Counselling services for parents and children
The Australian organisations and links described on this page provide a focus on counselling support for children and parents. Many are good starting points for locating other organisations or links in this area.
Australian Capital Territory
New South Wales
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia
National
Centacare Australia: Catholic Family Services
10 Victoria
Road, Parramatta, NSW 2150
Ph: (02) 9630 7788
Centacare Australia, formerly the National Catholic Association of Family Agencies, is the national peak body representing the Catholic welfare agencies that operate under the auspice of Catholic archbishops and bishops in dioceses throughout Australia. Agencies provide over 60 different counselling, education, welfare, and support programs and operate from in excess of 90 established centres and venues.
Kids Help Line
PO Box 2000, Milton, Qld, 4064
Ph: (07) 3369 1588; 1800 55 1800
Fax: (07) 3367 1266
Email: admin@kidshelp.com.au; counsellor@kidshelp.com.au (for email counselling)
Internet: http://www.kidshelp.com.au/ (web counselling: Mon - Fri, 3 pm - 9 pm, Sat 10am - 4pm)
Kids Help Line exists to assist people across Australia to develop strategies and skills which enable them to more effectively manage their own lives. An integral part of achieving this mission is the provision of a free, accessible national telephone counselling service which is founded on the principles of empowerment. Kids Help Line provides telephone counselling for children 5 - 18 years, advocacy and research, and training. Other services include consultation with young people, school visits, research and advocacy, peer counselling programs in schools, and workshops and seminars in conjunction with local communities.
Kids Help Online is a national counselling service for young people aged 5 to 18 years. It is a free, anonymous and confidential service where kids can chat to a counsellor online.
Lifeline
Ph: 13 1114
Lifeline is a generalist and crisis telephone counselling, information and referral service, provided by trained volunteers who are resourced by professional staff. Support is available 24 hours a day across Australia for the cost of a local telephone call.
Men's Line Australia
Ph: 1300 78 99 78
Men's Line Australia is an Australian Government initiative providing a national 24 hour telephone counselling and referral service for men. It is operated by Care Ring (Personal Emergency Services Inc), and is a resource for men who need advice on a range of issues such as relationship support, parenting skills, and for those at risk of committing suicide or committing child abuse.
Australian Capital Territory
Child Abuse, Advice and Information
Ph: (02) 6207 1069; (02) 6207 1466; after hours - (02) 6207 0720
Advice concerning child protection issues is provided by the Department of Children's, Youth and Family Services.
ACT Protective Education Network (actPEN)
Melrose Counselling Centre
Marr Street, Pearce act 2607
Ph: (02) 6205 8305
Fax: (02) 6205 7623
The organisation aims to promote a pro active and preventative program for people in the area of abuse. It consists of a training program which assists children, adolescents and adults to deal with unsafe situations. Services involve: training programs to schools and community groups (child care, police, scouts, community services); resources for implementing the program; and counselling and referral support in cases of alleged and actual abuse.
Parent Line
Ph: 13 2055
Parent Line provides a statewide telephone support service.
New South Wales
Child Abuse Prevention Service (CAPS)
13 Norton Street, Ashfield, NSW 2131
Ph: (02) 9716 8000; 1800 688 009
Fax: (02) 9386 8159
The aim of the Child Abuse Prevention Service (CAPS) is to alleviate child abuse in all its forms and to prevent morbidity through the support of those persons who are abusing or are at risk of abusing children. The program contributes to the understanding of child abuse and to changing the community's attitude towards it. CAPS is a non profit making organisation and provides 24 hour crisis support for its clients. It provides counselling and ongoing support for victims, families and perpetrators in the child sexual assault area. Assistance is provided in the training of medical, nursing, social work and welfare students by lecture, seminar and placement and of secondary students by lecture.
Child Protection and Family Crisis Service
Ph: 1800 066 777
This telephone line provides a 24 hour crisis counselling service in NSW.
Parent Line
NSW
Ph: 1300 1300 52
Parent Line is a telephone advice and information service for parents of children living in New South Wales. It is a toll free number for anywhere in NSW. Trained, professional counsellors with experience in helping families will listen and give support and assistance, provide information on relevant issues and services on a wide range of parenting issues such as behaviour and emotional problems, discipline, adolescent issues, family relationships, sole parent issues, school problems, child care and juvenile justice. Parent Line is open to any parent in New South Wales, including those of non English speaking background, parents who are hearing impaired and parents of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island culture. Parent Line is open Tuesday - Saturday, 9.30 am to 3.30 pm.
Parenting NSW
Internet: http://www.parenting.nsw.gov.au
Parenting NSW is an initiative of the NSW Government, developed by the NSW Parenting Centre. The site aims to make parenting a little easier by providing parents, carers and professionals with the latest information on a range of parenting issues including discipline, building self esteem, child development and drugs and alcohol.
Youthline
Ph: (02) 9633 3666
The motto of Youthline is 'young people listening to young people'. Trained Youthline counsellors offer support and advice on all issues affecting young people 24 hours a day.
Northern Territory
Child and Family Protective Services
Ph: (08) 8962 4399
This telephone service provides after hours emergency advice on issues dealing with child abuse.
Parentline
Ph: 1300 30 1300 (cost of a local call)
Internet:
http://www.parentline@kidshelp.com.au
Information for parents including over 70 downloadable tipsheets is also available at http://www.families.nt.gov.au
Queensland
Emergency Crisis Line
Ph: (07) 3235 9999;1800 177 135 (for Queensland country areas)
This emergency crisis line operates from the Queensland Department of Families, Youth and Community Care. It provides 24 hour emergency support.
Parentline
PO Box 376, Red Hill, Qld 4059
Ph: (07) 3858 5371; 1300 3 1300 (Counselling Line for the cost of a local call, 8am-10pm, 7 days)
Fax: (07) 3367 1266
Email: parentline@kidshelp.com.au
Internet: http://www.parentline.com.au
Parentline exists to assist people to develop strategies and skills which enable them to more effectively manage their own lives. It is a confidential telephone counselling service for parents and/or primary care givers, and is staffed by paid counsellors who have been professionally trained to understand and respond to the particular issues that concern parents.
South Australia
Child Abuse Report Line
Ph: 131478
This telephone line is a 24 hour service which provides information on issues of concern about child protection for people in South Australia, as well as being a means of reporting child abuse.
Parent Help Line
Ph: 1300 364 100
Child and Youth Health Parent Helpline provides telephone information, counselling and support - 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year.
Tasmania
Child Protection
Ph: 1800 001 219
The Department of Health and Human Services Tasmania offers an after hours free call service for information on child protection.
Victoria
Domestic Violence and Incest Resource Centre (DVIRC)
292 Wellington Street, Collingwood, Vic 3066
Ph: (03) 9486 9866
Fax: (03) 9486 9744
Email:dvirc@vicnet.net.au
Internet: http://www.dvirc.org.au
DVIRC is a statewide resource centre for information about domestic violence and sexual assault. It provides education and training, publications, consultation for workers, and referrals for those affected by family violence.
Child Protection Crisis Line
Ph: 13 1278
This crisis line is a 24 hour telephone service providing assistance and support in the area of child abuse prevention for people in Victoria.
Gatehouse Centre for the Assessment and Treatment of Child Abuse, Royal
Children's Hospital
Flemington Road, Parkville, Vic 3052
Ph: (03) 9345 6391
Fax: (03) 9345 6453
The role of the organisation is to provide 24 hour crisis, assessment and treatment services to children, young people and their families, with a multidisciplinary team of paediatricians, social workers, psychologists and psychotherapists. Services include: crisis intervention and assessment; group work program; outreach program; counselling; treatment; education and training; research; and advocacy.
Goulburn Valley Family Care
PO Box 457, Seymour, Vic 3660
Ph: (03) 5799 1711
Fax: (03) 5799 0016
The role of organisation is to help families in the Goulburn Valley find solutions to their problems. Services provided are: family support; parent child program; family counselling; interchange; families first; pre school services; and school support.
Jewish Care (Victoria) Inc
PO Box 6156, St Kilda Road Central, Melbourne Vic 8008
Ph: (03) 8517 5999
Fax: (03) 8517 5778
Email: jewishcare@jewishcare.org.au
Web: http://www.jewishcare.org.au/
Jewish Care (Victoria) Inc was established in 2001 through the amalgamation of Jewish Community Services and Montefiore Homes for the Aged. The amalgamation was the result of a shared vision to provide the best care and services for the Jewish community. The organisation provides a vital 'whole-of-life' range of professional care, services and facilities for members of the community requiring support and assistance. Jewish Care's aim is to be accessible to all members of the Jewish community and become recognised as the first point of call for support.
Kildonan Child and Family Services
30 Cambridge Street, Collingwood, Vic 3066
Ph: (03) 9419 0222
Fax: (03) 9416 0669
Kildonan is a Uniting Church community service agency providing integrated and progressive services responding to the needs of vulnerable children, youth and families in the community. The services provided are as follows: family preservation services; youth and family support services including counselling, employment and social skills; preventative and early intervention services for children, youth and families; housing services including emergency, referral and community housing; and specialist services including financial and relationship counselling.
ParentLine
VIC
Ph: 13 2289
TTY Service: 136388
ParentLine provides a telephone advisory and information service for parents and children in Victoria. As well as providing a helpline, the service also offers a TTY (teletypewriter) service for those people with hearing difficulties.
Western Australia
Family Helpline
PO Box 8146, Stirling Street, East Perth, WA 6849
Ph: (08) 9221 2000; 1800 643 000
The Family Helpline is a 24 - hour telephone counselling and information service for families. It is part of a campaign aimed at reducing the incidence of abuse in families.
Incest Survivors' Association and Sexual Abuse Counselling Agency
PO Box 8311, Perth Business Centre, WA 6849
Ph: (08) 9227 8745
Fax: (08) 9227 1510
This organisation provides a counselling service for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and their families. Services include: confidential counselling; group therapy; weekly support group; resource library; quarterly journal; and parenting group.
Crisis Care
WA
Crisis Care is a free telephone information and counselling service for people in crisis needing urgent help within the Department for Child Protection http://www.community.wa.gov.au/DCP/