FAQ's

Supervised contact provides children with the opportunity to safely spend time with a non-resident parent or family member in a structured and supportive environment.

An experienced and qualified supervisor is present throughout the visit to promote the child’s safety, wellbeing, and emotional security.

To get started, please complete our self-referral form or contact us via email.

Once received, we will provide you with an information pack outlining our services, processes, and fees.

For general enquiries, our team is available by phone in the afternoons.

The next step is a comprehensive intake meeting conducted via Zoom. Both parents are required to complete an individual intake meeting.

During intake, we discuss your family’s needs and circumstances, explain our processes, and provide an opportunity for you to ask any questions.

The child is always our primary client, regardless of which parent requests or pays for the service.

Our focus remains on promoting the child’s safety, wellbeing, and best interests at all times.

Many of our clients have court orders in place regarding contact arrangements.

We support the view that children generally benefit from having a relationship with both parents where it is safe and appropriate, and that responsibility for facilitating contact rests with the adults involved rather than with the child.

However, there are times when children may feel reluctant, anxious, or fearful about attending visits for a variety of reasons.

In these situations, we take a child-focused approach by listening to the child, understanding their concerns, and supporting them to feel safer and more confident. We may use a range of strategies to encourage attendance where appropriate.

While we aim to support families in implementing contact arrangements, we do not force children to attend visits and do not have the legal authority to enforce court orders.

Clients may be referred through the Family Court, which frequently nominates Building Bridges as a service provider. We also accept referrals directly from private clients.

Some families choose to engage our services as a less costly and less adversarial alternative to court-based processes.

We also support families during reunification following long periods of separation, including situations where parents may be reconnecting with or meeting their child for the first time.

Referrals and service requests can be made directly by:

• Family members 
• Family Court professionals 
• The Department for Child Protection and Family Support 
• Lawyers 
• Family mediators 
• Mental health professionals 
• Other relevant agencies 

Yes. Reporting is often an important component of our service for both parents and the Court.

Where required, we prepare detailed and objective reports documenting observations from contact visits. These reports may assist with legal and family court proceedings.

A common Family Court requirement is for a report to be compiled following eight supervised visits, although reporting arrangements can vary depending on court orders or family needs.

The length of supervised visits depends on your family’s individual circumstances and any relevant court orders.

In many cases, the Court requires a minimum of eight visits. Where appropriate, services may continue beyond this period to maintain consistency and continuity for the child until your matter returns to Court or an alternative arrangement is reached.

We provide services throughout Perth, the Southwest, and Albany regions.

Services can also be arranged across other areas of Western Australia upon request.

Research indicates that children often feel more comfortable and relaxed participating in visits within community settings that are familiar to them or places they enjoy attending with their non-resident parent.

Upon request, we can also facilitate visits at our contact venue in Kalamunda.

Where appropriate, and either agreed upon by both parents or required by court order, visits may also take place in a parent’s home.

Many of our supervisors are qualified social workers, teachers, or psychologists, while others hold relevant qualifications and extensive experience in child and family services.

A number of our team members have been with Building Bridges for many years, providing continuity, experience, and a strong understanding of our service standards.

Our team is predominantly female, and we also have male supervisors available.

Where appropriate, we are open to other people who are significant in the child’s life attending visits.

However, attendance by additional family members or support people must be agreed to by the other parent or be consistent with any court orders or service arrangements.

We have a self-contained villa with a garden in Kalamunda that can be used for appropriate contact visits.