who we are
Holding Hands Family Services is a community-based children's contact service providing supervised contact visits and supervised changeovers for families following separation.
Established in 2017, our approach is guided by social work values and a commitment to remaining child focused in every aspect of service delivery. We believe that children benefit when services are thoughtfully planned, consistent and centred on their individual needs.
Our team includes social workers, psychologists, counsellors and mental health professionals who support children and families throughout the contact process.
what we do
Holding Hands Family Services provides:
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Supervised contact visits
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Supervised changeovers
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Intake assessments
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Child familiarisation sessions
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Observational visit reports
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Online contact visits where appropriate
Our services are often used by families involved in family law matters, although a court order is not required to access our services.
how contact visits work
Every family begins with an intake assessment. This gives us an opportunity to understand the family's circumstances and consider the needs of the children involved.
Children are then offered a child familiarisation session. These sessions help children become comfortable with the process and allow us to learn more about their interests, routines and preferences.
Where possible, families are allocated a consistent Contact Worker who supports visits over time.
Visits take place in community locations such as parks, playgrounds, libraries, shopping centres, cafes, mini golf venues and other child-friendly environments.
All families are provided with a primary visit location and a wet weather location, with separate meeting points and staggered arrival and departure arrangements established from the beginning.
our child focused approach
At Holding Hands, being child focused means considering the experience of children at every stage of the process.
We recognise that children adapt to environments, not systems. For this reason, we place significant emphasis on familiar locations, thoughtful preparation and building positive working relationships with children and families.
Our goal is to create opportunities for children to spend time with important people in their lives while feeling supported, understood and respected.
visit reports
Following visits, families may receive an observational report documenting what occurred during the contact session.
Our reports focus on observations rather than diagnosis. They aim to provide an accurate account of the visit while remaining focused on the child's experience.
areas we service
Holding Hands Family Services currently provides services across:
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Sydney
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Wollongong and the Illawarra
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Newcastle and the Hunter Region
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Central Coast
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Mid North Coast
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Coffs Harbour
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Northern Rivers
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Gold Coast
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Brisbane
Additional areas may be available by arrangement.
the alwayschildfocused project
In addition to providing contact services, Holding Hands develops educational resources through the Always Child Focused Project.
This includes:
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The Always Child Focused Podcast
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The Always Child Focused Blog
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The Always Child Focused Library
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The Always Child Focused Kids Website
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Professional collaborations with family law and child development professionals
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Research and community education initiatives
These resources are designed to help families, professionals and children better understand the contact process and the experiences of children following separation.
frequently asked questions
Do you provide supervised contact visits?
Yes. We provide supervised contact visits in community locations across New South Wales and South East Queensland.
Do you provide supervised changeovers?
Yes. We provide supervised changeovers in a range of community settings.
Do visits happen in family homes?
No. Holding Hands provides community-based services rather than home-based supervision.
Do children meet their Contact Worker before visits begin?
Yes. Children are offered a child familiarisation session before contact commences.
Do families receive reports?
Yes. Observational visit reports are available following visits.
How do I get started?
Families can contact Holding Hands Family Services directly to discuss their circumstances and arrange an intake assessment.
