Mareeba, Queensland.

The North Queensland Remote Area Families Service (RAFS) is provided by two field co-ordinators and one part-time Resource Officer, based in Mareeba, North Queensland and covers the Cape York region south to the Flinders Highway.

The Service was developed in 1997 following lengthy discussions with the Department of Communities (formerly Families, Youth and Community Care Queensland), in response to needs identified in the Cape. The aim of the service was to meet the needs of families living in remote and isolated areas, particularly in Early Childhood Development. The service is innovative and flexible and responds to the special needs of rural families in Cape York.

It provides support to parents with the early childhood and social development of their children and information concerning a range of matters such as health, education and community welfare. RAFS responds to the particular needs of people living in very differing situations throughout remote Queensland.

The services include home visits to families wherever they live within RAFS boundaries and provide advice and support in the area of Early Childhood Development, bring local families together by organising playgroups, guidance and direction in approaching professionals for family related matters and produce a quarterly newsletter for all families in the RAFS area.