helplines & support organisations - vic
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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 Victorian 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
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

Community Care Division, Victorian Dept of Human Services  
"The Community Care Division funds and provides services which are planned, designed, delivered and evaluated to; strengthen individuals, families, children and young people; build community capacity through partnerships between government, community services organisations and the community and to promote social inclusion."

Australian Women's Health Network (AWHN)  
"A national women's health advocacy, information and lobbying organisation. The site aims to provide general information, key services and up-to-date policy information regarding women's health."

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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

Open Doors Counselling and Educational Services  
5 Greenwood Ave, Ringwood
ph: (03) 9870 7044 or freecall outside Melbourne 1800 647 995
Open Doors provides pregnancy loss counselling for women and couples experiencing difficulty after miscarriage, termination, ectopic pregnancy, IVF losses, and stillbirth. Open Doors also provides non-directive crisis counselling and long term support for women and couples facing an unexpected pregnancy.

Medicines Line  
ph: 1300 888 763
A national service offering telephone advice on prescribed and over-the-counter medications.
Australian Multiple Birth Association (Vic)  
ph: (03) 9752 5536
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.

Melbourne Midwifery  
"A consumer-based organisation which offers information, education and support to women and families considering maternity care options and, in particular, to those who are considering or are planning a birth at home"

Birthing and Babies Support Group - BaBs  
Clota Cottage Neighbourhood House, 31 Clota Ave, Box Hill  ph: (03) 9899 0062
Pregnant and Parenting women and their friends gathering to share knowledge and experiences.

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."

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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..

lifes little treasures  
ph: (mobile) 0437 254 360
We are a group of parents who have experienced the roller coaster ride of N.I.C.U. & Special Care Nurseries, who would like to provide other parents of premature babies with support and friendship. Vic based

Loddon Mallee Kids  
ph: (03) 5443 2556
Not for Profit Organisation based in Bendigo, Victoria. Our aim is to provide support, information and resources to families and carers who are involved with parenting prematurely born babies and children.

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

Maternal & Child Health Line
ph: 13 22 29
24 hr information & counselling

O'Connell Family Centre
6 Mont Albert Rd, Canterbury   ph: (03) 8416 7600
"O'Connell Family Centre offer residential services for families needing extra support to care for their children (0-5 years), day stay programs (offered at a number of locations) and parent education programs, including "Dad's skills", "making living with your 2-4 year old easier". The Centre is staffed by qualified and experienced Maternal and Child Health Nurses and Mothercraft nurses."

Parentline
ph: 13 22 89
"Parentline is a confidential telephone counselling service for parents and/or primary care givers. Parentline is staffed by paid counsellors who have been professionally trained to understand and respond to the particular issues that concern parents."

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) Vic Branch  
formerly Nursing Mothers' Association Australia (NMAA)
articles & online information
Breastfeeding 24 hour Helpline ph: (03) 9885 0653

Australian Lactation Consultants Association (ACLA)  
"ALCA is the only national, non-profit, incorporated professional association for Australian International Board Certified Lactation Consultants." Refer to the web site for the ALCA list of Private Practitioners in your area.

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."

Dietitians Association of Australia
ph: (ACT) (02) 6282 9555

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children with special needs


Carers Association of Victoria  
ph: Freecall 1800 242 636
Information on carers' support groups and resources throughout VIC
The Asthma Foundation of Victoria  
ph: Freecall 1800 645 130
Asthma Australia  
ph: Freecall 1800 645 130
Autism Victoria  
ph: (03) 9885 0533

Australian Hearing  
ph: 13 17 97

Deaf Children Australia  
ph: 1800 645 916

Victorian Deaf Society  
ph: (03) 9657 8111, TTY (03) 9657 8130
Royal Blind Society  
ph: 1300 134 560
Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind  
ph: Freecall 1800 335 588

Leukaemia Foundation  
ph: 1800 620 420

Children's Cancer Institute Australia  
ph: Freecall 1800 685 686

Cancer Council of Victoria  
ph: Cancer Helpline 13 11 20
CP Australian (formerly Australian Cerebral Palsy Association  
ph: 1300 30 29 20
Scope (Victoria)  
ph: (03) 9537 2611
"Scope (Vic) is a non-profit organisation providing statewide services to children and adults with physical and multiple disabilities."

Cystic Fibrosis Victoria  
ph: Freecall 1800 633 685
Diabetes Australia - Victoria  
ph: 1300 136 588
Department of Human Services Disability (VIC) Intake and Response Service   & Disability Online  
ph: Freecall 1800 783 783
Down Syndrome Association of Victoria  
ph: (03) 9486 2377

Australian Dyspraxia Support Group & Resource Centre  
ph: (02) 4577 6220

Eczema Association of Australia  
ph: 1300 300 182

Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria  
ph: 1300 852 853

Epilepsy Action  
ph: 1300 EPILEPSY (1300 37 45 37)

Muscular Dystrophy Australia
ph: (VIC) (03) 9370 0477

Ronald McDonald Houses  
ph: Royal Children's Hospital (03) 9345 6300
ph: Monash Medical Centre (03) 9562 6223
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  
ph: (03) 9642 4899 (VIC)

Australian Spina Bifida & Hydrocephalus Association  

Spina Bifida Association of Victoria
ph: (03) 9362 6111
ph: Freecall 1800 686 533

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bereavement & grief

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)."

Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Support Group (SANDS) Australia (VIC)  
ph: (03) 9899 0217
"Sands is the mutual support, information, education and advocacy for parents and families who experience the death of their baby through miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death and other reproductive losses."

Open Doors Counselling and Educational Services  
5 Greenwood Ave, Ringwood
ph: (03) 9870 7044 or freecall outside Melbourne 1800 647 995
Open Doors provides pregnancy loss counselling for women and couples experiencing difficulty after miscarriage, termination, ectopic pregnancy, IVF losses, and stillbirth. Open Doors also provides non-directive crisis counselling and long term support for women and couples facing an unexpected pregnancy.

SIDS and Kids Australia & SIDS and Kids Victoria  
ph: (03) 9822 9611 or 1300 308 307
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

PANDA (Post and Ante Natal Depression Assoc)  
Helpline: ph: 1300 726 306 (open from 9.30am - 4.30pm, Monday to Friday)
Victoria wide support group and information source.
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: birtrasup@yahoo.com.au
Voluntary support group for mothers who have had traumatic birth experiences. Support offered through email and phone Australia-wide.

O'Connell Family Centre
6 Mont Albert Rd, Canterbury   ph: (03) 9882 2326
O'Connell Family Centre offer residential services for families needing extra support to care for their children (0-5 years), including "A post-natal recovery group for women experiencing stress, anxiety and/or depression."
Men's post natal depression support group  
ph: 0423 769 510
Men's post natal depression support group run by a Marriage and Family Therapist.

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parent support groups

Council of Single Mothers & Their Children - Victoria  
ph: (03) 9654 0622 or 1800 077 374 (outside Melbourne)
ph: (03) 9639 3980 (TTY) or 1800 998 099 (outside Melbourne)

Parent Support  
online support community and information

Parents Without Partners
ph: (03) 9852 1945

lifes little treasures  
ph: (mobile) 0437 254 360
We are a group of parents who have experienced the roller coaster ride of N.I.C.U. & Special Care Nurseries, who would like to provide other parents of premature babies with support and friendship. Vic based

Mums in Business  
ph: (07) 5502 7756

Natural Parenting Melbourne   ph: (03) 9756 0464  
Natural Parenting is concerned with responding to and meeting your child's needs in order to provide them with a secure base with which to explore the world. Natural parenting 'ideals' include: emotional responsiveness; informed childbirth; breastfeeding; babywearing (i.e. slings); shared sleep; avoiding frequent and prolonged separations from your baby; positive discipline and maintaining a balance in family life.

Natural Parenting Melbourne is a new city-wide network of families and professionals aiming to support, educate and celebrate the diversity of “natural choices?available to families as they journey their way through pregnancy, birth and ongoing parenthood. We offer weekly family playgroups in areas across Melbourne (see website for details).

Click for Natural Parenting Online Forum.

Melbourne Alternative & Attachment Parenting  
Melbourne based support group for parents practising Attachment Parenting, and other non-mainstream or instinctive parenting techniques to discuss these ideas in a safe, friendly, and supportive environment.
Click for Alternative Baby Forum.
Earth Mamas Web  
"Earth Mamas Web provides information, resources, community connections and links for parents interested in natural, earth aware parenting."

Single Parents n' Kids Adventureland  
Outings and social support for single parents

SPACE4  
Single Parent Accommodation & Childcare Exchange

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children's issues


Child Abuse Prevention Services Foundation  
ph: Freecall 1800 688 009
National 24 hour helpline.

Napcan Victoria  
ph: (03) 9427 1178
"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


Family Planning Victoria  
ph: (03) 9654 4766 or 1800 013 952 (Toll Free) or click on the web link for regional office contact details
"FPV offers clinic, counselling, education, information and training services."

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


Lifeline
ph: 13 11 14
national 24-hr counselling line

Victorian Women's Domestic Violence Crisis Service
ph: Freecall 1800 015 188

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 Info Line
ph: Freecall 1800 600 636
Advice to men on relationships, health, family issues and domestic violence

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accidents

Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Australia (Kidsafe) Vic  
Centre: Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Rd, Parkville
ph: (03) 9345 6471

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

The Australian Government Directory  
search through this online list of organisations throughout Australia

Early Childhood Connections  

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supporters

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