Relationships Australia NSW — Macquarie Park Centre - Macquarie Park, New South Wales

Steve R.

After contacting my partner several times stating the "other party" has not made contact to arrange an "intake session", I called them to make an appointment. Gave them my name, gave them my partners name, provided a CRM number as per my partners next appointment, yet they could not find any case details in their system. I was told my partner needed to call them. In a relationship that is already on edge, this sort of churn is not helpful and as I told the receptionist, you have just instigated another fight which it did. So in summary it only took 1 call to RA, incompetent staff and no appointment as a result and the relationship is in a worse state than what it was before I picked up the phone. Kind of the service I'm learning to expect from any government funded agency. Perhaps I would be better off speaking to Cityrail.

Janet K.

In response to Linkedin post from Relationships Australia regarding causes and impacts of loneliness, I believe that consideration needs to be given to the conduct of staff in counselling services, and their contribution to loneliness..I had been referred to trauma counselling and subsequently intensive trauma counselling by Royal Commission into the Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. Blue Knot Foundation has been amazing, and referred me to Relationships Australia after another counsellor from another organizations made inappropriate and harmful comments which were completely unwarranted and caused re-trauma to me. Relationships Australia NSW waa also amazing, but there were times when I was left waiting as appointments were not always kept by staff. I hsd sent email letting them know of the adverse impacts on me from theie appointments not kept and asked Relayionships Australia to please let me know if appointments cannot be kept by staff. Despite this, my final appointment with Relationships Australia (due to end of contract with Royal Commission) was not kept by staff and I was left waiting and feeling completely disrespected and disregarded). Relationships Australua had previously told me tgat I could still have cohnselling through their services after their Royal Commission contract expired.When I later contacted Relatiinships Australia, and left urgent messages for the manager, Trish, to contact me, I received no response. My assigned counsellor had indicated that she would assist me in advocacy, and would look into certain matters for this purpose and that we would keep in touch even after their contract ended with the Royal Commission, and which we would have discussed during our final appointment, was not honoured by Relationships Australia.

Paul D.

There are some excellent services offered by Relationships Australia. Unfortunately they are (most if not all) let down by poor culture, negative work ethic, zero accountability, and an endless chain of command, that means you will never speak with someone who can actually assist. Thankfully, I was only dealing with RA on a matter that assisted one of their managed products/services.

Christopher C. R.

1) Rang 4 times trying to organise a Telecounselling session, after the fourth time of either being referred to a different state, being transferred but the call ended when they transferred, or simply just no answer after 40 mins I gave up.

2) There really doesn’t seem to be a consideration of “universal positive regard” with this group. All resources and images regarding men seem to be aimed at the need of men to change behaviour/agression/how to communicate with their children.

3) I’m a gay man, whose relationship isn’t abusive, I don’t have children; but I needed support around communication of boundaries and carer stress.

Repeatedly telling people to ‘just search the website’ when as a gay man the information outlines for me that my goals can only be an abuser or nonmonogamous- isn’t ok.

If you would like actual assistance you can find your own psychologist, mediator or counsellor here:
https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Registers-of-Practitioners.aspx?_gl=1*1kidvxl*_ga*MTY3MjgwNDE0NC4xNzAxMTQxNDE1*_ga_F1G6LRCHZB*MTcwMTE0MTQxNC4xLjEuMTcwMTE0MTU3MC4wLjAuMA..

D F.

A warning to any male suffering in an abusive relationship who seeks help from the “counsellors” at RA, they are bigots who ignore their own websites advice to men for abusive relationships net alone contemporary psychological research that clearly shows males can and are victims of abuse as well. I’ve completed a degree in psychology and the advice I received blatantly ignores virtually everything we were taught (and it’s common sense).
I went through their own factors of abuse with textbook examples for each one (financial, emotional, psychological etc etc), and was told I’m equally responsible even though I was able to demonstrate every pattern with endless references.
Lads, don’t go near these bigots, you are guilty in their eyes just for being a male, you are not “equally” responsible for being abused just because you are a male (when I asked my “counsellor” what her advice would be if my name was jane and I was a female and my partner was a John a male, she said I was being offensive - another cue they are a bigot they deflect and project). I tested my “counsellors” knowledge of modern psychology principles, even testing their knowledge of the DSM, and they didn’t know 100 level basics.
If someone finds a counsellor provider that doesn’t bring their low iq / eq unconscious bias into their sessions please share a link - I don’t trust my former classmates are able to identify and prevent any of their personal bias and bigotry from their supposed expert advice.

Mummy S.

Did not have a great experience with mediation, had 2 mediators one was very good but the other I found took other parties side and tried to push their agenda more, felt railroaded at some parts.

The1st I.

Beware of staff with agendas. Some are fantastic, others clearly have an axe to grind aand don't care about the case.

Cameron B.

Many forms of family support and programs are available and the staff are great