Your Relationship
Marriage is an important step and the decision to take it may be the most important you will ever take. The definition of marriage from the Family Law Act 1961 is – “Marriage is the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others voluntarily entered into for life.”
For life. And for life can be a very long time! Unfortunately, many marriages, no matter how much in love the couple were to begin with, just don’t make it. For some couples, their expectations of marriage are un-realistic while some may not have adequately explored how they would deal with difficult situations such as financial issues or raising children. Others may have difficulty communicating. And, with two people holding different views on some issues, good communication is probably the most necessary skill of all.
How to improve your chances of achieving a solid relationship and a happy marriage Ideally, you might attend a pre-marriage program together. This will give you a good awareness of the reality of your expectations and how you will deal with any differences of opinion or viewpoint. A pre-marriage program will also give you the skills and techniques to effectively communicate with each other if there is disagreement and so avoid shouting matches, or worse.
Group programs are regularly held by organisations such as Relationships Australia or Centacare and will include topics such as Roles and Expectations, Family Influences, Self-Responsibility in the Relationship, Communication Skills, Conflict Management Strategies, Sexuality and Romance.
Don’t wait until it’s too late to get help to resolve problems No one can make you attend a pre-marriage program – it’s just a very good idea.
However, if you ever do experience problems in your relationship, either before, or after, you are married, it’s important to get help before the problem goes too far and gets out of hand. Counselors and mediators can help you to solve most issues you might have – as long as you seek help early enough.
Relationship Information Section 4.1.19 under The Guidelines on the Marriage Act 1961 outlines that:-
‘It is a requirement under the Code of Practice for all Commonwealth- registered celebrants to maintain up-to-date knowledge about appropriate family relationship services, and information and services available to enhance and sustain couples throughout their relationship’
You will be provided with a Form 14a ‘Happily Ever Before and After’ at the initial interview. The brochure provides the availability of marriage education, counselling and other important legal matters concerning marriage.
Relationship Services
i. Relationships Australia
15 Cambridge Street, West Leederville, WA 6901
Telephone: (08) 9489 6300
Web-site: http://www.wa.relationships.com.au/
ii. The Hart Centre
10 Busycon Place, Heathridge, WA 6027
Telephone: 1300 830 552
Web-site: www.hartrelationshipcounselling.com.au
iii. Metro Counselling
5/209 Warwick Road, Duncraig, WA 6023
Telephone: (08) 9448 3210
Web-site: www.metroconselling.com.au
Marriage is an important step and the decision to take it may be the most important you will ever take. The definition of marriage from the Family Law Act 1961 is – “Marriage is the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others voluntarily entered into for life.”
For life. And for life can be a very long time! Unfortunately, many marriages, no matter how much in love the couple were to begin with, just don’t make it. For some couples, their expectations of marriage are un-realistic while some may not have adequately explored how they would deal with difficult situations such as financial issues or raising children. Others may have difficulty communicating. And, with two people holding different views on some issues, good communication is probably the most necessary skill of all.
How to improve your chances of achieving a solid relationship and a happy marriage Ideally, you might attend a pre-marriage program together. This will give you a good awareness of the reality of your expectations and how you will deal with any differences of opinion or viewpoint. A pre-marriage program will also give you the skills and techniques to effectively communicate with each other if there is disagreement and so avoid shouting matches, or worse.
Group programs are regularly held by organisations such as Relationships Australia or Centacare and will include topics such as Roles and Expectations, Family Influences, Self-Responsibility in the Relationship, Communication Skills, Conflict Management Strategies, Sexuality and Romance.
Don’t wait until it’s too late to get help to resolve problems No one can make you attend a pre-marriage program – it’s just a very good idea.
However, if you ever do experience problems in your relationship, either before, or after, you are married, it’s important to get help before the problem goes too far and gets out of hand. Counselors and mediators can help you to solve most issues you might have – as long as you seek help early enough.
Relationship Information Section 4.1.19 under The Guidelines on the Marriage Act 1961 outlines that:-
‘It is a requirement under the Code of Practice for all Commonwealth- registered celebrants to maintain up-to-date knowledge about appropriate family relationship services, and information and services available to enhance and sustain couples throughout their relationship’
You will be provided with a Form 14a ‘Happily Ever Before and After’ at the initial interview. The brochure provides the availability of marriage education, counselling and other important legal matters concerning marriage.
Relationship Services
i. Relationships Australia
15 Cambridge Street, West Leederville, WA 6901
Telephone: (08) 9489 6300
Web-site: http://www.wa.relationships.com.au/
ii. The Hart Centre
10 Busycon Place, Heathridge, WA 6027
Telephone: 1300 830 552
Web-site: www.hartrelationshipcounselling.com.au
iii. Metro Counselling
5/209 Warwick Road, Duncraig, WA 6023
Telephone: (08) 9448 3210
Web-site: www.metroconselling.com.au