The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) is proud to announce its head of agency, Liz Neville, as a newly inducted Champion for National Families Week.

Held from 13 to 19 May, the theme for this year’s National Families Week is celebrating family diversity and connections.

Liz Neville said it is wonderful to have moment in the year to reflect on the diversity and uniqueness of families, and what makes their role so important.

'Families are the core unit of society. When working well, they help us feel safe and supported, nurture our social values and serve as the basis for a cohesive society.

'While the structure of Australian families has shifted over recent years – influenced by broader social, demographic and economic changes – they remain as important as ever to our emotional and psychological wellbeing.

'Let’s celebrate the great diversity and uniqueness of families and the influential role they play – not just in the lives of individuals, but in shaping society as a whole.'

Liz Neville said AIFS is firmly focussed on discovering what works for every kind of family to be healthy and strong.

'Through robust research programs – including two unique and important longitudinal studies that have been running for more than a decade, and another that has just ticked over two decades – we get to the heart of issues impacting families.

'Whether it’s the protective factors in childhood that lead to better health and wellbeing later on, or tackling major issues like family and sexual violence, gambling harms, mental ill-health and substance use, our rigorous evidence informs policies and resources that support all kinds of families.'

AIFS is the Australian Government’s key research agency focussed on family wellbeing. It undertakes research and evaluation to enable governments, service providers and practitioners to have a robust evidence base to draw on when developing policies and services.