As you are aware, I wish to give special recognition to [lie role of families in NSW by celebrating Family Week in October this year and by marking International Year of the Family in 1994 with a distinctive program of events an(] initiatives.

The Minister for Community Services is responsible for planning and co-ordinating these activities.

I am now seeking your co-operation to ensure that all relevant agencies within your portfolio recognise these events and actively participate in initiatives. Accordingly,

ask that you provide the Minister for Community Services with brief descriptions (one or two sentences) of existing policies and programs within your administration that relate to families.

More importantly, I ask that you give consideration to expanding existing policies and programs and propose new initiatives, including cross portfolio initiatives, which could be introduced during Farnily Week (2 October to 8 October 1993), or for International Year of the Family in 1994. Descriptions of new initiatives should initially be very brief as these will be followed up later by the co-ordinating agencies.

As preparations for Family Week and International Year of the Family must occur urgently I would appreciate your providing the foregoing information to Minister Longley by 29 May 1993.

The Department of Community Services is co-ordinating Family Week. Mr Des Sernple, Director-General, Department of Community Services (telephone 716 2809) is [lie responsible officer.

The Social Policy Directorate is co-ordinating NSW's participation in International Year of the Family. Ms Vivienne Milligan, Director, Office on Social Policy, (telephone 367 6822) is 1he responsible officer.

To ensure that Family Week and International Year of the Family are given high priority, I would appreciate you nominating a senior officer in each agency who will be responsible for family initiatives and conveying this information to the Minister for Community Services when you provide the information requested above. Please ensure that your nominees are sufficiently senior to commit your agencies.

In view of the Government's commitment to supporting families, I request that you give the matters outlined in this letter your urgent attention.