Social services & housingAgencyExists today
Australian Institute of Family Studies
AIFS
February 1980 – present
Statutory research institute in Melbourne that researches the factors affecting the wellbeing of Australian families and evaluates family law, child protection and family support policies.
How it came into existence
Established in February 1980 under section 114B of the Family Law Act 1975, with Don Edgar as founding director. It was a new body with no Commonwealth predecessor.
Legislation: Family Law Act 1975 (section 114B)
Main functions
- Research on families and family wellbeing
- Evaluation of family law and family policy
- Longitudinal studies, including Growing Up in Australia
- Child, family and community information services for practitioners
- Advice to government on family policy
Where it sits
In the portfolio of Department of Social Services.
- Type of body
- Non-corporate Commonwealth entity
- Portfolio
- Social Services
- Accountable authority
- Director – Family Law Act 1975 section 114B(1C)(b)
- ABN
- 64 001 053 079
Lineage
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Sources
Primary sources
- List of Commonwealth entities and companies under the PGPA Act, 1 July 2026 (Department of Finance) (as Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS))
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 11 December 2014 to the latest release (30 June 2026))