Resources

• Child & Youth Mental Health Services (CYMHS) offer more intensive youth mental health services (e.g. psychiatry and psychology). The Austin child and youth mental health triage service (1300 859 789) is the first point of contact for anyone concerned about a young person’s mental health. You can call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for assessment and referral if the young person you are calling about lives in Banyule; Boroondara; Darebin; Nillumbik; Whittlesea; Yarra.
  See https://www.austin.org.au/mental-health/child-and-youth/
• Headspace ​offers a range of mental health services, including counselling, parenting groups, online (E-Headspace) or over the phone counselling.
  www.headspace.org.au
• Kids Help Line is a free, confidential telephone (1800 55 1800) and online counselling service for those aged 5-25. 
  https://kidshelpline.com.au/
• Lifeline is a crisis support and suicide prevention counselling service with online resources, phone support (13 11 14) or online crisis chat.
  https://www.lifeline.org.au/
• 13 YARN offers free and confidential counselling services 24 hours/7 days. Call 13 92 76 to talk with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter.
  https://www.13yarn.org.au/
• In an emergency call 000, or attend your local hospital’s emergency department.

• Family Relationship Advice Line is a national telephone service that assists families affected by relationship or separation issues. Phone 1800 050 321, Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm, Saturday, 10am to 4pm.
  https://www.familyrelationships.gov.au/talk-someone/advice-line
• The Orange Door is the access point for women, children and young people who are experiencing family violence or families who need assistance with the care and wellbeing of children to access the services they need to be safe and supported.
  https://www.orangedoor.vic.gov.au/
• Relationships Australia offers resources, counselling services and a Family Dispute Resolution (mediation) service for families and couples, with several locations around Victoria.
  https://relationships.org.au/
• 1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. Call 1800 737 732 (24 hours/7 days) or reach out via the online chat on the website.
  https://www.1800respect.org.au/

• Parentline Victoria, 13 22 89 (cost of a local call), open 8am to midnight 7 days a week, is a phone service for parents and carers of children from birth to 18 years old. The service offers confidential and anonymous counselling and support on parenting issues.
  https://parentline.com.au/other-support-services
• The Triple P – Positive Parenting Program ® is a parenting and family support system designed to prevent – as well as treat – behavioural and emotional problems in children and teenagers.
  https://www.triplep.net/glo-en/find-out-about-triple-p/triple-p-in-a-nutshell/
• ParentZone offers programs to help carers and parents develop and strengthen their parenting skills.
  https://www.anglicarevic.org.au/our-services/family-and-parenting-support/parentzone/
• Relationships Australia provides parenting programs designed to improve the wellbeing and safety of children and young people.
  https://www.relationshipsvictoria.org.au/child-parenting-courses/

• General Practitioners (GPs) can provide medical help with sleep concerns, including paediatrician referrals.
• Centre for Clinical Interventions website has many resourced filled with tips for getting better sleep.
  https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/~/media/CCI/Mental-Health-Professionals/Sleep/Sleep—Information-Sheets/Sleep-Information-Sheet—04—Sleep-Hygiene.pdf
• Better Health Channel includes health information about sleep.
  https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/teenagers-and-sleep
• Raising Children Network provides resources for various age groups, with information on bed-wetting and other issues related to sleep.
  https://raisingchildren.net.au/toddlers/sleep/sleep-problems/sleep-problems-solutions

• Raising Children website provides parenting videos, articles and apps.
  https://raisingchildren.net.au/school-age/school-learning/school-refusal/school-refusal
• Headspace website provides information and clinical resources about school refusal.
  https://headspace.org.au/explore-topics/supporting-a-young-person/school-refusal/
• ReachOut Parents website includes fact sheets, stories, practical tips and tools covering a range of topics and issues that are relevant to parenting teenagers aged 12-18 years.
  https://parents.au.reachout.com/common-concerns/everyday-issues/things-to-try-school-and-education/how-to-help-a-teen-who-doesnt-want-to-go-to-school?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI38LO8uKl_QIVNphmAh0TKg-2EAAYASAAEgJq5fD_BwE
• School Refusal Australia offers peer support for Australian families with children and teens experiencing school refusal. They also have a private Facebook group and support meetings across Australia.
  https://schoolrefusalaustralia.com/
• See a GP and ask for a referral to a mental health professional such as a counsellor or psychologist, who will be able to support you during this challenging time.

• Your local General Practitioner (GP) should be your first point of contact. GP’s can refer you to specialists, including paediatricians, psychologists and other allied health practitioners, if needed.
• Health Direct website https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/healthy-and-active-children
• Better Health Channel website https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/
• Raising Children website https://raisingchildren.net.au/

In an emergency call 000, or attend your local hospital’s emergency department.

• Amaze is an organisation that supports Autistic people and their families in Victoria. Amaze Autism Advisors provide free, expert Autism information and advice to parents and professionals from 8am to 7pm Monday to Friday across phone, email or web chat.
  https://www.amaze.org.au/
• Yellow Ladybugs is a volunteer community group focused on providing support to Autistic young girls and women with Autism. Yellow Ladybugs has produced an evidence-based resource to provide guidance on meeting the educational needs of Autistic girls.
  https://www.yellowladybugs.com.au/
• Autism Spectrum Australia (ASPECT) offers a range of resources for parents with children with ASD. This includes online resources, information about various services, and a helpline (1800 277 328).
  https://www.autismspectrum.org.au/
• Raising Children Network offers extensive online resources for ASD, covering a range of topics.
  https://raisingchildren.net.au/autism

• Youth Outreach Program is a responsive, flexible way to deliver youth AOD interventions and other support. Youth outreach workers provide services in a range of locations where young people live, congregate and feel comfortable. The Youth Outreach program is available in the regions of Whittlesea, Nillumbik, Darebin and Banyule. Referrals: 03 8470 9999.
  https://www.anglicarevic.org.au/our-services/alcohol-and-drug-support/youth-drug-and-alcohol-treatment/
• Reach Out Program is available in the regions of Brimbank, Melton, Whittlesea and Hume. In the City of Wyndham, support is available to any young person with substance use issues who are engaged with a service or school in that area. Referrals: 0438 032 940.
• YoDAA is Victoria’s Youth Drug and Alcohol advice service. YoDAA is open Monday to Friday 9.00am to 8.00pm to support better outcomes for young people with substance use issues in Victoria. It provides online information and advice, telephone support, live web chat and email services. YoDAA can be accessed over the phone on 1800 458 685 or online at the YoDAA website.
  https://yodaa.org.au/
• Youth drug and alcohol services (YSAS) is one of Australia’s largest youth-specific community services organisations. YSAS provides practical support and evidence-based clinical services for young people experiencing serious drug and alcohol-related problems.
  https://ysas.org.au/drugs-alcohol

• Raising Children Network has resources for parents on how to deal with bullying behaviour.
  https://raisingchildren.net.au/teens/behaviour/bullying/teen-bullying
• Bully Stoppers is a resource that contains information and advice for the school community, including students, parents and school staff.
  https://www.vic.gov.au/bully-stoppers
• eSafety helps prevent and deal with cyberbullying and its impacts. Its website provides information, education and resources to parents.
  https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/issues-and-advice/cyberbullying