Parenting services
Parenting services
Parenting is one of the most important tasks we undertake. It doesn’t always come naturally, though; parenting takes practice and patience. There are a range of support services to help parents.
Parenting services help families to raise happy, healthy children. They are available to parents with children aged 0 to 18 years. These support services are widely used by large numbers of parents.
Parentline
Parentline
External Link
is a telephone information, counselling and referral service. The service is available to parents of children of all ages - from birth to 18 years of age. Parentline operates between 8 am and midnight, 7 days a week, Tel.
13 22 89
.
Parentline helps with everyday questions and concerns such as:
resolving family conflict
discipline issues
sleeping problems
improving family relationships.
See also:
Information and advice for
parents
External Link
.
Finding a Maternal and Child Health Service
Maternal and Child Health Services
provides information and advice about child health, child development, maternal health, parenting and home safety for families with children from birth to 6 years.
Early parenting centres
Early parenting centres:
provide free support for Victorian families with children aged from 0 to 4 years
work in partnership with families to enhance parent-child relationships and support parents with strategies for achieving their parenting goals
often help families in areas such as sleep and settling, child behaviour, child learning and development, and parent and child health and wellbeing
call the
Maternal and Child Health Line
on
13 22 29
(24 hours, 7 days) or for more information visit
Early Parenting Centres support families
.
Family Intervention Services
Visit
Regional Parenting
Services
External Link
or contact your
local
council
External Link
to find out about local parenting services.
Help to manage behavioural problems
The types of behavioural problems that parenting services can help you with include:
challenging behaviour and parental stress
setting limits
fighting among siblings
disagreement between parents over the management of their children
violence in the home.
Help with other parenting issues
Other issues that parenting services can help you with include:
children with a chronic illness or disability
accident prevention
changes in
family relationships
, such as divorce
communication problems
between parents and their children
contact with other parents facing similar issues.
Parenting groups
Many community agencies run parenting groups. Places where you may find parenting groups include:
maternal and child health centres
neighbourhood houses
community health centres.
Where to get help
Your regional Department of Health office
Parentline
External Link
Tel.
13 22 89
Family Relationship Advice
Line
External Link
Tel.
1800 050 321
(Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm)
Regional Parenting
Services
External Link
Your
local
council
External Link
Your maternal and child health nurse
Community health centre
Raising Children
Network
External Link
Neighbourhood Houses
Victoria
External Link