Parent Resources
On this page, you will find a range of supports, services and helplines available. Scroll down for services and supports for family violence.
Mental Health & Wellbeing Services
Kids Help Line
Kids Helpline is Australia’s only free (even from a mobile), confidential 24/7 online and phone counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25. Qualified counsellors at Kids Helpline are available via WebChat, phone or email anytime and for any reason. Kids Helpline also has a range of resources for parents to support children through a range of challenges.
Call 1800 55 1800 https://kidshelpline.com.au/
Parenting can be a tough job but also really rewarding. Talking to a Parentline counsellor can help you navigate difficult parenting dilemmas. 13 22 89 (cost of a local call)
Open 8am to midnight 7 days a week
https://kidshelpline.com.au/parents/issues/how-parentline-can-help-you
Lifeline
Lifeline is a national charity providing all Australians experiencing emotional distress with access to 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services. They exist so that no person in Australia has to face their darkest moments alone.
13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au/
Beyond Blue
Your mental health is important. Some days are better than others and we all need a helping hand from time to time.
Wherever you are in your mental health journey, we'll be here to help.
1300 22 4636 Anxiety, depression and suicide prevention support - Beyond Blue (online chat)
Headspace
Want to connect with other young people? Or perhaps create a space just for you to build your own mental health and wellbeing toolkit? Or maybe you need some support and want to talk to a professional.
You get all this and more with a headspace account. Creating an account is quick, easy, and it's free!
1800 650 890 or (Knox 9801 6088)
Mensline
MensLine Australia is a free telephone and online counselling service offering support for Australian men anywhere, anytime.
1300 78 99 78 https://mensline.org.au/
The Orange Door
https://orangedoor.vic.gov.au/
The Orange Door is a free service for adults, children and young people who are experiencing or have experienced family violence and families who need extra support with the care of children. You should contact The Orange Door if:
- someone close to you is hurting you, controlling you or making you feel afraid – such as your partner, family member, carer or parent(s)
- you are a child or young person who doesn’t have what you need to be OK
- you are worried about the safety of a friend or family member
- you need more support with the care of children, e.g. due to money issues, illness, addiction, grief, isolation or conflict
- you are worried about the safety of a child or young person
- you need help to change your behaviour and stop using violence in your relationships
Child First
https://services.dffh.vic.gov.au/child-first-and-family-services
Child FIRST is an easily accessible, community-based point of entry for children, young people and families needing support.
Some families need family services support when they are experiencing difficulties that impact on their parenting and family life.
Child FIRST (Child and family information, referral and support teams) are the entry point into family services. Child FIRST teams are located in sites across Victoria and is delivered in your local area by community service organisations.
Life Works
https://www.opencounseling.com/australia/melbourne/counseling-agency/life-works
LifeWorks Relationship Counselling and Education Services is an organisation that aims to promote healthy, respectful and fulfilling relationships within the Victorian community.
Counselling - LifeWorks' qualified family relationship counselor's work with adults, children, couples and families from a range of backgrounds, facing a range of challenges. Counselling sessions usually run for an hour. There is no 'set number' of counselling sessions, because every couple, person or family that comes to LifeWorks is different. Counselling is completely confidential; anything you say to your counselor is private unless the counselor is required by law to protect your safety or the safety of others.
Q-Life
QLife provides anonymous and free LGBTI peer support and referral for people in Australia wanting to talk about sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships.
1800 184 527
General wellbeing support for Children (particularly during school holidays)
Topics covered include:
- Actions that support Mental Health
- Signs a child may need mental health support
- Young people supporting each other
- Mental health support links
- Family Violence supports
- Self Harm & suicide prevention resources
- Parent seminars
- Mental health resources
Raising Children Network
Provide free, reliable, up-to-date and independent information to help your family grow and thrive together. They’re funded by the Australian Government but reviewed by experts and non-commercial. Designed for busy families and full of tips and tricks for you to try, the content is easy to find and easy to digest. They have the answers to hundreds of parenting questions, where and when you need them.
Their articles, videos and interactive resources are tailored to different ages and stages, taking you from nurturing a newborn to raising a confident, resilient teen – and helping you to look after yourself as a parent too.
https://raisingchildren.net.au/
https://raisingchildren.net.au/school-age
The Better Health Channel
Provide a very broad range of health and wellbeing information not necessarily child specific
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/
Family violence support and resources
If you are concerned for your safety or that of someone else, contact the police, and call 000 for emergency assistance. If you have experienced violence or sexual assault and require immediate or ongoing assistance, contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) to talk to a counsellor from the National Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence hotline.
For confidential support and information, contact Safe Steps’ 24/7 family violence response line on 1800 015 188.
If you need to talk to someone it is recommended that you speak to your school leadership team about arranging appropriate support. You can also talk to your GP or an allied health professional. Victorian government school staff can also contact the Department of Education's Employee Assistance Program on 1300 361 008.
For more information and resources, visit Family violence: information for employees.
Edvos (Knox) formally known as EDVOS
FVREE is the specialist family violence service in the eastern metropolitan region of Melbourne
- We provide a broad range of integrated services to support women, children and their pets who are responding to family violence.
- We prioritise the safety of women and children as a fundamental human right, while working to ensure perpetrators are held accountable for using violence.
- We support women to make informed choices through programs and services that are individual, sensitive and evidence-based.
- Our highly trained staff provide support, information, case management, safety planning, community education, programs for pet safety and a strong network of referral pathways to other services.
FVREE is the lead specialist family violence service in the eastern metropolitan region of Melbourne and our services are available to around 1.03 million people across the municipalities of: Boroondara, Manningham, Whitehorse, Knox, Monash, Maroondah, Yarra Ranges.
1800Respect
https://www.1800respect.org.au/help-and-support/telephone-and-online-counselling
1800RESPECT is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- At 1800RESPECT, we understand that everyone's experience of sexual, domestic or family violence is different
- Whatever your situation, it is important to know that help and support are available
- Our trained counsellors are guided by you, your needs and your feelings about what is right for you and your situation