In an event designed to strengthen marriages, Better Marriages Australia will be hosting a conference on November 5-6 in Kiama. 

The ‘Kiama Survivor’ conference will offer participants a weekend of insights into how to build a stronger marriage.

Co-founder Heather McAlpine said holding the conference in Kiama allows regional relationships the opportunity to build on their relationship. 

“My husband and I chair the organisation and we thought it was really important for regional couples to not have to commute to attend the conference,” Mrs McAlpine said. 

“Our whole purpose is to help couples develop skills to not only survive in a marriage, but to thrive. 

“Even if people have a good enough marriage, it is good for couples to be recharged and enriched to strengthen the marriage.” 

Using an analogy of a car service, Mrs McAlpine encourages people to attend the conference as a way to ‘service their car before the wheels fall off’ but also said there are a number of key things married couples can do to strengthen their relationship. 

“There are four key things,” Mrs McAlpine said. 

“You need to have a really good set of communication skills, have empathy to understand what is is like from [the other partner’s] perspective, have a good conflict resolution strategy and a commitment to grow in the relationship.

“In addition to that, flexibility is [also] key.” 

The conference will be held at the Kiama Baptist Church. For more information, visit better marriages.org.au/conferencebooking.