Emerald, Queensland.

The Remote Area Families Service (RAFS) is provided by two Field Co-ordinators and one part-time Resource Officer, based in Emerald, and covers a wide area of central Queensland. Emerald RAFS commenced in 1999, when funding was made available under the Queensland Department of Families Youth and Community Care Rural Children's Centres program, to provide services to the unserviced remote areas of outback Queensland. Today, the program is funded by Queensland Department of Communities.

The service 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 isolated families wherever they may live within RAFS boundaries, advice and support in the area of Early Childhood Development, bringing local families together by organising playgroups, guidance and direction in approaching professionals for family-related matters and producing a quarterly newsletter for all families in the RAFS area.