Support services for parents, families and young people

Introduction

This section outlines where to get support and information about the following topics:

  • alcohol and other drugs
  • child health concerns and disability
  • child learning and development
  • counselling and relationships
  • internet and media
  • legal services
  • mental health
  • product safety 
  • sexual health and wellbeing.

Alcohol and other drugs

This page provides information about alcohol and drug support services.

In an emergency where there is a risk to life or personal safety, call 000.

Counselling (24-hour services)

Support services

Other resources

Find other resources for First Nations people as well as parents, caregivers, guardians and under 25 year olds.

First Nations people

Parents, caregivers, guardians and under 25s


Child health

If you want more information about child health you can contact these support services.

Asthma Foundation NT

Access affordable and evidence-based services for people with asthma.

For more information, call 1800 278 462 or go to the Asthma Foundation NT website.

Australian Breastfeeding Association

For more information, call 1800 686 268 (1800 mum 2 mum) or go to the Australian Breastfeeding Association website.

Australian Government's Department of Health

Guidelines for physical activity and sedentary behaviour for all ages, including screen time recommendations.

For more information, go to the Australian Government's Department of Health and Aged Care.

Child and Family Health Service

News and practical health and wellbeing information for parents, carers and young people.

For more information, go to the Child and Family Health Service website.

Children's Development Team

Free developmental assessments and support for children and their families from birth to 18 years old, read more about children's allied health therapy services.

Community health and care centres

Continence Foundation of Australia

Free helpline, information and resources for incontinence and bedwetting.

For more information, call 1800 330 066 or go to the Continence Foundation of Australia website.

Government for Western Australia's Department of Health

Healthy eating for families - go for 2 and 5 fruit and vegetable campaign.

For more information, go to the Government for Western Australia's Department of Health website.

Healthdirect Australia

Access 24/7 health advice and information.

For more information, call 1800 022 222 or go to the Healthdirect Australia website.

NSW Government's Health Stuttering Unit

Leading specialist speech pathology service.

For more information, go to the NSW Government's Health website.

NSW Poisons Information Centre

Get the latest poisons information.

For more information, call 13 11 26 or go to the NSW Poisons Information Centre.

Remote health centres

Find a remote health centres near you.

Lidcombe Program of Early Stuttering Intervention

Information for children, parents, friends, teachers and adults who stutter.

For more information, go to the Lidcombe Program website.

SIDS and Kids NT

Safe sleeping information and 24 hour bereavement support on the death of a child from conception to 18 years of age.

Call 08 8948 5311 or 0448 849 234 (bereavement support phone).


Counselling and relationships

For relationship and counselling resources and support you can contact the following services.

Alice Springs Women’s Shelter
Phone: (08) 8952 6075

Anglicare NT Resolve Counselling
Counselling for children, young people and adults. Relationship counselling and counselling for separating couples.
Phone: (08) 8985 0000

Dawn House Domestic Violence Counselling Service (Darwin)
Phone: (08) 8945 1388

EASA counselling service
Phone: 1800 193 123

Kids Helpline
Phone and online counselling for young people aged 5 to 25 years.
Web-based tips and information for parents and carers on topics that young people call Kids Helpline about.
Phone: 1800 55 1800

Lifeline
24 hour telephone counselling and support.
Phone: 13 11 14

Mensline
24/7 support, information and referral for men with family and relationship concerns.
Phone: 1300 789 978

Parentline
Support, counselling and parent education 8am-10pm seven days a week.
Phone: 1300 30 1300

1800 RESPECT
24 hour sexual assault and family violence counselling
Phone: 1800 737 732

QLife
Telephone and online chat, peer support and referral for same-sex attracted and gender diverse people of all ages.
Phone: 1800 184 527

Relationships Australia
Counselling for children, young people and adults. Relationships counselling, counselling for separating couples and counselling for family violence prevention.
Phone: 1300 364 277

Family Relationships Online
Assistance to resolve complex legal family relationship issues including building better relationships, family dispute resolution and arrangements for children post-separation.
Phone: 1800 050 321

Tennant Creek Women’s Refuge counselling service
Phone: (08) 8962 1940


Disability support services for children

If you want more information about supporting your child with a disability contact these support services.

Association for Children with a Disability
Information and support for families.

Autism NT
Phone: (08) 8948 4424

Carers NT
Support, counselling, advice and advocacy for people caring for someone with a disability or other chronic condition.
Phone: 1800 422 737

Disability Information and Resource Centre
Phone: 08 8236 0555
TTY: 09 8223 7579

ADHD foundation
Support, information and advocacy for people with ADHD and associated conditions, and their families.  
Phone: 1300 393 919

NT Office of Disability
Information and referral on specialist disability support services for people with a disability.

Siblings Australia
Support for siblings of children with a disability.


Internet and media

For information about internet and media safety you can contact these organisations.

Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA)
Responsible for regulating media and handling program content complaints. Includes information about internet security and safety.

Childnet
Information for children, young people and parents about how to chat safely with chat rooms, mobile phones, online games, email and messenger.

ThinkUKnow
For information about online safety.

Australian Classification
Information about classification ratings, including for movies and apps.

Australian Council on Children and the Media
Information and support about media and children, including tip sheets, videos and parenting strategies.
Children and Media Helpline: 1800 700 357

Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner
Advice about online safety and cyber safety resources and to report concerns.


Learning and development

Find support services below for more information about your child's learning and development.

7 steps to safety

A kit with ideas, activities and tips on helping your child feel and be safe at home.

Find out more on the Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities website.

Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority

For information on choosing child care and searching for child care in your area, go to the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority website.

Fun Bus Mobile Playgroup

Mobile playgroup service for children under 5 years old and their families. Operates from outdoor parks and community centres in Darwin.

For more information, go to the City of Darwin website.

Playgroup Association of Northern Territory

Support for families to join or develop community playgroups, including playgroups for children with autism and other disabilities.

To find out more, go to the Playgroup Association of Northern Territory website.

Public libraries

For more information about public libraries in the Northern Territory, go to the website of the:

You can also read more about the Library & Archives NT.

Raising Children Network

Information, videos, resources and parenting forums to support parents in the day-to-day work of raising children and looking after their own needs.

Covers pregnancy to adolescence, and children with disabilities.

For more information, go to the Raising Children Network website.

Toy libraries

You can find toy lending and parent information services to support children’s development and learning below.

Central Australian Community Toy Library

Call 08 8952 6720 or go to their website.

Darwin Toy Library

Call 08 8927 9077 or go to their website.

Gove Toy Library

Call 0413 913 127 or go to their Facebook page.

Smile-A-Mile Fun Bus & Toy Library

Call 08 8983 2009 or go to their website.

Step Out Community Toy Library - Katherine

Call 08 8971 2300 or go to their Facebook page.


Legal services

If you need legal resources or support you can contact the following organisations. Read more about your rights, crime and the law.

Anti-discrimination Commission
Public education and training, handling complaints and community engagement regarding individual rights and responsibilities.
Phone: 1800 813 846

Australian Human Rights Commission
Promotion and protection of human rights in Australia, including sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status.

Centrelink
Information about entitlements to financial support, including young people becoming independent.

Child Support Agency
Information, resources and referrals regarding social and health-related payments and services.
Phone: 131 272

Family Court of Australia
Assistance to resolve complex legal family disputes, including separation and divorce, parenting and domestic and family violence issues.

Family Relationships Online
Information and support for children, young people, parents, grandparents and carers about family relationship issues including building better relationships, family dispute resolution and arrangements for children post-separation.
Phone: 1800 050 321

Lawstuff
Legal information for children and young people

NT Children’s Commissioner
Deals with complaints about services provided to vulnerable children.
Phone: 1800 259 256

NT Legal Aid Commission
Legal advice and information.
Phone: 1800 019 343

Working with children clearance
Information on the Northern Territory's Working with Children Clearance (Ochre Card) for people who work or volunteer in child-related work.
Phone: 1800 SAFE NT (1800 72 33 68)


Mental health support services

For information about mental health or to get support, you can contact these services.

  • Beyond Blue - phone and online support for people affected by depression or anxiety
  • Blue Pages - treatments and services for depression
  • Bullying No Way! - tips and games for children, students, parents and teachers
  • Headspace - online and in-person counselling and support for 12 to 25 year olds with mental health, physical health, work, study and alcohol and other drug issues
  • Be You - for parents and schools about children’s mental health and wellbeing
  • NT Mental Health Line - free, confidential 24-hour hotline for emergency help or support for anyone experiencing a mental health issue, or those concerned about another person's mental health or wellbeing
  • PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia) - support and counselling for new parents, family and friends
  • Parenting Strategies - parenting guidelines for preventing depression and anxiety in children and young people
  • ReachOut - online information and mental health support for young people on personal identity, alcohol, drugs, partying, sex, bullying and relationships
  • TeamHealth - early intervention, prevention and support services to individuals in the Top End living with mental illness
  • Youth Beyond Blue - support for young people dealing with anxiety and depression

Product safety

For product and home safety information you can contact these organisations.

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
Information on product safety.

Kidsafe NT
Information on child restraints and home safety, including checklists for parents and carers.
Phone: (08) 8941 8234

Go to rules for swimming pools and spa fencing.


Sexual health and wellbeing

For sexual health and wellbeing resources and support you can contact the following services.

Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council
Links culturally diverse and LGBITQ people to information and support.

True Relationships and Reproductive Health
Information for parents and young people on sexuality and sexual and reproductive health. Includes fact sheets for parents on communicating with children about sex.

Clinic 34 – a specialist sexual health service
Alice Springs: 08 8951 7549
Darwin: 08 8999 2678
Katherine: 08 8973 9049
Nhulunbuy: 08 8987 0356
Tennant Creek: 08 8962 4250.

Family Planning Welfare Association NT
Education and information on sexual and reproductive health, including contraception, pregnancy options, well women's health screening and general sexual health issues.
Phone: (08) 8948 0144

Minus 18
Australian youth-led organisation for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth.

Northern Territory Aids and Hepatitis Council (NTAHC)
Education, information and support in regard to sexual health and blood borne viruses. Includes peer support for young gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people living in the Northern Territory.

SHINE SA
Sexual health information and education for parents, teachers and young people.

Sexual assault referral centres

Darwin Sexual Assault Referral Centre
Phone: 08 8922 6472

Alice Springs Sexual Assault Referral Centre
Phone: 08 8955 4500

Katherine Sexual Assault Referral Centre
Phone: 08 8973 8524

Tennant Creek Sexual Assault Referral Centre
Phone: 08 8962 4100

Ruby Gaea
For women and children who have experienced sexual assault.
Phone: 08 8945 0155