Parenting can be challenging, especially when juggling work, school, behaviour, wellbeing, and everyday stress. Victoria offers a range of free or low-cost services to help you and your family feel supported, informed, and connected.

Below is a guide to trusted parenting resources available to Victorian families.

📞 Parentline Victoria

*Important notice: the Parentline phone service is no longer in operation.

The Government’s priority continues to be keeping children and young people safe, and families and carers strong.

There is a range of services and resources that provide connected support and/or counselling, including but not limited to:

🌐 Raising Children Network

Australia’s most trusted parenting resource

The Raising Children Network offers evidence-based information for every stage of parenting, from newborns to teenagers.

Topics include:

• Behaviour & emotions

• Child development

• Parenting strategies

• Disability & inclusion support

• Sleep, feeding, routines

• Family wellbeing

🔗 https://raisingchildren.net.au/

🏛️ Victorian Government – Children & Families Hub

Information for parents, carers, and families in Victoria

This hub provides:

• Child health & development resources

• School and education information

• Family services and supports

• Child safety guidelines

• Parenting tools & programs

🔗 https://www.vic.gov.au/children

🔎 Service Victoria – Parent Support Directory

Find local parenting programs & family support services

Search for:

• Local parenting groups

• Family counselling

• Early childhood support

• Youth services

• Aboriginal family support

• Multicultural family programs

🔗 https://service.vic.gov.au/find-services/family-and-child/parent-support

🧡 The Orange Door

Free support for families experiencing stress, violence, or parenting difficulties

The Orange Door provides:

• Family violence support

• Parenting assistance

• Child Wellbeing Support

• Practical help (housing, safety planning, referrals)

This service is free and available across Victoria.

Find your local Orange Door: https://www.orangedoor.vic.gov.au/

Contact Orange Door https://www.orangedoor.vic.gov.au/contact-us

👶 Maternal & Child Health Services Victoria

Free support for new parents

Every new parent in Victoria has access to their local Maternal and Child Health (MCH) nurse.

They offer help with:

• Sleep & feeding

• Child development checks

• Postnatal wellbeing

• Parenting questions

• Referrals to extra support

Maternal and Child Health Line - 13 22 29 (for Victorian families with children from birth to 6 years, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)

Find your local MCH centre: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/serviceprofiles/maternal-and-child-health-services

🩺 Nurse-on-Call

24/7 health advice from a registered nurse (Victoria)

Nurse-on-Call provides free, confidential health advice over the phone from a registered nurse, anytime day or night. It’s ideal for parents needing guidance when they’re unsure about symptoms, illness, or whether a child needs medical care.

What They Offer

• 24/7 health advice from qualified nurses

• Guidance on symptoms, injuries & common illnesses

• Help deciding if you need a doctor, hospital or home care

• Support for parents with child health concerns

📞 1300 60 60 24 (24/7)
🔗 https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/serviceprofiles/nurse-on-call

🧑‍🏫 Support for School-Aged Children & Teens

Headspace (Youth mental health, ages 12–25)

Support with wellbeing, anxiety, stress, and family conflict.

🔗 https://headspace.org.au/
School Wellbeing Teams

Most schools offer:

• Counselling

• Behaviour support

• Learning & emotional support

Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

Specialised assessment and mental health support for young people.

🖤💛❤️ Yarning SafeNStrong (VAHS)

24/7 support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families

Yarning SafeNStrong is a free, confidential phone counselling service run by the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service. It supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with social, emotional, and cultural wellbeing.

What They Offer

• 24/7 counselling & emotional support

• Help with stress, family challenges, or parenting worries

• Cultural wellbeing support

• Links to health, legal, housing & family services

📞 1800 959 563 (24/7)
🔗 https://www.vahs.org.au/ysns/

🖤 Brother to Brother Crisis Line

24/7 support for Aboriginal men, boys & fathers

The Brother to Brother Crisis Line is a free, confidential phone service run by Aboriginal men, supporting Aboriginal men. It provides help during times of stress, conflict, family issues, or crisis — including support around family violence, parenting pressures, and emotional wellbeing.

What They Offer

• 24/7 crisis support from Aboriginal men

• Help with family violence, safety & conflict

• Support for parenting, relationships & stress

• Culturally safe guidance and referrals

📞 24/7 Crisis Line: 1800 435 799
🔗 https://dardi.org.au/brother-to-brother/

💙 Lifeline

24/7 crisis support for anyone in emotional distress

Lifeline provides free, confidential crisis support for people feeling overwhelmed, anxious, lonely, or in need of someone to talk to. Their trained counsellors can help you stay safe and find support during difficult moments.

What They Offer

• 24/7 crisis counselling

• Support for anxiety, grief, loneliness & emotional distress

• Safety planning & referrals

• Phone, text & online chat options

📞 13 11 14 (24/7)
📱 Text: 0477 13 11 14
💬 Online chat: https://www.lifeline.org.au/

🌈 Kids Helpline

Free, confidential support for young people aged 5–25

Kids Helpline is available 24/7 to support children and young people with worries, emotions, friendships, family issues, school stress, or anything that’s affecting their wellbeing.

What They Offer

• Phone, webchat & email counselling

• Support for anxiety, bullying, friendships, study stress & safety

• Resources for parents to help support their children

📞 1800 55 1800
🔗 https://kidshelpline.com.au/

💙 Beyond Blue

Mental health support for parents, carers, and families

Beyond Blue provides free, confidential support for anyone experiencing:

• Anxiety

• Stress or overwhelm

• Depression or low mood

• Parenting-related worry

• Relationship or family stress

• Loneliness or emotional fatigue

Their trained mental health professionals offer support, guidance, and referrals to help you understand what you’re feeling and find the right care.

How Beyond Blue Can Help

• 24/7 mental health support phone line

• Online webchat counselling

• Self-help tools & wellbeing strategies

• Information for parents, carers, and families

• Support for stress, anxiety, postnatal depression, and life challenges

📞 Beyond Blue Support Line: 1300 22 4636
💬 Webchat available daily
🔗 https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

🌈 Rainbow Door

Support for LGBTIQA+ people, their families & friends

Rainbow Door is a specialist helpline for LGBTIQA+ people experiencing stress, family conflict, identity concerns, discrimination, mental health challenges or needing help to access safe services. Support is confidential and affirming.

What They Offer

• Advice, referrals & emotional support

• Help with mental health, relationships & family issues

• Guidance around discrimination, safety & wellbeing

• Support for family, friends & carers

📞 1800 729 367
📱 Text: 0480 017 246
🕒 10am–5pm, 7 days a week
🔗 https://www.switchboard.org.au/rainbow-door

💜 Domestic & Family Violence Support Victoria

If you or a child is in immediate danger, call 000.

Child Protection Crisis Line (Victoria): 13 12 78
For urgent concerns for a child’s safety (after hours & weekends).

For Women & Families

• Safe Steps (Victoria’s 24/7 Family Violence Response): 1800 015 188
  Immediate crisis support, safety planning & accommodation.

• Women's Legal Service Victoria: (03) 8622 0600
  Free legal support for women experiencing violence.

For Men (Support or Behaviour Change)

• Men’s Referral Service: 1300 766 491 (24 Hours, 7 Days a week)
  Support for men who use violence or feel at risk of doing so.

• MensLine Australia: 1300 78 99 78

  Telephone and online counselling service for men with family and relationship concerns.

Culturally Safe Support

• Djirra (Support for Aboriginal Women): 1800 105 303

• Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA): 03 9287 8800