The Australian Institute of Family Studies – Australia’s pre-eminent family research agency – has the overarching aim to advance understanding of the factors affecting family wellbeing in Australia. This document sets out the Institute’s key directions for its research over the next three years. The document details these areas of specific focus – family change, functioning and wellbeing; social and economic participation for families; child and family safety; and services to support families – and also discusses how these research directions were influenced by significant social trends in the areas of demography, economics, technology, environment, and family-related policy. This document is to be read in conjunction with the document ‘AIFS Strategic Directions 2012-15’, which outlines the Institute’s goals in supporting its research and communication activities.