Have you chatted with each other about your expectations of married life?

Before you get married, take time to have a chat about your expectations. Topics you may want to discuss could include: personal goals, finances, housework, having children, raising children, religion, contact with parents, washing and ironing, career goals …. just for starters.

Change in legal status
Marriage changes your legal status. It is therefore very important that you both read the brochure, Happily Ever… Before and After (I’ll give you this when we meet, if not before).

Pre-marriage education
You both may also want to consider undertaking some pre-marriage education as this is an opportunity for you both to reflect on your expectations. The government requires that celebrants inform couples about relationship education.

Because my clients live in many different areas of the state, following are just few Australia-wide contacts for marriage seminars, advice and counselling.

• Family Relationships Online
  An Australian government initiative to help couples and families to build good relationships. www.familyrelationships.gov.au [1] or call the family relationship advice line on 1800 050 321
• Relationships Australia
  A not-for-profit, community-based organisation, not linked to any religious group. Either ring or go to their website for more information. The organisation also provides online counselling.
  Nationwide phone number: 1300 364 277 www.relationships.com.au [2]
• Anglicare Family Support Services
  These services are operated by the Anglican Church. In the Illawarra, pre-marriage courses are held several times a year at St Augustine’s Church in Bulli. The Wollongong office is located at 152 Keira Street, ph: 4228 9612. The main phone number in Sydney is ph: (02) 9895 800. More information at www.anglicare.asn.au [3] or email: mail@anglicare.org.au [4]
• Centacare
  The Catholic Church runs Centacare and offers a wide range of relationship support services. The Wollongong Office is located at 24 Auburn Street, ph: 4227 1122. The main number for Centacare is ph: (02) 9390 5377. For more information go to www.centacare.org [5]
   

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