Family and Domestic Violence Support Services
Sexual Assault Crisis Line (1800 806 292) – confidential telephone crisis counselling service for people who have experienced both past and recent sexual assault.
1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) – national domestic family and sexual violence counselling service.
St Kilda Crisis Contact Centre (1800 627 727) – offers support, information and referrals for people who need assistance with housing, family violence, mental health, alcohol and drug issues.
Support for Women, Parents and Families
WIRE (Women’s Information & Referral Exchange) (1300 134 130) – provide information, support and referral for women, non-binary and gender diverse people, in a range of matters including family violence, financial abuse and housing.
PANDA (Post & Antenatal Depression Association) (1300 726 306) – supports the mental health and wellbeing of expecting, new and growing families.
Maternal and Child Health Line (13 22 29) – MCH nurse available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for families with children, from birth to school age, to speak to.
Parentline Victoria (13 22 89) – a phone service for parents and carers of children from birth to 18 years old. Offers confidential and anonymous counselling and support on parenting issues.
The Missed Foundation – raises awareness on the issue of long-term missing people, provides emotional and practical assistance to those experiencing ambiguous loss, and advocates for greater understanding from legal decision-makers of the rights, hopes and needs of effected families and friends.
Child Protection
After-hours Child Protection Emergency Service (13 12 78) – a state-wide after-hours emergency service for reports and concerns for existing child protection clients, who are at immediate risk and require urgent assistance.
Culturally and linguistically diverse messaging kit – The AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) and the eSafety Commissioner recently developed several resources to help families of culturally and linguistically diverse communities and organisations with the aim of preventing, identifying and responding to online child sexual exploitation.
Preventing self harm in teens: a guide to appropriate intervention – Zocdoc, medically reviewed by Dr.Nassim Assefi, January 17, 2023
Mental Health Support Services
Lifeline Australia (13 11 14) – 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention service.
SuicideLine Victoria (1300 651 251) – 24/7 telehealth service that offers free professional phone and counselling for Victorians.
Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467) – 24/7 phone and online counselling to people affected by suicide.
MensLine Australia (1300 78 99 78) – free 24/7 telephone counselling support for men with concerns about mental health, anger management, family violence, addiction, relationships, stress and wellbeing.
Griefline (1300 845 745) – provides telephone support, connections with an online community, and resources to individuals experiencing grief.
Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) – provides online and phone counselling, sessions with mental health coaches, referrals to mental health professionals and connections with an online peer support community.
OCD and Anxiety Helpline (1300 269 438) – provides support, information and referrals to people with anxiety disorders and their families, carers, and mental health care providers.
Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) – phone counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25.
Headspace (1800 650 890)
Gambler’s helpline (1800 858 858)
Better Place Australia – support service for separating couples
A strategy for solving partial agreement on parenting agreements – video
How a separating couple moved forward when living under the same roof – video
Strategy for when separating couple disagrees on parenting plan – video
Medical Support Services
DirectLine (1800 888 236) – confidential alcohol and drug counselling and referral.
Poisons Information Line (131 126) – 24/7 telephone assessment and advice on first aid for poisoning, with or without referral to a doctor or hospital.
Nurse on Call (1300 60 60 24) – free health advice, 24 hours a day.
Medicine Line (1300 633 424) – telephone service providing consumers with information on prescription, over the counter and natural medicines.
Missing Persons
A Practical Guide to Searching for a Missing Person – The Missed Foundation
General
Family Law property changes from 10 June 2025 – Fact Sheet for separating couples