Support services and information

Alcohol and Drug Foundation

A service that offers information about alcohol and drugs, prevention and minimising harm caused by alcohol and other drugs. It includes information about alcohol, illicit drugs and medicines, their effects on the body and tips for keeping yourself safe.

ADF website

Better Health Channel

This website has useful information about drugs, drug dependency and overdoses.

Better Health Channel website

Birribi Residential Service

YSAS Residential Rehabilitation (rehab) is based in Eltham. Birribi is a structured, supportive rehabilitative program that gives young people an opportunity to manage their drug and/or alcohol issues in a drug free space.

Birribi website 

Reachout

Reach Out offer different types of support, depending on what you and your teenager need and want. 

Reachout website

Turning Point

National addiction treatment centre, for those affected by alcohol, drugs and gambling. Helping people through addiction.

Turning Point website

YSAS

Youth Support Advocacy Service (YSAS) provides you with information about drug and alcohol use and what its effects are on young people.

YSAS website

Counselling Online

Counselling Online is a free and confidential service that provides 24/7 support to people across Australia affected by alcohol or drug use.

Counselling Online website

Kids Helpline 

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. Their website has a range of information and resources available to support you and your family. 

Kids Helpline website

The Bully Project

The Bully Project has a bunch of resources written by experts in the USA and Australia to help parents if their child is being bullied, if their child is bullying others and steps parents can take at home and school to prevent bullying.

Bully Project website

healthAbility: Parenting Support

Do you have a child under the age of 12 and need support with parenting?

Help is available through a Family Support Worker who will help you learn new skills to better manage your child's behaviour. 

The Family Support worker can assist families in dealing with:

• Tantrums
• Bedtime problems
• Mealtime difficulties
• Children not following instructions
• Aggression towards parents, siblings and others
• Other areas of concern

For further information and to enquire about the Family Support Worker service, please contact the Service Coordination Team at healthAbility on 9430 9100 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday. 

Eating Disorders Victoria

Services and Support for ED Recovery and families who have a loved one with an ED.

Eating Disorders Victoria website

Butterfly Foundation

The national charity for all Australians impacted by eating disorders and body image issues, and for the families, friends and communities who support them.

Butterfly Foundation website

Eating Disorders Families Australia

EDFA is a national organisation that provides support, education, advocacy and counselling solely for carers and families impacted by an eating disorder.

EDFA website

healthAbility: Parenting Well

Our Family Support worker meets with parents individually and runs parenting groups to help parents increase their confidence in parenting and understand and manage their children’s behaviour.

The Family Support worker can assist families with managing things like:

• Tantrums
• Bedtime problems
• Mealtime difficulties
• Children not following instructions
• Aggression towards parents, siblings and others or
• Other areas of concern

To enquire about Family Support, please contact us on 9430 9100.

healthAbility website

The Orange Door

Family violence support service for women and children who are experiencing family violence. 

Safe Steps 

For women and children who are experiencing family violence. 

Men’s Referral Service

For men using controlling behaviour, women seeking information and friends, family or colleagues of people who are using or experiencing family violence. 

Sexual Assault Crisis Line

For people currently experiencing, or victim survivors of sexual assault. 

Victims of Crime Helpline

For adult males experiencing family violence and victims of violent crime. 

1800RESPECT

Confidential information, counselling and support service supporting people impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse.

Djirra (formerly the Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service)

Safety and wellbeing support for Aboriginal women experiencing family violence. 

w|respect (With Respect)

Specialist LGBTIQ+ family violence service. 

InTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence

Provides services, programs and responses to issues of family violence in migrant and refugee communities. 

Seniors Rights Victoria

Elder abuse is any act which causes harm to an older person and is carried out by someone they know and trust, such as a family member or friend.

If you are in immediate danger, call 000 and ask for the police.

Diamond Valley Community Support

Local Emergency Relief service. They offer free counselling with Psychologists; Employment Consultant; Tax help; Financial Counselling; Material aid for prescriptions; Limited food vouchers & referrals to Foodshare plus more.

Shop 378a, Level 3, Greensborough Plaza
Ph: 9435 8282
9.30am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday

DVCS website

Centrelink

Centrelink deliver social security payments and services to Australians.

Centrelink website

National Debt Hotline

Financial support and advice.

1800 007 007 (free call)
9.30am – 4.30pm, Monday– Friday

Moneysmart

Helps Australians take control of their money with free tools, tips and guidance.

Moneysmart website

Gamblers Help

If someone close to you is experiencing harm from gambling, Gamblers Help can help you with free information, advice and support. For immediate help call Gambler's Help on 1800 858 858.

Gamblers Help website

Headspace

Headspace provide the Understanding gaming factsheet as a resource for family and friends to help you better understand your young person's gaming and internet use and how you can support them to maintain and healthy balance in their lives.

eSafety

Information and resources for parents and carers covering:

• How to create a safer gaming environment for your child
• Is your child spending too much time gaming?
• Grooming and bullying through in-game chat
• Limiting in-game purchases
• Games with gambling themes

eSafety website

Being a grandparent or kinship carer is a big job, but you don’t have to do it alone. Many support services and organisations for grandparents and kinship carers can help you.

Being a grandparent or kinship carer: A guide

If you're a grandparent or kinship carer, this Guide will help you to look after yourself and the children in your care.

Services Australia

Extra assistance is available if you’re a grandparent caring for your grandchildren.

Grandparents Victoria

This is a support and advocacy network for grandparents in Victoria. Contact them for help finding a grandparent or kinship carer support group near you. Phone 9372 2422.

Kinship Carers Victoria

This organisation provides information and support to kinship carers in Victoria.

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.

Child Dental Benefit Schedule

The CDBS is a program for eligible children aged 0-17 years that provides up to $1,095 in benefits over a relevant two-year calendar period for basic dental services.

Services Australia website

e-Safety Commissioner

Tips and resources on how to stay safe online.

e-Safety website

Raising Children

Information and advice available for:

School aged children (5-8 years): Play, media and technology

Pre-teens (9-11 years): Entertainment and technology

Teens (12-18 years): Entertainment and technology

MyVision.org

Publish a guide to screen time for parents, covering:

• Problems screens can cause
• How to develop screen time rules
• Suggested screen time limits by age
• Teaching and encouraging digital literacy, and more

MyVision.org website

Headspace

Raising sensitive issues and working to resolve problems that arise along the way can be challenging. It can also be hard as a parent to know the difference between normal behaviour, such as moodiness, irritability and withdrawal, and an emerging mental health problem. Headspace have a range of information available to support you and your young person.

Headspace website

Partners in Wellbeing

Support for your mental health and wellbeing during the Coronavirus pandemic and beyond.

Phone: 1300 375 330

Partners in Wellbeing Website

Australian Breastfeeding Association

ABA supports and encourages women who wish to breastfeed or provide breastmilk for their babies. ABA services include membership, a 24‑hour free Breastfeeding Helpline, local groups, education and many resources.

For more information, upcoming workshops and resources for breastfeeding parents please refer to the ABA website.

ABA website

Department of Health

Get Up & Grow Brochure - The role of parents in children's active play

This brochure is one of fourteen full colour brochures covering the essential healthy eating and physical activity topics to support settings, staff and families.

The Australian guide to healthy eating for children - provides up-to-date advice about the amount of food that we need to eat for health and wellbeing.

Beyond Blue

School refusal factsheet for parents and carers.

Beyond Blue website

School Avoidance

A resource developed by the Travancore School with relevant information and tips on school avoidance and refusal.

School Avoidance website

School Refusal Australia

Peer support for Australian families with children & teens experiencing school refusal.

Refusal website

Raising Children

Information about school refusal among children aged 5-8 years.

Raising Children website

Navigator

The Navigator program supports disengaged young people to return to education and learning.

Navigator works with young people, their families and support networks to address issues underlying disengagement and help them re-engage with their education.

Navigator is delivered by contracted community service organisations, who work closely with local schools and school area teams. In each area the program is tailored to its local community and range of services.

Navigator website

healthAbility

healthAbility provides the from Harm to Calm program that aims to reduce self-harming behaviours in youth.

They provide education sessions for students, teachers, school support staff, parents and carers addressing the issue of self-harm in young people. The program addresses appropriate responses and effective ways to support those in need.

The program also offers support booklets for both youth and parents/carers/professionals.

healthAbility

Headspace

Headspace offer information to support you as a parent or carer to understand your child's sexuality and gender identify.

Headspace website

Beyond Blue

Beyond blue provide practical tips and advice to help you support your young person and yourself if you need it, as well as answers to common questions that crop up. 

Beyond Blue website

Support groups

There are a number of groups that can provide support and advice to parents of LGBTI young people. 

• PFLAG (Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)
• IHRA (Intersex Human Rights Australia)
• Transcend Support

Nillumbik Maternal Child Health (MCH)

Maternal and Child Health Business Support Officer - MCH@nillumbik.vic.gov.au or call 9433 3368

Advice and support

• Your maternal and child health nurse  
• Maternal and child health line – 13 22 29 (24 hour service)

MCH

Raising Children

Information available on persistent sleep problems in children and teenagers.

Raising Children website

Sleep Health Foundation

Facts about sleep for parents and school staff.

Sleep Health Foundation

QUIT Victoria

Provides information regarding the impacts of vaping and smoking.

QUIT Victoria website

The Behaviour Change Collaborative in partnership with VicHealth

New evidence-based conversation guide on vaping for parents and caregivers.

See parent conversation guide(PDF, 456KB)

VicHealth website

Brave Foundation

Support for expecting and parenting teens.

The Brave SEPT (Supporting Expecting and Parenting Teens) Program is an interactive Pathway Plan created for expecting and parenting teens to ensure they are connected to parenting support, life support and educational opportunities in their local communities.

Brave Foundation website

Young Parents Education - Foundation College

The Young Parents Education Program (YPEP) offers pregnant teens and young parents the opportunity to complete their education in the flexible learning environment. Students are encouraged to bring their babies to class with them, and a fully-qualified child care support worker will be onsite during each class to assist with care.

Foundation College website