues of safety
• ten mistakes separated/divorced parents make.

Order a printed copy of the booklet by clicking this icon

or download the What about the Children? Booklet (pdf).

Note: this publication is not available for order as a printed copy in Queensland.

Renovate your relationship: a manual for men

Many men tell us that they didn’t see the problems in their relationship before it was too late.  These guys wish they had done maintenance work on their love lives, before things deteriorated too far.

Don’t wait until your relationship is in trouble. Use this manual as your set of instructions to renovate your most important relationship.

This booklet was compiled by Mensline Australia and Relationships Australia Victoria.  It covers topics such as:

• Men and relationships
• Planning your relationship renovation
  
• Relationship foundations
  
• Working together
  
• Avoiding misunderstandings
  
• Sharpening up your listening
  
• When the roof blows off: anger and frustration
  
• Who has the power? - abuse and violence
  
• Self-maintenance
  
• Renovate your sex life
  
• Love
  
• Valuing differences
  
• Appreciation
  
• When trust breaks down
  
• Planning for the extension - children
  
• When it's time to consult a professional
  
• Where to get further assistance

Download the Renovate your relationship Booklet (pdf)

More Birthdays Behind You

This booklet is about having more birthdays behind you than in front of you. It's a book to encourage seniors how to enjoy their life. It covers such topics as:

• what being older means
• how to cope with life changes that retirement will bring
• the importance of maintaining relationships
• the myth that sexual activity decreases after mid-life
• the changing nature of family relationships
• coping with loneliness
• the decision to move from the family home
• planning your finances in retirement
• leisure time and activities.

Order a printed copy of the booklet by clicking this icon

 or download the More birthdays behind you Booklet (pdf)

On Being a Dad

This booklet offers advice to fathers so that they can better balance their busy lives and be there for their children. It covers such topics as:

• learning to be a dad
• balancing work and family commitments
• working smarter
• what "being there" for your children means
• parenting
• traditional versus non-traditional fathering
• making the most of the time you have with your children
• books and other resources on fathering
• leisure time and activities.

Order a printed copy of the booklet by clicking this icon

or download the On being a dad Booklet (pdf)

Note: this publication is not available to order as a printed copy in Queensland.

Partners - A Guide to Successful Relationships

This booklet is full of useful advice for those couples seeking to build a successful relationship. It covers topics such as:

• expectations that come with starting a new relationship
• what makes a fulfilling adult relationship
• how to find out what your partner's relationship and life needs are
• the sort of issues that need to be discussed in intimate relationships
• making time to talk about how the relationship is going
• how can I encourage my partner to communicate more openly?
• making the effort
• the importance of good communication
• ways to improve relationships
• recognising early warning signs of relationship problems.

Order a printed copy of the booklet by clicking this icon

or download the Partners - A guide to successful relationships Booklet (pdf)

Note: this publication is not available in Queensland.

Safe from violence - a guide for women following separation

This booklet covers issues for women who are considering separation, or have separated from a violent partner. Topics covered:

• What is domestic or family violence?
• Are you a victim of domestic violence?
• The effect of domestic violence on women
• The effect of domestic violence on children
• Breaking the silence
• On the road to separation
• Help along the way
• Domestic or Family Violence Orders
• A Safety Plan
• Safe parenting after separation
• Moving forward
• Where to get further assistance

Download the Safe from violence - a guide for women following separation Booklet (pdf)

Breaking Free - A Practical Approach to Quitting Gambling 

This booklet covers issues for people who are effected by excessive gambling. Topics covered:

• Controlled Gambling – the hard option
• How do you know if you have a problem?
• Is your gambling excessive?
• Reasons for Excessive Gambling
• Are the reason(s) why you gamble important?
• How do I change?
• Make a decision
• How can a counsellor help?
• Voluntary Self Banning
• Cash control strategies
• Limiting your access to cash
• Protection of assets
• How to get started
• Avoidance strategies
• An Awareness Diary
• Substitute activities
• Leisure activities
• Relapse avoidance
• How families feel
• Financial help
• Emotional support
• Family Violence
• Get on with your life

Download the Breaking Free - A Practical Approach to Quitting Gambling Booklet (pdf)

Relationships into the New Millenium

Relationships Australia's 50th Anniversary Publication (1999)

Papers in this publication explore:

• the changing nature of family relationships
• the changing management structures, professional practice and types of programs Relationships Australia provides
• the changing ways communities support their members
• the changing Government social policy.

Note:  copies of this publication are no longer available for order.

More information on this publication.