Support for children and young people
If you are a child or young person looking for support or if you are a parent needing help, here is a list of organisations and government agencies that can help you.
Australian Childhood Foundation Professionals
The Australian Childhood Foundation Professionals offers services to children, young people and their families. The have a range of different services including theraputic support, guidance on safeguarding children, trama aware education and a selection of child safe training courses and resources available online.
Commission for Children and Young People
The Commission for Children and Young People is an independent statutory body in Victoria that promotes improvement in policies and practices affecting the safety and well-being of children and young people. They provide oversight of services like child protection and youth justice, advocates for best practices, and supports organisations in implementing child-safe practices.
Headspace
Headspace is the national youth mental health support website, offering a range of ways to support you online or by phone. Headspace offers free membership which gives you access to variety of safe and supportive online community chats that provide a great way to connect with others, and share resources that could be helpful.
Kids Helpline
The 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. They are committed to providing services that protect and keep children and young people free from harm and have tailored support lines for different age brackets.
Call 1800 55 1800
Kids Helpline Parentline
The Parentline is a service for parents or carers who need help navigating difficult parenting dilemmas. They offer telephone and online counselling with qualified counsellors who can offer strategies and advice. There are also free resources online.
There is a different phone number for each state and territory. Details are on their website.
Office of the Children's Guardian
The Office of the Children's Guardian is a NSW government agency responsible for overseeing child-related organisations to ensure children's safety. They administer worker screening checks, monitors out-of-home care standards, and promotes child-safe practices. The agency uses risk-based enforcement to identify gaps in protection and ensures organisations implement child safety standards, providing guidance on best practices to prioritise children's rights and well-being.
