Help Lines for
Children, Young People and Parents

Kids Help Line is a professional counselling service based on the principles of empowerment and child centred practice, for children and young people aged 5 to 18 years.

As well as a telephone counselling service, Kids Help Line also operates

The Email and Web Counselling services provided by Kids Help Line are intended to give young people an opportunity to contact a counsellor when the telephone is either unavailable or more privacy is needed. Please remember that if your issue is an urgent one the telephone is still the fastest way of getting to a counsellor.

Kids Help Line provides fact sheets on a number of topics including:

• domestic violence
• physical abuse
• self image
• peer relationships
• loneliness
• family relationships

Also available are links to other resources on:

• child abuse and neglect
• bullying
• family violence

Australian Capital Territory

ParentLink provides a confidential telephone information, advice, guidance and referral service. Tel: (02) 6205 8800, Online: http://www.parentlink.act.gov.au/functions/contact_us

Northern Territory

Parentline
Ph:  1300 30 1300 (cost of a local call)
Internet: http://www.parentline@kidshelp.com.au

Information for parents including over 70 downloadable tipsheets is also available at http://www.families.nt.gov.au

New South Wales

Essential crisis support numbers for families and parents, including Parent Line, Dial-a-Mum, Tresillian Parent helpline and Online: http://www.community.nsw.gov.au/html/child_protect/child_protection.htm

Parent Line, NSW, Ph:  13 2055, is a telephone advice and information service for parents of children living in New South Wales. It is a toll free number for anywhere in NSW. Trained, professional counsellors with experience in helping families will listen and give support and assistance, provide information on relevant issues and services on a wide range of parenting issues such as behaviour and emotional problems, discipline, adolescent issues, family relationships, sole parent issues, school problems, child care and juvenile justice. Parent Line is open to any parent in New South Wales, including those of non English speaking background, parents who are hearing impaired and parents of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island culture. Parent Line is a 24 hour counselling service.

Queensland

A to Z of Help Lines - who to call; phone numbers; when to call; and how they can help: http://www.communities.qld.gov.au/department/publications/documents/pdf/a_z_helplines.pdf

Parentline Internet: http://www.parentline.com.au , exists to assist people to develop strategies and skills which enable them to more effectively manage their own lives. It is a confidential telephone counselling service for parents and/or primary care givers, and is staffed by paid counsellors who have been professionally trained to understand and respond to the particular issues that concern parents.

South Australia

Parents Help Line. Tel: 1300 - 364 - 100, and Online: http://www.cyh.com/cyh/phl/phl_index.stm

Tasmania

PITAS - Parent Information Telephone Assistance Service Tel: 1800 808 178

Victoria

Parentline - a telephone information, advice and referral service for parents of children of all ages. Tel: 13 22 89, Online: http://www.parentline.vic.gov.au/

Western Australia

Crisis Care is a free telephone information and counselling service for people in crisis needing urgent help within the Department for Child Protection http://www.community.wa.gov.au/DCP/

The Family Helpline is a 24 - hour telephone counselling and information service for families. It is part of a campaign aimed at reducing the incidence of abuse in families. Tel: (08) 9221 2000; 1800 643 000

Lifeline - General crisis help and referral service. Tel: 13 11 14, Online: http://www.lifeline.org.au/

Young Media Australia Helpline

Young Media Australia Helpline provides a Movie Review Service for parents and caregivers. Parents are urged to phone the Helpline (1800 700 357) before taking their children to a movie, to check first whether that movie is likely to be suitable, particularly if there is violence or material that may be scary for younger children. Helpline operators come from a strong child development and parenting perspective and can help parents make good choices about holiday movies. The Helpline is national freecall, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and has access to a Telephone Interpreter Service (TIS). Information about movies is also available on the Young Media Australia website at: http://www.youngmedia.org.au.