Our new Family Centre in Frenchs Forest

October 27, 2026

Every part of the new CatholicCare Northern Beaches Family Centre in Frenchs Forest has been designed around the families who come to us in their most difficult moments. Its spaces are intentionally open rather than enclosed, a deliberate trauma aware approach, and its walls carry artwork by Boonah artists, some of it created especially for the centre.

At the centre’s official opening and blessing on 22 October, guests including Diocesan Administrator Fr David Ranson, CatholicCare’s Interim CEO Jodie Rollason, local parish priests and partner services gathered to see what that approach makes possible. Angela Whitby, Executive Manager of Integrated Services, said the centre is about creating space for fear and hurt to be unpacked, and for bravery and courage to emerge. “We want our families to experience hope for a better, safer future when they are in our presence, but more importantly with tools to continue to experience safety when they leave.” She paid tribute to the staff who make that possible, saying they work tirelessly in an industry that at times feels harder than hard. “And they show up to do this, every single day.”

For Wendy, Program Manager of the Northern Sydney Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service (WDVCAS), showing up means responding quickly. About half of the 120 referrals her team receives each week come from Northern Beaches police following an incident of family and domestic violence. “We telephone every woman referred to us within one business day of the incident.” Her team of 15 then works alongside each woman on legal information, court support and safety planning, and connects her with counselling, housing and financial help. The new centre gives them an accessible place to work after attending Manly Court, and a boardroom that may suit the fortnightly Safety Action Meetings for women assessed to be at highest risk. “We have already booked in our team planning day here for the end of November and look forward to fully utilising the board room, numerous break-out spaces and fabulous kitchen entertaining area,” Wendy said.

Financial counselling is another service delivered from the centre, and Financial Counsellor Jane shared how it supports people in financial difficulty. The free service also runs from Artarmon and the Ryde outreach service, and many of the clients it helps have complex mental health issues, family breakdown or housing instability. Jane described how financial abuse can sit within domestic violence. “Domestic and Family Violence often involves financial abuse which can continue long after the relationship has ended.” That can include clients being coerced into loans they received little or no benefit from, traffic fines being assigned to them even when they have never held a driver’s licence, and the tax system being manipulated to divert tax debt to them. In each case, a financial counsellor can advocate for the client. “The aim of financial counselling is to help clients address their immediate financial issues and prevent future problems.”

Together, these teams show what the new Northern Beaches Family Centre is for. It is a place where our staff can wrap care and support around children and families when they need it most, and where the community is welcome. As Angela said, it is work that cannot be done alone, “and we need the support of our communities, parishes and supporters.”

The centre is open 8.30am – 4.30pm Monday to Friday and is located at Unit 4, Building 3, 49 Frenchs Forest Rd E, Frenchs Forest and we can be contacted on 1800 324 924.