Family Responsibilities Commission

Report to the Family Responsibilities Board and
The Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships

Quarterly Report
No. 30

October 2015 to December 2015

Report prepared by the Family Responsibilities Commission under the leadership of Commissioner David Glasgow

Executive Summary
During quarter 30, 948 within jurisdiction agency notices were received by the Family Responsibilities Commission (the Commission), a decrease of 202 from last quarter.  There were 526 conferences held for the same period, representing a decrease of 151 from the previous quarter.  It should be noted that the Commission conferenced in the five communities for a period of nine weeks for the quarter and plans to resume conferencing in the last week of January 2016.  Twelve Family Responsibility Agreements (FRAs) were entered into, 38 orders were made to attend community support services and 53 Conditional Income Management (CIM) orders were issued.  When compared to last quarter, this represents a decrease of 13 FRA’s, an increase of 8 orders to attend community support services and a decrease of 13 CIM orders.

Voluntary Income Management (VIM) agreements increased by one from last quarter.  VIM agreements are requested in order to assist with budgeting and to ensure funds remain available for purchases.  The Commission considers an increase in VIM numbers to be indicative of community members resuming responsibility for their lives.

The Commission case-managed 149 clients during the quarter, making 52 referrals relating to 45 clients.  Further activity during the quarter consisted of 13 Applications to Amend or End Agreements or Orders (the same as the previous quarter).  No Show Cause conferences were held during quarter 30 (a decrease of 5 from last quarter).

On 13 October 2015, the Hon. Curtis Pitt MP, Treasurer, Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships introduced the Family Responsibilities Commission Amendment Bill 2015 to Parliament.  The Bill proposed to amend the FRC Act to include a domestic violence trigger for notices to the Commission (Recommendation 93 of the Not Now, Not Ever: Putting an End to Domestic Violence in Queensland report).  Further amendments were to expand the delegation of the FRC Commissioner’s functions to allow Local Commissioners to deliver income management orders when conferencing under s50(A), broaden the suitability requirements of the Registrar, remove redundant provisions and clarify the process for the youth justice trigger.  The new domestic violence trigger will facilitate the conferencing of community members who are the subject of a domestic violence order.  On 6 November 2015, the Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee tabled its Report No. 9 on the Bill, delivering a total of five recommendations; Recommendation 1 of which recommended that the Amendment Bill be passed.  The Family Responsibility Commission Amendment Bill was passed by Parliament with unanimous support on 1 December 2015 and received Royal Assent on 17 December 2015.

The Commission’s annual School Awards ceremonies were held in December in each of the five communities.  Prizes were provided for attendance achievements and included certificates, medals and vouchers which the Local Commissioners proudly presented to the deserving children.  The annual School Awards ceremonies provide positive recognition and support for those students (and their families) who regularly attend school, and also provide an incentive for those students who wish to improve their school attendance.  The Commissioner, Registrar and Client Manager individually attend an award night to support the Local Commissioners and their communities in this annual event.

With the removal of the sunset clause from the FRC Act on 28 November 2014, and in order to comply with s149 of the Public Service Act 2008 and various other State Government directives, eight Commission employees were transitioned to tenure as permanent public servants after having cleared the employees requiring placement pool.  Each of these employees has been on contract with the Commission for an extended period of time, and their transition to tenure has afforded them a permanency of tenure which is well deserved.

Table of contents

1.  Activities and Trends		4
2.  Future Direction and Challenges	13
3.  Financial Operations		14

Abbreviations
CIM		Conditional Income Management
DATSIP		Department of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
DET		Department of Education and Training
FRA		Family Responsibilities Agreement
FRC		Family Responsibilities Commission
VIM		Voluntary Income Management
Also:		
Family Responsibilities Commission (the Commission)
Family Responsibilities Commission Act 2008 (the Act)
Family Responsibilities Commission Registry (the Registry)
Family Responsibilities Board (the Board)

Family Responsibilities Commission
Welfare Reforms

Report to 31 December 2015.
1.  Activities and Trends

Notices
In quarter 30 the Commission received 1,339 agency notices.  Some individuals may have been the subject of more than one agency notice.  Of that figure 948 notices (71 percent) were within the Commission’s jurisdiction and 391 notices (29 percent) were outside the Commission’s jurisdiction.

Within jurisdiction notices comprised of:

	16	District Court notices
	3	Children’s Court notices
	244	Magistrates Court notices
	614	School Attendance notices
	7	School Enrolment notices
	52	Child Safety and Welfare notices
	12	Housing Tenancy notices

Of the 391 notices not within the Commission’s jurisdiction, there were 0 District Court notices, 0 Children’s Court notices, 231 Magistrates Court notices, 156 School Attendance notices, 0 School Enrolment notices, 3 Child Safety and Welfare notices and 1 Housing Tenancy notice.

Details of notices within jurisdiction for each community are set out below:

•	Aurukun’s 427 notices constitute 45.04 percent of the total notices in jurisdiction across the welfare reform communities:

	12	District Court notices
	3	Children’s Court notices
	147	Magistrates Court notices
	241	School Attendance notices
	7	School Enrolment notices
	17	Child Safety and Welfare notices
	0	Housing Tenancy notices

Seventy-three Magistrates Court notices and 6 School Attendance notices were processed as not within jurisdiction.

•	Coen’s 41 notices constitute 4.32 percent of the total notices in jurisdiction:

	4	District Court notices
	0	Children’s Court notices
	13	Magistrates Court notices
	14	School Attendance notices
	0	School Enrolment notices
	2	Child Safety and Welfare notices
	8	Housing Tenancy notices

Three Magistrates Court notices, 2 School Attendance notices and 1 Housing Tenancy notice were processed as not within jurisdiction.

•	Doomadgee’s 231 notices constitute 24.37 percent of the total notices in jurisdiction:

	213	School Attendance notices
	0	School Enrolment notices
	18	Child Safety and Welfare notices

One hundred and sixteen School Attendance notices and 3 Child Safety and Welfare notices were processed as not within jurisdiction.

•	Hope Vale’s 220 notices constitute 23.21 percent of the total notices in jurisdiction:

	0	District Court notices
	0	Children’s Court notices
	71	Magistrates Court notices
	133	School Attendance notices
	0	School Enrolment notices
	14	Child Safety and Welfare notices
	2	Housing Tenancy notices

Seventy-two Magistrates Court notices and 12 School Attendance notices were processed as not within jurisdiction.

•	Mossman Gorge’s 29 notices constitute 3.06 percent of the total notices in jurisdiction:

	0	District Court notices
	0	Children’s Court notices
	13	Magistrates Court notices
	13	School Attendance notices
	0	School Enrolment notices
	1	Child Safety and Welfare notice
	2	Housing Tenancy notices

Eighty-three Magistrates Court notices and 20 School Attendance notices were processed as not within jurisdiction.

Since its commencement the Commission has received 23,306 agency notices within its jurisdiction.  Total notices decreased from 1,512 in quarter 29 to 1,339 in quarter 30.  Of those notices in jurisdiction District Court, Magistrates Court, School Attendance, School Enrolment and Housing Tenancy notices decreased, whilst Children’s Court and Child Safety and Welfare notices increased.

District Court notices decreased this quarter to 16 from 65 received in the previous quarter.  Coen received 4 notices for the first time, whilst Aurukun, Hope Vale and Mossman Gorge decreased by 17, 32 and 4 notices respectively.  The Commission does not receive District Court notices for Doomadgee.

Children’s Court notices increased from 2 in quarter 29 to 3 in quarter 30. The Commission received Children’s Court notices from Aurukun for the first time this quarter with 3 notices, whilst Hope Vale decreased by 2 notices with no notices received for the quarter.  The Commission is yet to receive any Children’s Court notices for Coen and Mossman Gorge.  The Commission does not receive Children’s Court notices for Doomadgee.

Magistrates Court notices decreased this quarter to 244 from 354 received in the previous quarter.  Aurukun and Coen decreased by 109 and 8 notices respectively, whilst Hope Vale and Mossman Gorge increased by 1 and 6 notices respectively.  The Commission does not receive Magistrates Court notices for Doomadgee.

School Attendance notices decreased from 665 in quarter 29 to 614 in quarter 30.  Four out of the five communities experienced a decrease in notices this quarter.  Coen, Doomadgee, Hope Vale and Mossman Gorge decreased by 15 notices, 41 notices, 21 notices and 7 notices respectively, whilst Aurukun increased by 33 notices.

School Enrolment notices decreased from 11 in quarter 29 to 7 in quarter 30.  Aurukun increased by 3 notices, Coen and Mossman Gorge decreased by 4 notices and 3 notices respectively, whilst Doomadgee and Hope Vale remained unchanged with zero school enrolment notices received for the quarter.

Child Safety and Welfare notices increased from 38 in quarter 29 to 52 in quarter 30.  Aurukun increased by 12 notices, Doomadgee increased by 1 notice and Hope Vale increased by 6 notices whilst Coen decreased by 2 notices and Mossman Gorge decreased by 3 notices.

Housing Tenancy notices decreased to 12 from 15 received in the previous quarter.  Aurukun and Hope Vale decreased by 6 notices each, whilst Coen increased by 8 notices and Mossman Gorge increased by 1 notice for the quarter.  The Commission does not receive Housing Tenancy notices for Doomadgee.

The Commission receives school attendance data from the Department of Education and Training (DET). This data is published on the Commission’s web page at http://www.frcq.org.au when available.

Table 1: In jurisdiction notices by type and quarter 1 October 2014 to 31 December 2015.

Notices by Agency Processed	Qtr 26	Qtr 27	Qtr 28	Qtr 29	Qtr 30	
District Court			25	65	16	
Children’s Court			0	2	3	
Magistrates Court	187	281	223	354	244	
School Attendance	686	587	637	665	614	
School Enrolment	0	24	6	11	7	
Child Safety	80	76	39	38	52	
Housing Tenancy	21	34	14	15	12	
TOTAL	974	1002	944	1150	948	

Table 2: In jurisdiction notices by community and quarter 1 October 2014 to 31 December 2015.

Community	Qtr 26	Qtr 27	Qtr 28	Qtr 29	Qtr 30	
Aurukun	363	386	402	508	427	
Coen	62	33	30	58	41	
Doomadgee	235	262	231	271	231	
Hope Vale	281	253	227	274	220	
Mossman Gorge	33	68	54	39	29	
TOTAL	974	1002	944	1150	948	

Since commencement in July 2008, 86.5 percent of clients have received more than one notice with 56.2 percent of clients receiving more than five notices.  Frequently this illustrates multiple child school absences for the one family or multiple Magistrates Court notices relating to one incident.  Conversely, 13.5 percent of clients have received only one notice.

Table 3: FRC clients by number of notices 1 July 2008 to 31 December 2015.

Number of Notices Received	Number of Clients	
1	256	
2	193	
3	137	
4	123	
5	119	
>5	1064	
TOTAL	1892	

(Note:  Counting rules stipulate that where multiple charges are received each charge is counted as an individual notice or each child’s absence is counted as one notice – i.e. if three children from the one family were absent, that was counted as three notices).

Conferences
Five hundred and twenty-six conferences were held across the five communities in quarter 30 resulting in 12 FRA’s being entered into, 38 orders made to attend community support services and 53 CIM orders.  Other outcomes as a result of conferencing during the quarter were decisions for no further action, rescheduling and scheduling to return for review with compliance.  Eighteen new clients were added to the Commission’s database during the quarter.  Details of conferencing activity in each community for quarter 30 are as follows:

	190 conferences were held in Aurukun
	18 conferences were held in Coen
	189 conferences were held in Doomadgee
	92 conferences were held in Hope Vale
	37 conferences were held in Mossman Gorge.

Conferences decreased from 677 in quarter 29 to 526 in quarter 30.

Table 4: Conferences by community and quarter 1 October 2014 to 31 December 2015.

Community	Qtr 26	Qtr 27	Qtr 28	Qtr 29	Qtr 30	
Aurukun	225	232	236	244	190	
Coen	16	16	29	24	18	
Doomadgee	89	149	247	205	189	
Hope Vale	121	151	123	153	92	
Mossman Gorge	63	53	64	51	37	
TOTAL	514	601	699	677	526	

Referrals
The number of referrals to service providers decreased from 53 in quarter 29 to 52 in quarter 30, relating to 45 clients.  Since commencement the Commission has referred 897 clients to service providers resulting in approximately 47.1 percent of clients on 12 month service referral plans.  Referrals in the communities during the quarter were as follows: Aurukun decreased by 7; Coen increased by 2; Doomadgee decreased by 5; Hope Vale increased by 6 and Mossman Gorge increased by 3.

Table 5: Referral pathways by referral type and quarter 1 October 2014 to 31 December 2015.

Referral Type	Qtr 26	Qtr 27	Qtr 28	Qtr 29	Qtr 30	
MPower	5	9	3	3	6	
WBC - RDFS	34	29	7	34	22	
WBC – Medicare Local	1	8	15	7	2	
SCM	0	0	0	1	2	
Parenting Program	6	3	1	2	13	
Home Pride	3	0	0	0	1	
QLD Health	0	1	7	1	1	
Save the Children	0	1	2	5	5	
Other	1	0	0	0	0	
TOTAL	50	51	35	53	52	

Conditional Income Management
Fifty-three CIM orders were made in quarter 30, a decrease of 13 from quarter 29.  Since the commencement of the Commission 1,727 CIM orders inclusive of original orders, extensions and amendments have been made relating to 696 clients.  During the quarter Aurukun and Coen decreased by 23 and 1 CIM orders respectively, whilst Hope Vale and Mossman Gorge increased by 9 and 2 CIM orders respectively.  The Commission at present does not have the ability to income manage clients in Doomadgee.

As at 31 December 2015, 36.6 percent of the Commission’s clients have been subject to a CIM order over the past seven and a half years.  As at 31 December 2015 there were 141 clients subject to a CIM order which equates to 7.41 percent of clients on a CIM order at a point in time.  Commissioners continue to negotiate with clients to achieve desirable outcomes or to demonstrate motivation and commitment to make appropriate life choices.  Demonstrated positive steps toward taking responsibility provide the Commissioners with sufficient reason to consider revoking CIM orders when requested by the client.

The Commission processed 1 VIM agreement this quarter and since the commencement of the Commission in 2008, 95 clients have requested a VIM agreement.  Those clients that request a VIM agreement use income management as a savings and budget tool, often for a specified period and to deter family members from accessing their income.

Table 6: Conditional Income Management orders by community and quarter 1 October 2014 to 31 December 2015.

Community	Qtr 26	Qtr 27	Qtr 28	Qtr 29	Qtr 30	
Aurukun	32	22	39	47	24	
Coen	2	0	0	2	1	
Doomadgee	0	0	0	0	0	
Hope Vale	10	11	2	9	18	
Mossman Gorge	14	6	8	8	10	
TOTAL	58	39	49	66	53	

Case Management
As at 31 December 2015, 149 clients were being case managed, an increase from 143 in quarter 29.  Aurukun, Hope Vale and Mossman Gorge increased by 7, 1 and 1 respectively, Coen and Doomadgee decreased by 2 and 1 respectively.

Show Cause Notices
During quarter 30, no Show Cause hearings were held, a decrease of 5 from quarter 29.

Table 7: Show Cause Notices by community and quarter 1 October 2014 to 31 December 2015.

Community	Qtr 26	Qtr 27	Qtr 28	Qtr 29	Qtr 30	
Aurukun	1	0	1	5	0	
Coen	0	0	1	0	0	
Doomadgee	0	0	0	0	0	
Hope Vale	5	0	5	0	0	
Mossman Gorge	0	0	0	0	0	
TOTAL	6	0	7	5	0	

Applications to Amend or End Agreements or Orders
Thirteen Applications to Amend or End a Family Responsibilities Agreement or Order were received in quarter 30, the same as for quarter 29.  Outcomes of the 13 applications received are as follows:

	4 Applications granted and Income Management agreements and orders revoked
	3 Applications dismissed
	6 Applications received at the end of the quarter, decision pending

The Commission continues to encourage clients to participate in the Amend or End process.  Commissioners report increasing client confidence to question decisions and the reasons behind decisions, both for decisions delivered by the Commission and decisions delivered by external agencies and bodies.

Table 8: Applications to Amend or End FRA or Order by community and quarter 1 October 2014 to 31 December 2015.

Community	Qtr 26	Qtr 27	Qtr 28	Qtr 29	Qtr 30	
Aurukun	9	10	4	5	5	
Coen	1	0	4	0	0	
Doomadgee	0	0	0	0	0	
Hope Vale	10	5	5	5	6	
Mossman Gorge	8	3	6	3	2	
TOTAL	28	18	19	13	13	

2.  Future Direction and Challenges

Domestic Violence
Following the introduction of the domestic violence trigger to the FRC Act, the Local Commissioners have requested appropriate training in order to increase their awareness of issues surrounding domestic violence, and also to enhance their capability to conference community members on the domestic violence trigger.  The Commission has no allocation in its present budget for the year ended June 30, 2016 to meet Commissioners’ education and training costs for this new trigger.  Due to the importance of meeting this new challenge, however, White Ribbon training will be provided at the Local Commissioner Development week in May 2016, and at this stage the cost of training will be met from Commission reserves.

On 6 November 2015, the Communities, Disability Services and Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Committee tabled its Report No. 9 on the Family Responsibilities Commission Amendment Bill 2015.  Recommendation 2 states:
“The Committee considers that the availability of such domestic and family violence specific support services is vital if the FRC is going to be able to play an effective part in tackling domestic and family violence in welfare reform community areas.”

The Commission considers that priority must be given to meeting the challenge of this new referral option by DATSIP sourcing appropriate counselling services to treat both the perpetrator and aggrieved. The Commission looks forward to discussing with DATSIP what service options will be sourced in the near future.

Doomadgee BasicsCard
The Commission awaits confirmation from DATSIP regarding the availability of Income Management for the Doomadgee community.  Our planning is now complete to allow Local Commissioners to commence the issuing of Income Management Orders by Term 2 of the 2016 school year.

Aurukun
The community of Aurukun has experienced a tumultuous quarter ending a very difficult 12 months.  Intermittent but frequent importing of alcohol resulted in violent and drunken behaviour, fighting and damage to property.  Many nights of uncontrolled load music resulted in domestic disturbances and poor school and work attendances.  Mediation services in the community were unavailable for a considerable period of time following the round table meeting held on 9 September 2015 as a result of the illness of the meditator and his absence from community.

The community disturbances, reported as riots, of the last eight weeks culminated in the violent death of a community member, the looting of the store of over $100,000 of stock, damage to more than 30 homes making them uninhabitable, and extensive property and vehicle damage.  Police reinforcements were brought in over the period to stabilise the community at considerable cost to the State Government.

Local stakeholders meetings have been re-established in community by DATSIP after a period of five months.  The Commission identifies the need for regular meetings of community leaders, service providers and representatives of each clan to work to re-establish and implement:
•	a realistic and workable community safety plan,
•	community rules of acceptable public behaviour and conduct, and
•	programs for community education on health and safety matters.

These objectives will only be achieved, in the Commission’s view, after wide community consultation and agreement by the majority of Aurukun’s people, including those directly involved in the recent disturbances.

3.  Financial Operations

Governance

Part 12 of the Act provides for the establishment of the Family Responsibilities Board (the Board).

The Board has a mandate to give advice and make recommendations to the Minister about the operation of the Commission and similarly to give advice and make recommendations to the Commissioner about the performance of the Commission’s functions.

The Board must meet at least every six months.  The meeting may be held by using any technology available which will allow for efficient and effective communication, however, the Board members must meet in person at least once a year.  A quorum for the Board is comprised of two members.  The Board’s membership consists of:

•	Ms Clare O’Connor	Director-General, Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
•	Mr Noel Pearson		Founder, Cape York Partnership
•	Ms Caroline Edwards	First Assistant Secretary – Indigenous Affairs, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Operational

In meeting obligations under Part 3 of the Act, the Family Responsibilities Commission Registry (the Registry) commenced operations on 1 July 2008 with a central Registry office established in Cairns and local Registry offices operating in each of the five welfare reform communities.

The Registry, managed by the Registrar, provides corporate and operational support to the Commissioner, the Local Commissioners and the Local Coordinators.

Financial

Income:
•	Income accrued by the Commission for the period 1 October 2015 to 31 December 2015 totalled $1,014,444.  This income consisted of:
•	$400,000 Queensland Government funding
•	$131,500 Queensland Government reimbursement for Doomadgee 2015/16
•	$450,000 Australian Government funding
•	$5,977 interest received
•	$26,967 received in sundry income.
The balance of available funds in the bank as at 31 December 2015 is $1,197,946.

Expenditure:
•	Expenditure for the period 1 October 2015 to 31 December 2015 was $879,975.  This total represents 21 percent of the projected annual expenditure of $4,216,985.

Table 9: Expenditure in quarter 30.

1 October 2015 to	Expenditure	1 October 2015 to	Expenditure	
31 December 2015	Qtr 30	31 December 2015	Qtr 30	
				
Employee salaries – FRC staff	$457,248	Internet & IT	$48,846	
Employee salaries – Local Commissioners	$97,875	Motor vehicle	$20,081	
Employee on costs – FRC staff	$93,976	Property	$43,304	
Employee on costs – Local Commissioners	$16,967	Travel	$46,236	
Other employment costs	$9,308	General operating	$39,789	
Communications	$6,345	Total	$879,975	

Quarter 30 disbursement of expenditure by category and percentage of total expenditure.

Table 10: Total FRC Operating Costs 1 October 2015 to 31 December 2015.

Expenditure Category	Percentage of Total Expenditure	
Employee salaries – FRC staff	51.97%	
Employee salaries – Local Commissioners	11.12%	
Employee on costs – FRC staff	10.68%	
Employee on costs – Local Commissioners	1.93%	
Other employment costs	1.06%	
Communications	0.72%	
Internet & IT	5.55%	
Motor vehicle	2.28%	
Property	4.92%	
Travel	5.25%	
General operating	4.52%	
Total	100.00%	

Regional operational expenditure by location and quarter.

Table 11: Operating Costs by remote location 1 October 2014 to 31 December 2015.

Community	Qtr 26	Qtr 27	Qtr 28	Qtr 29	Qtr 30	
Aurukun	$123K	$110K	$124K	$135K	$96K	
Coen	$27K	$11K	$30K	$31K	$24K	
Doomadgee	$105K	$88K	$131K	$132K	$144K	
Hope Vale	$91K	$96K	$98K	$72K	$82K	
Mossman Gorge	$49K	$46K	$54K	$47K	$44K	
TOTAL	$395K	$351K	$437K	$417K	$390K	

Cairns Registry expenditure for quarter 30 compared to the previous five quarters.

Table 12: Quarterly Operating Costs Cairns 1 October 2014 to 31 December 2015.

Community	Qtr 26	Qtr 27	Qtr 28	Qtr 29	Qtr 30	
Corporate Services	$231K	$189K	$231K	$206K	$202K	
Operations	$243K	$297K	$301K	$242K	$250K	
Gov/Board Reporting	$41K	$14K	$35K	$36K	$37K	
Abnormal Expenditure	$0K	$30K	$8K	$0K	$0K	
TOTAL	$515K	$530K	$575K	$484K	$489K	

APPENDIX A			

	SITTING CALENDAR 2015
FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES COMMISSION
1 January 2015 to 31 December 2015		
Week Beginning	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Other	
5 January						Cooktown Circuit	
12 January						Aurukun Cape B & Coen Cape A Circuit	
19 January						20 ASC Meeting	
26 January	Public Holiday	27	28			26 Australia Day
Doomadgee - Gulf Circuit	
2 February		3	4			Cooktown Circuit	
		3	4				
		3					
9 February		10	11			Aurukun Cape B Circuit	
16 February		17	18			17 ASC Meeting, 18/19 DSC Meeting	
		17	18				
		17					
23 February	23	24	25	26		Doomadgee - Gulf Circuit	
2 March	2	3					
		3	4				
		3					
9 March		10	11			Aurukun Cape B & Coen Cape A Circuit
Cooktown Circuit	
16 March		17	18			17 ASC Meeting, 18/19 DSC Meeting	
		17	18				
		17					
23 March		24	25			Doomadgee - Gulf Circuit	
30 March		31	1		Public Holiday	3 Good Friday	
		31					
		31					
6 April	Public Holiday					6 Easter Monday
Cooktown Circuit	
13 April						15/16 DSC Meeting
Aurukun Cape B Circuit	
20 April		21	22			21 ASC Meeting
Doomadgee - Gulf Circuit	
		21	22				
		21					
27 April		28	29	30			
4 May		5	6			Cooktown Circuit	
		5	6				
		5					

	SITTING CALENDAR 2015
FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES COMMISSION
1 January 2015 to 31 December 2015		
Week Beginning	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Other	
11 May	11	12	13	14		15 ASC Meeting
Aurukun Cape B & Coen Cape A Circuit	
18 May			20	21		20/21 DSC Meeting
Doomadgee - Gulf Circuit	
		19	20				
		19					
25 May						Commissioner Development Week	
1 June	Public Holiday	2	3	4		1 Mabo Day for Doomadgee
Cooktown Circuit	
8 June	Public Holiday		10	11		8 Queen’s Birthday	
		9	10				
		9					
15 June	15	16	17	18	Public Holiday	21 Mt Isa Show, 17/18 DSC Meeting
Aurukun Cape B Circuit, Doomadgee - Gulf Circuit	
22 June		23	24			22, 23 ASC Meeting	
		23					
		23					
29 June							
6 July						Cooktown Circuit	
13 July		14	15	16	Public Holiday	17 Cairns Show Day, 15/16 DSC Meeting
Aurukun Cape B & Coen Cape A Circuit
Doomadgee - Gulf Circuit	
20 July		21	22			21 ASC Meeting
20 Mossman Show	
		21					
		21					
27 July		28	29				
3 August	Public Holiday	4	5			4 FR Board Meeting
4 Aurukun Day
Cooktown Circuit	
		4	5				
		4					
10 August	10	11	12			Aurukun Cape B Circuit
Doomadgee - Gulf Circuit	
17 August		18	19			Estimates, 18 ASC Meeting, 19/20 DSC Meeting	
		18	19				
		18					
24 August	24	25	26	27	Public Holiday	28 Doomadgee Day	

	SITTING CALENDAR 2015
FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES COMMISSION
1 January 2015 to 31 December 2015		
Week Beginning	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Other	
31 August		1	2			Cooktown Circuit	
		1	2				
		1					
7 September	7	8	9	10		Aurukun Cape B & Coen Cape A Circuit	
14 September		15	16			15 ASC Meeting, 16/17 DSC Meeting	
		15	16				
		15					
21 September							
28 September		29				Doomadgee - Gulf Circuit	
5 October	Public Holiday		7	8		5 Labour Day
Cooktown Circuit	
		6	7				
12 October	12	13	14	15		14/15 DSC Meeting
Aurukun Cape B Circuit	
19 October		20	21			20 ASC Meeting
Doomadgee - Gulf Circuit	
		20	21				
26 October	26	27				28 FR Board Meeting	
2 November		3	4	5		Cooktown Circuit	
		3	4				
9 November			11	12		Aurukun Cape B & Coen Cape A Circuit	
16 November		17	18	19		17 ASC Meeting, 18/19 DSC Meeting
Doomadgee - Gulf Circuit	
		17	18				
23 November	23	24	25	26			
30 November		1	2	3 (Half Day)		Cooktown Circuit	
		1					
7 December						Aurukun Cape B Circuit	
14 December						15 ASC Meeting, 16/17 DSC Meeting
Doomadgee - Gulf Circuit	
21 December					Public Holiday	25 Christmas Day	
28 December	Public Holiday				Public Holiday	28 Boxing Day, 29, 30, 31 Office closed for Xmas, 1 New Year’s Day	

LEGEND

	Office Days	
	Public Holidays	
	Aurukun Sitting	
	Coen Sitting	
	Doomadgee Sittings	
	Hope Vale Sitting	
	Mossman Gorge Sitting	
ASC	Aurukun Shire Council Meeting	
DSC	Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council Meeting	
0	Cancelled Conference	

OFFICE	CONTACT NAME	Phone	Mobile	Facsimile	
Cairns – Registrar	Ms Maxine McLeod	4057 3871	0409 461 624	4041 0974	
Cairns – Client Manager	Ms Camille Banks	4057 3874	0419 647 948	4041 0974	
Cairns – Accountant	Ms Andrea Cotten	4057 3875	0429 495 353	4041 0974	
Aurukun Local Coordinator	Ms Dellis Gledhill	4060 6185	0428 985 106	4060 6094	
Coen Local Coordinator	Ms Sandi Rye		0417 798 392	4041 0974	
Doomadgee Local Coordinator	Mr Bryce Coxall	4745 8111	0418 666 204	4745 8366	
Hope Vale Local Coordinator	Ms Samantha Foster	4060 9153	0408 482 026	4060 9137	
Mossman Gorge Local Coordinator	Ms Sandi Rye		0417 798 392	4041 0974