Family and child support services

Raising children and being part of a family is not always easy. There are ups and downs, uncertainties and, sometimes, unwelcome surprises.

To help families through the tough times, a range of parenting services and supports exist in most communities. Being a parent can be rewarding, but creating a safe and nurturing environment for your children can be a challenge. Sometimes families simply need help to talk issues through.

Early parenting support#

Many communities have services that support parents from pregnancy until their child is a few years old. They can help with common difficulties such as feeding and sleeping problems.

Early parenting centres and similar services often combine several approaches:

• Residential or day-stay programs – short, intensive programs where parents build skills and confidence in caring for an infant or toddler.
• Home-based services – skilled staff visit your home to provide one-on-one parenting support and education.
• Group programs – sessions attended by parents and children together, designed to improve parent–child relationships and interaction.

These services aim to strengthen a family’s link with its community and to enhance the bond between parent and child. Some are free and focused on families who are assessed as needing additional, intensive support. Your local maternal and child health service or doctor can usually arrange a referral.

Parenting programs and education#

Local parenting services, often concentrated in areas of social and economic disadvantage, offer group education, information and support programs. These give you and your family the chance to take part in relevant, local programs that can help you manage the major transition points in your child’s and your family’s lives.

Some programs provide longer-term, intensive support for vulnerable young parents, beginning in pregnancy and continuing through the early years. As well as caring for a child’s health, safety and development, these programs help parents build their own self-reliance through access to education, training and employment.

Family intervention services#

Family intervention services aim to reduce parental depression, anxiety, stress and conflict between parents. They work with parents to make their parenting more effective and with children to build their social skills, using a mix of counselling, skill development and education, both one-on-one and in groups.

These services are typically designed for families with younger children who are experiencing parenting difficulties, often because a child is displaying disruptive, defiant or aggressive behaviour.

Maternal and child health services#

A maternal and child health service supports your family with parenting help and by monitoring the health and development of your baby or toddler. It can also refer you to other professionals and link you with other families in your local community.

Such a service typically offers:

• A series of appointments at key ages and stages, where you are encouraged to talk about your concerns and your parenting experiences.
• An opportunity to meet other parents and connect with community groups in your area.

Many areas also run a telephone line, sometimes around the clock, staffed by qualified nurses who provide information, support and guidance on child health, nutrition, breastfeeding, maternal and family health, and parenting.

Support for families from diverse backgrounds#

All early childhood and family services should welcome families from every cultural background and respect their culture. Some communities also have family and parenting services designed specifically for particular cultural groups, where a worker familiar with the community can support you during pregnancy, after the birth and beyond, and link you to other services as needed.

Cultural or language differences can create a barrier, whether real or imagined, between families and service providers. Community organisations offer family mentoring and support programs that help you navigate the child and family service systems and access the supports, facilities and resources available for parents and children.

If you are not confident using the local language, you can usually access interpreter services in person, over the phone or by video. Simply tell your service provider that you would like an interpreter, specifying the dialect you speak (if relevant) and whether you prefer a male or female interpreter.

Help for vulnerable children and families#

Where there are concerns about the wellbeing of a child, young person or family, dedicated family services provide support and assistance. A referral to such a service can be the best way to connect vulnerable children, young people and their families to the help they need to protect and promote healthy development. Anyone with a concern for a child or family can usually make a referral.

Help for young people#

When things are not going well at home, or when personal issues become overwhelming, teenagers can reach out to youth-focused counselling services for advice and support. Counsellors trained to work with young people can help with family issues from a young person’s perspective, and many services also offer practical information, tools and support online.

Telephone helplines#

A range of telephone helplines support families who need advice. Depending on where you live, these may include:

• A helpline and online service for teenagers and young people worried about their mental health, where qualified youth mental health professionals can help with issues such as depression, bullying and isolation. Support is often available to concerned parents or carers too.
• A helpline providing information and advice for anyone affected by family relationship or separation issues.
• A men’s helpline offering telephone counselling and referral for men who need advice on relationships, parenting and other issues, including those at risk of suicide.
• A parenting helpline offering information and guidance on child health, nutrition, breastfeeding, maternal and family health, and parenting.
• A helpline for people who want help to stop abusive or violent behaviour towards family members, which concerned relatives or friends can also call for information.

Key points#

• Parenting services and supports exist to help families through difficult times.
• Early parenting support may be residential, home-based or group-based, and a referral can usually be arranged through your maternal and child health service or doctor.
• Maternal and child health services monitor your child’s development and can connect you with other professionals and families.
• Services exist for vulnerable children, for families from diverse backgrounds, and for young people, alongside a range of telephone helplines.

Where to get help#