National Advisory Council
The Family Services National Advisory Council is a forum of senior representatives from government agencies and from non-government organisations (NGOs), and people who provide an iwi/Māori and Pacific peoples perspective.
The council works with FACS to support the development of policies and services for families in New Zealand.
Role and functions
The council’s role is to develop and promote shared views about the needs and place of families, and policies and services to support them. It functions are to:
- Develop strategic priorities for action related to families
- Provide a point of contact between government, non-government organisations and community representatives
- Promote the alignment of existing family service programmes with strategic directions
- Develop new initiatives that support families
- Optimise opportunities to work together collaboratively
- Provide advice on how the Families Strategic Framework is implemented.
The Dream: Moemoea
The council’s work is guided by its vision statement, the Moemoea.
In this family
- They have knowledge of their whakapapa (genealogy) and history/taonga (treasures) and are confident within their identity, able to live in the present and shape their futures
- People can speak their own language
- Spiritual aspects are central to their lives where they wish them to be
- They value and respect all who belong to them, e.g. children and older members
- They are aware of and active within their community
- They realise their roles, functions and responsibilities
- They have sufficient access to resources that they are able to provide for their needs
- They are able to collectively meet their community and family responsibilities
- They are adaptable, entrepreneurial and well educated
- They are visionary, with a sense of future possibilities
- They are able to own their own homes should they wish to
- Family members are able to make decisions about their own lives
- Family members are able to participate in all aspects of life
- People are ‘comfortable in their own skins’.
The dream will be achieved when
- Elders, Kuia and Kaumatua play a full role within the family in all aspects of life, and are valued, supported and cared for
- Matua/parents are supported and grow in the way they ‘plant’ and nurture the family
- Children/tamariki are loved and grow to their full potential
- Young people are able to achieve choices in all aspects of their lives
- All children/tamariki are comfortable and safe in a place where they can learn safely and well
- People take collective responsibility for their family, whilst being responsible for their own destiny
- People are able to function well in today’s world, whilst retaining their culture
- They are contributing to a sustainable society and environment.
Outcomes for families
There is a hierarchy of defined outcomes for families and whanau, the rationale for which is contained in the Families Strategic Framework Intervention Logic. Read more about Outcomes for Families.
