NEWSLETTER ARTICLE
Why
support is important
Are
you finding parenting harder than you thought?
Are things worrying you at home and you want someone to talk
to?
Does someone in your family have special needs?
Are you looking for parenting services in your state?
Family
support
Fathers
Foster
carers
Grandparents
Parenting
support
All parents
need support. It can come from your family and friends, health and child care
professionals, and information and community resources. Often, the first steps
in getting support are asking for it, and accepting it when it’s offered.
Why
support is important
Parents who
seek and accept support:
- are more relaxed and healthier. This means
they’re better able to look after their children
- set a good example for their children. Getting
support teaches children that you don’t have to do it alone. It’s OK to
ask for help when you need to
- show other people that they are valued and
needed. Many people actually like being asked for help – it makes
them feel they’re special to you.
Giving
others support is a great way of creating a support community. When you offer
or ask for help, others feel that they can ask you for help in return.
Maternal
and Child Health Service
The Maternal and Child Health Service provides free health checks for children between birth and school age. To find your nearest Maternal and Child Health Centre, contact your local council or use the Victorian early childhood service and school directory.
The Maternal and Child Health Service provides free health checks for children between birth and school age. To find your nearest Maternal and Child Health Centre, contact your local council or use the Victorian early childhood service and school directory.
There is
also a Maternal and Child Health line,
with qualified nurses who can give you information, support and advice on child
health, nutrition, breastfeeding, maternal and family health, and parenting:
- Phone: 132 229 (local call)
- Hours: 24 hours, 7 days
Australian
Breastfeeding Association – Breastfeeding helpline
If you’re breastfeeding and need help, trained volunteer counsellors can give you reassurance, information and advice about breastfeeding and overcoming common hurdles to breastfeeding.
If you’re breastfeeding and need help, trained volunteer counsellors can give you reassurance, information and advice about breastfeeding and overcoming common hurdles to breastfeeding.
- Phone: 1800 MUM 2 MUM (1800 686 268)
- Hours: 24 hours, 7 days
Are
you finding parenting harder than you thought?
Parentline
Victoria
This is a telephone counselling service for parents and carers of children aged 0-18 years. Professional counsellors can help you with issues relating to parenting and relationships, from settling, feeding and tantrums to separation and family violence. Parentline can also provide contact details for community services:
This is a telephone counselling service for parents and carers of children aged 0-18 years. Professional counsellors can help you with issues relating to parenting and relationships, from settling, feeding and tantrums to separation and family violence. Parentline can also provide contact details for community services:
- Phone: 132 289 (local call)
- Hours: 8 am-midnight, 7 days
Early
parenting centres
These centres can help families with children aged 0-3 years who are having problems with feeding, settling, early childhood routines and so on. When you call a centre, a worker will speak with you about your needs and let you know what the centre can offer. Families can stay at a centre or attend a day stay program.
These centres can help families with children aged 0-3 years who are having problems with feeding, settling, early childhood routines and so on. When you call a centre, a worker will speak with you about your needs and let you know what the centre can offer. Families can stay at a centre or attend a day stay program.
There are
three early parenting centres in Melbourne:
O’Connell
Family Centre in Canterbury
- Phone: (03) 8416 7600
- Hours: 9 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday
Queen
Elizabeth Centre in Noble Park
- Phone: (03) 9549 2777
- Hours: 9 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday
Tweddle
Child and Family Health Service in
Footscray
- Phone: (03) 9689 1577
- Hours: 8.30 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday
Child care
is mainly designed for children aged up to five years, but it can also include
before-school, after-school and holiday care for primary school-age children.
MyChild
This Australian Government website has information about different types of child care and about government assistance to help with fees. You can search for a child care service near you.
This Australian Government website has information about different types of child care and about government assistance to help with fees. You can search for a child care service near you.
You can
also get information from the Child Care Access Hotline:
- Phone: 1800 670 305 (free call)
- TTY service: 133 677, then ask for 1800 670 305 (for
hearing-impaired or speech-impaired callers)
- Hours: 8 am-6 pm, Monday-Friday
Are things worrying you at home and you want someone to talk
to?
Relationships
Australia – Victoria
Relationships Australia offers counselling, education programs, mediation services and other help for families and couples:
Relationships Australia offers counselling, education programs, mediation services and other help for families and couples:
- Phone: 1300 364 277 (cost of a local call)
- Hours: 9 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday
Does someone in your family have special needs?
Department
of Human Services – Disability
This government department provides services for people with disability in Victoria. Contact the Intake and Response Service to find out what supports are available to you:
This government department provides services for people with disability in Victoria. Contact the Intake and Response Service to find out what supports are available to you:
- Phone: 1800 783 783
- TTY: 1800 008 149
National
Disability Insurance Scheme
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a national scheme to support people with permanent and significant disability. It’s being introduced gradually and will replace the current disability support system. You can find out more about how to get ready for the NDIS in Victoria and when it will be available in your area.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a national scheme to support people with permanent and significant disability. It’s being introduced gradually and will replace the current disability support system. You can find out more about how to get ready for the NDIS in Victoria and when it will be available in your area.
Find more
links to child
and parent disability services.
Are you looking for parenting services in your state?
Infoxchange
Service Seeker
This is a directory of community services in Australia. Search for ‘parenting’ to find parenting support and other services in your area.
This is a directory of community services in Australia. Search for ‘parenting’ to find parenting support and other services in your area.
Find more
links to parent
and family services.
Family
support
Domestic
Violence Resource Centre Victoria
The Domestic Violence Resource Centre (Victoria) is a statewide service in Melbourne that offers a telephone support and referral service. The website has resources, information and advice on family violence and sexual abuse, as well as a directory of Australia-wide services.
The Domestic Violence Resource Centre (Victoria) is a statewide service in Melbourne that offers a telephone support and referral service. The website has resources, information and advice on family violence and sexual abuse, as well as a directory of Australia-wide services.
Family
Relationships Online
On this Australian Government website you can find information about family relationships and links to support services. You can also visit a Family Relationship Centre, or call the Family Relationship Advice Line:
On this Australian Government website you can find information about family relationships and links to support services. You can also visit a Family Relationship Centre, or call the Family Relationship Advice Line:
- Phone: 1800 050 321
- Hours: 8 am-8 pm, Monday-Friday, 10 am-4
pm Saturday
PANDA
(Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia)
PANDA provides confidential information, support and referral to anyone affected by perinatal anxiety and depression, including partners and extended family members.
PANDA provides confidential information, support and referral to anyone affected by perinatal anxiety and depression, including partners and extended family members.
Red Nose
This organisation works to prevent infant deaths through research and public education. The website has evidence-based information on topics like safe sleeping, as well as links to bereavement support services.
This organisation works to prevent infant deaths through research and public education. The website has evidence-based information on topics like safe sleeping, as well as links to bereavement support services.
Relationships
Australia
Relationships Australia offers counselling, education programs, mediation services and other help for families and couples. This is the national website with links to the website for each Australian state and territory.
Relationships Australia offers counselling, education programs, mediation services and other help for families and couples. This is the national website with links to the website for each Australian state and territory.
Fathers
MensLine
This is a national support service for men with family and relationship concerns. Online counselling is available on the website, and there’s also a 24-hour telephone counselling line – phone 1300 789 978.
This is a national support service for men with family and relationship concerns. Online counselling is available on the website, and there’s also a 24-hour telephone counselling line – phone 1300 789 978.
Relationships
Australia
Relationships Australia offers counselling, education programs, mediation services and other help for families and couples. This is the national website with links to the website for each state and territory.
Relationships Australia offers counselling, education programs, mediation services and other help for families and couples. This is the national website with links to the website for each state and territory.
Dad
and Partner Pay gives new dads or partners,
including same-sex partners, up to two weeks of government-funded pay to be
taken in the first year following birth or adoption.
Foster
carers
Listed
below are links to the government agencies or departments responsible for
foster care in each state and territory in Australia:
- Australian Capital Territory: ACT
Community Services – Foster care
- New South Wales: NSW
Department of Family and Community Services – Foster care
- Northern Territory: Carer
Community – About care in the NT
- Queensland: Queensland
Department of Communities, Disability Services and Seniors - Department of
Child Safety, Youth and Women – Foster and kinship care
- South Australia: Government
of South Australia – Foster care
- Tasmania: Tasmanian
Department of Health and Human Services – Foster care
- Victoria: Victorian
Department of Human Services – Kinship, foster and other care and Fostering
Connections
- Western Australia: WA
Department for Child Protection and Family Support – Interested in foster
caring?
Create
Foundation
This organisation represents children and young people in out-of-home care. The website has information on programs, activities and events run by Create throughout Australia.
This organisation represents children and young people in out-of-home care. The website has information on programs, activities and events run by Create throughout Australia.
Pyjama
Foundation
The Pyjama Foundation works to improve opportunities for children in foster care. It runs the Love of Learning Program in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria to help children in care with literacy and life skills.
The Pyjama Foundation works to improve opportunities for children in foster care. It runs the Love of Learning Program in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria to help children in care with literacy and life skills.
Foster care is
a type of out-of-home care for children who can’t live with their own families.
Foster carers are specially trained carers who take children into their own
homes. You can read more about raising
foster children.
Grandparents
Australian
Government Department of Human Services – Support for non-parent carers
This section of the Department of Human Services website has information about support for grandparents and carers who raise and care for children.
This section of the Department of Human Services website has information about support for grandparents and carers who raise and care for children.
Family
Relationships Online – For grandparents
On this webpage you can find links to services and resources to support you in your role as a carer.
On this webpage you can find links to services and resources to support you in your role as a carer.
Mirabel
Foundation
The Mirabel Foundation helps children who are orphaned or abandoned because of parental illicit drug use and who are now in the care of extended family. Mirabel runs kinship carer support groups in New South Wales and Victoria.
The Mirabel Foundation helps children who are orphaned or abandoned because of parental illicit drug use and who are now in the care of extended family. Mirabel runs kinship carer support groups in New South Wales and Victoria.
Find more
information about services and support for grandparents in our grandparent
and kinship carers section.
Parenting
support
Here are
some government websites with information about parenting support in
different states and territories:
- Australian Capital Territory: Parentlink
ACT provides parenting information, guidance and support.
- New South Wales: Families
NSW has information on services and support for
families throughout New South Wales. NSW
Department of Family and Community Services – Parenting has
practical tips, information and resources for parents and carers.
- South Australia: Parenting
SA provides support, services, information and
resources for parents and carers.
- Victoria: Better
Health Channel – Parents has quality-assured
and easy-to-understand information on a range of issues, for parents of
babies through to teenagers.
- Western Australia: Ngala helps
parents, grandparents and carers develop skills and cope with the
challenges of parenting.
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