The Stepfamily Association of Victoria Inc. (SAVI) is a not-for-profit organisation whose mission is to encourage Victorian stepfamilies to survive and be successful. It commenced as a self-help support group in 1981, and remained a volunteer network for 16 years.

On gaining some funding in 1997 an office was established, and SAVI has now grown to become a respected, professionally resourced organisation providing support and education for families and training for professionals.

SAVI exists because members identified common issues, which they had previously thought they alone struggled with. These included
� Struggles with unclear roles and confusing family dynamics as members of two families with different histories and allegiances work to live together as a new family
� A frequent fear of another relationship failure.
� Isolation.
Few supports exist, and little Federal or State funding has been available to help map this new family terrain, or to link families to resources. These pressures have been compounded by societal myths such as Brady Bunch/Cinderella and Snow White which have provided unrealistic stereotypes of stepfamily life
� other myths that stepfamilies work the same as nuclear families

SAVI believes that a realistic, empowering understanding of stepfamilies is urgently needed, together with access to relevant information and specialised family support services.

Current ABS statistics (1998) show that one in three marriages is a remarriage, and that 20% of Victorian families are stepfamilies, with children from a previous relationship either living in or visiting regularly. More than one million children have one parent living apart from them.

The fact that such families are not easily identified as different to nuclear families (they too appear to have a Mum, Dad, and kids) contributes to an �invisibility� in the community which reinforces a belief that they can utilise resources provided for nuclear families.

SAVI�s experience over 20 years, backed by research, is that stepfamilies operate in fundamentally different ways than either nuclear or sole parent families.

SAVI believes that a realistic, empowering understanding of stepfamilies is urgently needed, together with access to relevant information and specialised family support services.

Current ABS statistics (1998) show that one in three marriages is a remarriage, and that 20% of Victorian families are stepfamilies, with children from a previous relationship either living in or visiting regularly. More than one million children have one parent living apart from them.

Stepfamilies are clearly here to stay. They can best provide a nurturing environment for children and young people if their unique needs are acknowledged, and targeted resources are provided.

SAVI achieves a great deal with very limited resources. SAVI provides a range of services to members of stepfamilies and the professionals working with them, including a Stepfamily Helpline, online support groups, education courses for stepfamily couples, information, booksales, community referrals and training for professionals. Students and volunteers contribute greatly to this work.

Approximately 25% of SAVI's costs are provided by government grants, with the balance from program fees, donations, fundraising and philanthropic trusts.

Donations are tax deductible and form a vital part of developing better services for stepfamilies.

Stepfamily Association of Victoria Inc
48 High Street
Northcote, VIC  3068
Ph: 03 9481 1500
Fax: 03 9481 1700
Web: http://www.stepfamily.org.au
Email: [email protected]

ABN: 37 519 262 404       DGR: 900 470 360

	Donations to this organisation over $2.00 are tax deductible. *
	Volunteering: Phone 03 9481 1500 for details OR Email this address [email protected] listing your contact details and how you might be able to help.