The theme of the Australian Institute of Family Studies Seventh National Conference, held in Sydney in July 2000, was 'Family futures: issues in research and policy'. This overview of the conference briefly introduces the opening addresses, discusses the organising themes of the conference, the key themes that emerged from the conference, and the key issues which seem likely to dominate work in family studies over the next few years. Discussion includes children and parenting issues, relationship and family law issues, social participation and community issues, and new responsibilities, new moralities.