Australian Family Association
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The Australian Family Association (AFA) is an advocacy group dedicated to defence of what it calls "the traditional family unit". It was founded in 1980 by the National Civic Council's then president, B. A. Santamaria to focus on family issues and policy.
Beliefs
According to its stated objectives, the AFA aims "to cultivate within society an appreciation that the integrity and wellbeing of the family is essential to the stability, morale, security and prosperity of the Australian nation". It also lobbies on issues related to its central purpose, such as marriage, abortion, media standards and classification, cloning, pornography and illicit drug use.
Objectives
The objectives for which the Australian Family Association is established are:
- to cultivate within society an appreciation that the integrity and well being of the family is essential to the stability, morale, security and prosperity of the Australian nation
- to analyze laws and policies for their effect on the family and to formulate and promote corrective measures as necessary
- to support initiatives taken by other individuals and organisations in support of the traditional family
- by means of conferences, seminars and the active involvement of individuals and groups, to create public awareness of the fundamental importance of the family unit
- to facilitate research and act as a resource centre for the effective pursuit of the Association's objectives;
- to facilitate programs in family education
- to promote and encourage the development of services to assist families in difficulties
- to do all such things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objectives.
Founder, Patrons, Links
The Association was founded by B.A. Santamaria, a prominent Melbourne Catholic activist of Italian descent. Patrons of the organisation include former Labor Federal Education Minister the late Kim Edward Beazley, former Reader in Education at the University of Queensland Professor Rupert Goodman, former Professor of Sociology at Australian National University Prof. Jerzy Zubrzycki, former President, Committee of Management, Royal Children's Hospital Dame Elisabeth Murdoch and renowned Australian war veteran Major General W.B 'Digger' James.