Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

FAMILY LAW ACT 1975 - SECT 114B

             (1)  There is established by this Part an Institute by the name of the Australian Institute of Family Studies.

          (1A)  There is to be a Director of the Institute.

          (1B)  The Institute consists of:

                     (a)  the Director; and

                     (b)  the staff referred to in section 114M.

Note:          The Institute does not have a legal identity separate from the Commonwealth.

             (2)  The functions of the Director are:

                     (a)  to promote, by the conduct, encouragement and co‑ordination of research and other appropriate means, the identification of, and development of understanding of, the factors affecting marital and family stability in Australia, with the object of promoting the protection of the family as the natural and fundamental group unit in society; and

                     (b)  to advise and assist the Minister in relation to the making of grants, and with the approval of the Minister to make grants, out of moneys available under appropriations made by the Parliament, for purposes related to the functions of the Institute and the supervising of the employment of grants so made.

          (2A)  The function of the Institute (other than the Director) is to assist the Director in the performance of his or her functions.

             (3)  The Minister may:

                     (a)  request the Director to arrange for the Institute to engage in a particular activity (whether research or otherwise) in relation to a particular matter that is within the functions of the Institute; and

                     (b)  after consultation with the Director, specify the priority that is to be given to the activity.