AIFS: Research to inform government policy and family services
Our summary
If you’re seeking evidence-based insights across family, community and social services, the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) is a go-to source. At its core, AIFS produces rigorous research that helps shape policy and practice across a wide range of areas — from men’s suicide rates, the parenting experiences of adoptees, and migrant settlement, to trauma-informed family mental health support and the abuse/mistreatment of older LGBTIQA+ people.
Founded in 1980 and operating as a statutory agency under the Australian Government, AIFS has built long-term research programs and data resources (including major longitudinal studies) that underpin evidence-driven work in family and human services.
For community workers, practitioners, service designers and policymakers, the AIFS site offers accessible research reports, practice guides and resources that connect theory with real-world service needs. For instance, it showcases submissions to inquiries like one into men’s suicide rates, tools for trauma-informed practice in family mental health, and studies of humanitarian migrant communities.
Whether you’re working with young people, parents, older people, migrants or people experiencing family or domestic violence, AIFS provides a broad evidence base that supports stronger, more informed responses. Its blend of national-scale quantitative work, qualitative insight and practice-oriented resources makes it a valuable library for any community-work professional seeking to ground their practice in current data and research.