helplines & support organisations - nsw
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The organisations on this page have been grouped roughly for ease and quick reference. Viewers are asked to note that some organisations may have services in more than one group but are only listed once, please look through the list carefully. Many organisations have regional offices and support groups - check the website or call the main number listed for details.
This list is not exhaustive, if you know of or run a genuine support organisation which would be of help to New South Wales parents, please contact us.
For additional sources of organisations and associations, click on the other sources of support organisations link below for further online directories.
Quick page links:
general women's health & women's issues
pregnancy & childbirth
premature babies
help for parents
feeding concerns
children with special needs
bereavement & grief
post-natal depression
young parents
other parent support groups
children's issues
government departments & agencies
family planning & un-wanted pregnancy
general helplines
accidents
other sources of support organisations
TTY = telephone typwriter service; telephone service for those with hearing or speech difficulties
general women's health & women's issues
Women's Health Centres
For your nearest local centre, consult the White Pages under 'Women's Health Centres".
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pregnancy & childbirth
Pregnancy Support
ph: Tollfree 1300 139 313 (national)
Free, professional, confidential counselling in relation to pregnancy testing, unplanned pregnancy,
post-abortion concerns, pregnancy support, pregnancy loss & adoption
Pregnancy Counselling Link
ph: Tollfree 1800 777 690 (national)
Free, professional, confidential counselling in relation to pregnancy testing, unplanned pregnancy,
post-abortion concerns, pregnancy support, pregnancy loss & adoption
Medicines Line
ph: 1300 888 763
A national service offering telephone advice on prescribed and over-the-counter medications.
Mothersafe
ph: 02 9382 6539 (Sydney)
ph: Tollfree 1800 647 848 (outside Sydney metro and state wide)
Telephone service based at the Royal Hospital for Women that is for pregnant and lactating mothers
to call and check on any concerns they have about taking medications during this time (eg vitamins, across the counter medications,
use of pesticides, exposure to radiation via mammograms, xrays & dental xrays, medications for other health reasons (schizophrenia),
prescription drugs from your doctor)
Australian Multiple Birth Association (NSW)
ph: (02) 9875 2404
Voluntary organisation run by multiple birth parents for expectant or other multiple birth parents. Call for details of nearest group.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Association of Australia
Support and information for women suffering from PCOS. Local support groups also.
Australian Action on Pre-eclampsia
ph: (VIC) (03) 9330 0441
Pelvic Instability Association
ph: (VIC) (03) 9539 3217
Not-for-profit organisation providing support and information for women suffering from
Pelvic Instability / Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD).
Hashimoto Hypothyroid Postpartum
Online info
Australian Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS) Support Group
ph: (07) 3849 8198
Voluntary organisation - The Australian Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome Support Group has been formed to help parents who are or have been diagnosed with Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome.
Australian Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome Awareness
ph: (mobile) 0416 388 987
Australian & worldwide twin to twin transfusion support group providing
TTTS information, support, contacts, message board, yahoo group, parents stories, memorial section, parents
contacts, medical professionals & treatment centre contacts specialising in TTTS.
Australian Society of Independent Midwives
ph: (02) 9888 7829
details of local homebirth midwives throughout NSW
Birthrites - Healing After Caesarean
ph: see website for local contact details
Support groups and information for families in regard to caesarean birth and vaginal birth after caesarean
AIMS Australia (Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services, Australia)
ph: (07) 3207 7444
"AIMS Australia is a consumer organisation and our members promote the rights of parents to
choose the place and manner of birth; the rights of parents to accurate information and parents' rights to be treated with respect
during pregnancy and childbirth."
The Maternity Coalition Inc
"Australia’s peak birth care consumer advocacy group. Are you having difficulties accessing the
care you want in birth? Has your local maternity unit closed? If you have concerns about birthing services in your area visit
Maternity Coalition’s website and find out how you can make a difference to your local community and to birthing services Australia-wide"
Caesarean Awareness Network Australia (CANA)
"Access up-to-date and evidence-based information and resources about caesareans and birth after caesareans, links to
support groups around the country, information on workshops and antenatal courses relevant to caesareans or vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC), and information
on issues related to maternity services for women who are planning a caesarean, or planning to VBAC."
Birth Trauma & Stress Support Group
ph: Ursula: (07) 3809 0196
email: gentoo@ozemail.com.au
Voluntary support group for mothers who have had traumatic birth experiences.
Support offered through email and phone Australia-wide.
Babybumps Support Group
Northern Sydney Area, The Hills Area and Ku-ring-gai Hornsby ph: 0402 488 435
Not-for-profit community group offering support to families experiencing antenatal or postnatal depression,
anxiety or difficulties coping with motherhood.
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premature babies
Austprem
Internet based Australia-wide support group and information website
National Premmie Foundation
ph: 1300 PREM BABY (1300 773 622)
National support organisation for all families and carers involved with parenting premature or seriously ill babies and children.
L'il Aussie Prems
An Australian online support site for parents & families of premature babies. We welcome you to join our free community forum where you can talk to other parents. You will find useful links to all things premmie including clothing stores, support sites, journeys through the NICU & much more..
Nepean Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Parents Support
Preterm Infants Parents Association (PIPA)
ph: (07) 3216 5114
Queensland based support group
Victorian Infant Collaborative Study
Information website
also see contacts for Australian Multiple Birth Association in
pregnancy & childbirth section above.
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help for parents
Karitane
ph: (02) 9794 1852
ph: Tollfree 1800 677 961 (outside Sydney Metro region)
24 hr information & counselling
Parent Line (Centacare)
ph: 13 20 55
Telephone information & counselling service. Operates 9am - 4.30pm Monday to Saturday.
Tresillian
ph: (02) 9787 0855
ph: Tollfree 1800 637 357 (outside Sydney Metro region)
24 hr information & counselling
Family Support Services Association
ph: (02) 8512 9850
Support for families experiencing stress. Operates 9am-4:30pm, Mon-Fri.
Sydney Hope Family Cottage / The Infants Home
ph: (02) 9799 4844
information & counselling for Central Sydney Area during business hours
Anglicare Family Services
ph: (02) 9821 1014
Anglicare Family Services offers support to families with children 0-18 years living in the Liverpool
Local Government Area through home visiting, referral, advocacy and group work. Issues such as isolation, parenting & behavioural
management, housing, financial difficulties, relationship issues, grief & loss, depression (particularly PND) & other mental health issues,
unemployment & study, self-esteem, stress management, alcohol & other drugs, family violence and emotional support. We offer playgroup,
first time parents group, positive parenting groups and others focusing on the early years.
Good Beginnings Australia
see website for local contact details
Volunteer Home Visiting and Parenting Program
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feeding concerns
Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) NSW Branch
Breastfeeding Helpline: ph: (02) 6258 8928 (South NSW & ACT)
Breastfeeding Helpline: ph: (02) 8853 4999 (other NSW)
formerly Nursing Mothers' Association Australia (NMAA)
Australian Lactation Consultants Association (ACLA)
La Leche League International (Australian branch)
"La Leche League is an international, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization dedicated to providing education, information, support, and encouragement to women who want to breastfeed."
Reflux Infants Support Association
ph: (07) 3229 1090
The association is a non-profit organisation
who's aim is to support families and carers of children
with reflux. The Association hold regular meetings in the Sydney region.
Dietitians Association of Australia
ph: (ACT) (02) 6282 9555
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children with special needs
Carers NSW
ph: Freecall 1800 242 636
Information on carers' support groups and resources throughout NSW
Family Advocacy
305/16-18 Cambridge St, Epping ph: 1800 620 588
"Family Advocacy is a state-wide, community-based organisation which is concerned with the needs, interests and
rights of people who have a developmental disability. It promotes positive social roles for people who have a
developmental disability by developing advocacy by families and by strengthening the knowledge, influence and role of the
family. Family Advocacy run information workshops and skills development sessions for families, provides telephone advice to
individuals produce resource material and a newsletter."
The Asthma Foundation of NSW
ph: Freecall 1800 645 130
Autism Association of NSW
ph: (02) 9452 5088
Learning Links
ph: (02) 9534 1710
Head Office: 12-14 Pindari Rd, Peakhurst
South West Sydney Branch: 88 Shropshire St, Miller
Outreach services at other locations (see website for details)
"Learning Links is an Australian charity and non-profit organisation assisting children who have
difficulty learning. We work with families to provide a complete service for children in need. Our service brings together teachers,
psychologists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists and family counsellors to work towards each individual child's goals.
Learning Links helps children to be the best they can be."
Sydney Cognitive Development Centre
Level 2 79-85 Oxford St, Bondi Junction
"We are a centre dedicated to helping children and adolescents with learning, attention or other cognitive problems achieve to their highest potential. We specialise in child with various developmental problems such as genetic disorders, head injury, epilepsy, brain tumours, autism, ADHD and learning disabilities."
Australian Hearing
ph: 13 17 97
Deaf Children Australia
ph: 1800 645 916
Deaf Society of New South Wales
ph: Freecall 1800 893 855, TTY Freecall 1800 893 885
Royal Institute for Deaf & Blind Children
ph: (NSW) (02) 9871 1233
Royal Blind Society
ph: 1300 134 560
The Royal NSW Institute for Deaf and Blind Children
ph: (02) 9871 1233
Children's Cancer Institute Australia
ph: Freecall 1800 685 686
Leukaemia Foundation Australia
ph: Freecall 1800 620 420
The Cancer Council New South Wales
ph: Cancer Helpline 13 11 20
CP Australian (formerly Australian Cerebral Palsy Association
ph: 1300 30 29 20
The Spastic Centre of New South Wales
ph: (02) 9451 9022
Cystic Fibrosis New South Wales
ph: Freecall 1800 650 614
Diabetes Australia - New South Wales
ph: 1300 136 588
State Library of NSW - Disability Access Service
ph: (02) 9273 1583
ph: Freecall 1800 226 161
ph: (02) 9273 1541 (TTY)
Down Syndrome Association of NSW
ph: (02) 9683 4333
Australian Dyspraxia Support Group & Resource Centre
ph: (02) 4577 6220
Eczema Association of Australia
ph: 1300 300 182
Epilepsy Action
ph: 1300 EPILEPSY (1300 37 45 37)
HeartKids Queensland Inc
ph: (07) 3350 8181
Network of the families of children diagnosed with heart problems.
Multiple Handicapped Association (Multicap)
ph: (07) 3341 6644
Muscular Dystrophy Australia
ph: (VIC) (03) 9370 0477
Pre-Term Infants Parents Association
ph: (07) 3216 5114
Ronald McDonald Houses
ph: The Children's Hospital, Westmead (02) 9845 0600
ph: Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick (02) 9382 1622
ph: John Hunter Children's Hospital, Newcastle (02) 4921 4733
Ronald McDonald Houses are accommodation for country
families whose babies are born prematurely or whose
children are undergoing treatment for serious illness
Speech Pathology Australia (NSW branch)
ph: (02) 9743 0013
Australian Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Association
Northcott Society (NSW Society for Crippled Children)
ph: (02) 9890 0100
ph: Freecall 1800 506 071
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bereavement & grief
Sydney Counselling Centre (face to face counselling)
Level 4, 7 Help St, Chatswood ph: (02) 9514 2223
Level 1, 1 Erskinville Rd, Newtown ph: (02) 9891 1388
Level 1, 20 Wentworth St, Parramatta ph: (02) 9559 4054
Bonnie Babes Foundation
ph: (03) 9758 2800
"The Bonnie Babes Foundation provides a 24 hour, national grief counselling
services to Australian families who have lost a baby. The Foundation's trained counsellors will provide grief
counselling for any member of the family or friends grieving after pregnancy loss including miscarriage, stillbirth,
premature-birth loss, genetic termination (forced abortion due to complications), and neonatal death
(death shortly after birth)."
SIDS and Kids Australia & SIDS and Kids New South Wales
ph: (02) 9681 4500 or Freecall 1800 651 186
ph: 1300 308 307 (outside Sydney Metro region)
ph: (02) 4969 3171 (Hunter region)
ph: 1300 308 307 (National number)
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome resource and information organisation
Pen Parents of Australia
Support network for those who have experienced pregnancy loss or the death of a child
Teddy Love Club
ph: (mobile) 0416 388 987
Registered non profit organisation. The program is the donation of teddy
bears to bereaved parents whilst in hospital, in the aim of easing the pain of leaving the hospital with empty arms.
We provide support and understanding for bereaved parents by bereaved parents,a message board & a yahoo support group on the website.
OzMOST ~ Aussie Mums Of Surviving Twins
Online support group to offer friendship, understanding and mutual support to other parents when a twin or higher order of multiples dies during the pregnancy, at birth or in infancy.
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post-natal depression
Mental Health Information Service (Depression & Mood Disorders Information)
ph: (02) 9816 5688
Karitane
ph: (02) 9794 1852
ph: Tollfree 1800 677 961 (outside Sydney Metro region)
24 hr information & counselling
Tresillian
ph: (02) 9787 0855
ph: Tollfree 1800 637 357 (outside Sydney Metro region)
24 hr information & counselling
POSIE
Hornsby / Ku-ring-gai regions ph: (02) 9489 0912
POSIE (Perinatal Outreach, Support, Information & Education) is a not-for-profit community group offering support to families experiencing antenatal or postnatal depression or anxiety.
Sydney Counselling Centre (face to face counselling)
Level 4, 7 Help St, Chatswood ph: (02) 9514 2223
Level 1, 1 Erskinville Rd, Newtown ph: (02) 9891 1388
Level 1, 20 Wentworth St, Parramatta ph: (02) 9559 4054
Sydney Hope Family Cottage / The Infants Home
ph: (02) 9799 4844
information & counselling for Central Sydney Area during business hours
Postnatal and Antenatal Depression Support & Information (PaNDSI)
ph: (ACT) (02) 6232 6664
PaNDSI provides support and information to mums with
Post or Ante Natal Depression and their families.
Birth Trauma & Stress Support Group
ph: Ursula: (07) 3809 0196
email: gentoo@ozemail.com.au
Voluntary support group for mothers who have had traumatic birth experiences.
Support offered through email and phone Australia-wide.
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young parents
Young Pregnant Women's & Mother's Outreach
ph: (02) 9981 6413
Servicing Manly, Warringah and Pittwater areas
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other parent support groups
Aunties and Uncles Co-operative Family Project
ph: (02) 9638 2480
Covering the Greater Sydney Metro area and the Central Coast, Aunties & Uncles Co-operative Family Project Ltd is an
"extended" family, non-judgmental friendship and mentoring network.
Birthing Rites Australia
ph: (02) 9387 3615
Mums Support Group, Dads Support Group and general counselling and
preparation for parenting support. Sydney region.
Formum
ph: (02) 9980 5990
A support group for mothers who are finding it difficult to be a mother and need others in the same situation to talk to
about it. Group sessions held in Crows Nest.
Mums in Business
ph: (07) 5502 7756
National Council of Single Mothers & Their Children
ph: (08) 8226 2505
Parent Support
online support community and information
Ooranga Family Mobile Resource Unit Assoc
new england: 112 Barber Street, Gunnedah ph: (02) 6742 0603
Single Parents n' Kids Adventureland
Outings and social support for single parents
SPACE4
Single Parent Accommodation & Childcare Exchange
Business Mums Network - ph: (VIC) (03) 9720 2581
Online support network for mums starting & running a business.
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children's issues
Child Abuse Prevention Services Foundation
ph: Freecall 1800 688 009
ph: (02) 9716 8000
National 24 hour helpline. 5 drop-in centres in NSW
Napcan New South Wales
ph: (02) 9280 3822
"NAPCAN is the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect. Established in 1987, we are a non government, not for profit, volunteer based organisation"
Kids Help Line
ph: Freecall 1800 551 800
"A National 24 Hour Telephone Counselling Service for Children and Young People in Australia"
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government departments & agencies
Family Assistance Office
ph: 13 61 50
ph: 13 12 02 (for multilingual enquiries)
ph: 1800 810 587 (TTY)
Centrelink
locations: customer service centres
ph: 1800 050 004
ph: 13 12 02 (for multilingual enquiries)
ph: 1800 810 586 (TTY)
Medicare
locations: Medicare offices
ph: 13 20 11
ph: 13 14 50 (multilingual enquiries)
Federal Department of Families and Community Service
National Child Care Access Hotline 1800 670 305
Child Support Agency
ph: 13 12 72
ph: 13 14 50 (multilingual enquiries)
ph: 1800 631 187 (TTY)
Assisting separated parents to take responsibility for the financial support of their children
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family planning & un-wanted pregnancy
Pregnancy Counselling Link
ph: Freecall 1800 777 690
Free, professional, confidential counselling in relation to pregnancy testing, unplanned pregnancy,
post-abortion concerns, pregnancy support, pregnancy loss & adoption
Pregnancy Helpline
ph: Tollfree 1300 139 313 (national)
Free, professional, confidential counselling in relation to pregnancy testing, unplanned pregnancy,
post-abortion concerns, pregnancy support, pregnancy loss & adoption
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general helplines
Salvo Crisis Line
ph: (02) 9331 2000
suicide prevention, 24 hrs, 7 days
Lifeline
ph: 13 11 14
national 24-hr counselling line
Domestic Violence Line (NSW)
ph: Freecall 1800 656 463
ph: Freecall 1800 671 442 (TTY)
Quitline
ph: 13 18 48
24 hr quit-smoking counselling and information service
Medicines Line
ph: 1300 888 763
A national service offering telephone advice on prescribed and over-the-counter medications.
Men's Line
ph: Freecall 1300 789 978
Advice to men on relationships, health, family
issues and domestic violence
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accidents
Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Australia (Kidsafe)
Kidsafe House Westmead
location: The New Children's Hospital, Hawkesbury Rd, Westmead
ph: (02) 9845 0890
opening hours: 10am-3pm Monday-Friday
Kidsafe Information Centre, Hunter Valley
location: Pacific Highway Arcade, Hilltop Plaza, Charlestown
ph: (02) 4942 4488
opening hours: please call for details of opening hours
Poisons Information Centre
ph: 13 11 26
Adverse Medicine Events Line
ph: 1300 134 237
Help with adverse or strange reactions to medicines.
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other sources of support organisations
ourcommunity.com.au
online directory of community organisations, go to the 'Directory of Organisations' or use the 'keyword search'
The Australian Government Directory
search through this online list of organisations throughout Australia
Early Childhood Connections
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