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National Services

In this chapter:

Family and Parenting

For confidential telephone counselling service, information and support for parents and carers, call or visit Parentline.

When you call Parentline:

  • You can request an interpreter
  • You can ask for a male or female counsellor
  • Counselling is confidential unless you or someone else is at risk of harm
  • You can speak with the same counsellor for ongoing support
  • You will be asked what you want to talk about and what you most need from the call

For free, reliable, up-to-date and independent information on parenting, visit Raising Children Network.

For useful information on keeping your children safe in the home, in the water, car and outdoors, visit Kidsafe.

For support and information for expecting parents and parents of children, from birth to 5 years of age, contact Pregnancy, Birth and Baby via phone 1800 882 436 or video call to speak with a registered maternal child health nurse (7 days a week, 7am to midnight).

For support, information and education to anyone affected by the death of a baby before, during or shortly after birth, call the Sands helpline 1300 072 637 or visit Sands – miscarriage, stillbirth and newborn death support.

Community Hubs are welcoming places where migrant and refugee families, particularly mothers with young children, come to connect, share, and learn. Hubs bridge the gap between migrants and the wider community, they connect women with schools, with each other, and with organisations that can provide health, education, and settlement support.

Red Nose provides information on safe sleep and pregnancy, and bereavement support for families affected by the death of a child.

Dad and Family Programs

Support for Fathers

Child Care

There are different types of child care in Australia. For information on where to find child care and links to information on Child Care Subsidy, visit Child Care Finder.

Parental Leave and Work

You can find information on leave and other employment topics on the Fair Work Ombudsman’s website and on types of workplace flexibility in the Workplace Gender Equality Agency.

Counselling and Relationships

For a safe and private place to talk about concerns, confidential, anonymous and non-judgmental support, coaching and practical strategies for managing personal relationship concerns, relevant information and links to other appropriate services and programs as required, call 1300 789 978 (24 hours a day) or find online support at MensLine Australia.

Men’s Referral Service 1300 766 491 provides telephone counselling, information and referrals for men.

Relationships Australia provides relationship support services for individuals, families and communities across Australia. Services include counselling, family dispute resolution, family violence prevention. There are services in each state and territory. To be connected to the nearest Relationships Australia to you, call 1300 364 277.

The Family Relationship Advice Line provides information and referral to services that can help strengthen relationships, overcome relationship difficulties or deal with separation. Call 1800 050 321 (Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm; Saturday 10am to 4pm). Family Relationships Online provides information for families about family relationship issues.

For information violence against women and how to prevent it:

No to Violence helps men understand violence and abuse towards family members.

For qualified and experienced counsellors that can provide information, anonymously, any time of day or night call 1800 737 732 or visit the website 1800RESPECT.

Health and mental health

If you are experiencing personal crisis or thinking about suicide, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Lifeline is a confidential telephone service (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). All calls are free.

For telephone mental health assistance (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week), call Mental Health Line 1800 011 511. Interpreting services are available.

For telephone, video and online professional counselling if you are affected by suicide, call the Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

For information on health and to find a health service provider, including bulk billing services, visit Healthdirect or call 1800 022 222. Healthdirect also has a free-to-download mobile app.

To book an after-hours home doctor call National Home Doctor Service (bulk billed) 13 74 25.

To speak to a trained mental health professional who will listen, provide information and advice, and point you in the right direction so you can seek further support, call beyondblue 1300 224 636 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or chat online (7 days a week, 3pm to 12 am). The service is confidential, and you can let them know if you’d like to remain anonymous.

MensLine Australia provides a safe and private place to talk about concerns, confidential, anonymous and non-judgmental support, coaching and practical strategies for managing personal relationship concerns, relevant information and links to other appropriate services and programs as required. Call 1300 789 978 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) or find online support.

Dadvice provides information about becoming a dad, getting involved, your relationship, looking after yourself, facing fears, supporting your partner, anxiety and depression, and work. You can also read information about perinatal anxiety and depression in dads.

Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA) provides a safe and confidential space for any new or expecting parent struggling with the challenges of becoming a new parent. Trained counsellors can help you work through your challenges by talking openly and honestly about your thoughts, feelings and experiences.

For a free, national helpline service for women, men and their families affected by anxiety and depression during pregnancy and in the first year of parenthood, call the PANDA Helpline 1300 726 306 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 7:30pm).

Mental Health in Multicultural Australia has translated brochures on mental health.

Financial

For information on financial counselling, a free service offered by community organisations, community legal centres and some government agencies, see MoneySmart.

Find help and advice for your financial planning, investing, insurance, retirement and unclaimed money, including calculators and tools.

MoneySmart has a quick and easy budgeting tool (available in English, Simplified/Traditional Chinese, Italian, Arabic, Vietnamese, Somali, Dari, and Sudanese Arabic), and information on budgeting for a baby.

Find information on family benefits, enrolling your baby in Medicare, and eligibility at Human Services.

Legal Aid provides a number of free legal services to people in the community, such as legal information, referral services and minor assistance.

To find the nearest community legal centre, providing free and accessible legal and related services, see National Association of Community Legal Centres.

Information on discrimination and racism: https://www.humanrights.gov.au/our-work/race-discrimination/publications/know-your-rights-racial-discrimination-and-vilification

Police

State and territory police have responsibility for community safety and protection. They preserve the peace, uphold the law, prevent crime, provide assistance in personal emergencies and coordinate and manage emergency incidents. They also enforce road and traffic rules, investigate crimes, and deal with missing persons reports.

In an emergency, you should always call police on 000.

To contact police for matters that are not emergencies, call 131 444 in all states and territories in Australia except Victoria.

Settlement Services

If you have arrived through the government’s Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP), you will have access to support from HSP service providers.

Find service providers for refugees and people seeking asylum in your state/territory.

The Settlement Engagement and Transition Support (SETS) program aims to equip and empower humanitarian entrants, other eligible permanent migrants and their communities to address their settlement needs, in order to improve social participation, economic well-being, independence, personal well-being and community connectedness. Find SETS service providers.

SBS Settlement Guide is available in various languages with information and podcasts on common settlement topics

Find an Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) in your state or territory.

Services for Asylum Seekers

The Immigration Advice and Application Assistance Scheme (IAAAS) is funded by the Australian Government to provide professional immigration advice and visa application assistance to non-citizens, who have arrived lawfully in Australia and who meet specific eligibility criteria.