Note that Kevin and Margaret Andrews will present at the July Smart Marriages conference on the marriage strengthening initiatives in Australia and they'll update us on effects of this relationship education advertising campaign. The Australian government has chosen Valentine's Day to launch a major new advertising campaign to help couples develop relationship skills. The cost to society of failed relationships is huge in emotional, social and economic terms.
Research shows that of people who divorce, one third regret the decision five years later.
It has been estimated that 40 per cent of marriages in Australia will fail after 30 years. The media campaign builds on the work of agencies who provide marriage and relationship education programs throughout the nation. Beginning today, the government will fund a six-week national campaign to promote existing marriage and relationship courses. The money will be spent on a newspaper advertising campaign and on co-ordinating courses provided by community organisations. Some 46 organisations, both secular and religious, are funded by the Commonwealth goverment to provide courses on marriage and relationship education.