Child & Family Psychology

Additional Information

Raising Children Network raisingchildren.net.au - information about parenting and health issues, from babies to teens.
Playgroups Australia playgroupaustralia.org.au - supports and connects families to playgroups.
Community Activities Lake Macquarie (CALM): (02) 4950 3888 or calm.org.au - services in the Lake Macquarie area including parenting programs, referrals, family and youth support and out of school and vacation care.
The Canopy: (02) 4954 5277 or thecanopy.org.au/child-and-family-services - child and family services in the Edgeworth and Blue Gum Hills areas including parenting programs, casework assistance and community activities.

Caregivers

kidshelpline.com.au/parents - parenting information and resources to help relationship and communication issues.
circleofsecurityinternational.com - attachment based parenting program to help understand and support children’s (0-12 years) needs.
triple p parenting - positive parenting program to assist with behavioural and emotional problems in children (up to 12 years) and teenagers (up to 16 years).

Young People

kidshelpline.com.au/kids/issues - online, age-specific practical and emotional resources.
BRAVE Program brave4you.psy.uq.edu.au - online cognitive and behavioural therapy program for young people (8-17 years) experiencing anxiety.
Niggle Smart Phone Application kidshelpline.com.au/niggle - self-help toolkit aimed at helping kids manage their worries.

Childhood Early Intervention Service 1800 118 481 or northcott.com.au/services/NDIS-early-childhood-approach - supports children (0-6 years) who have been diagnosed with a disability or are behaving in a concerning way, to access short-term early intervention. Individuals can self-refer to this service.
Family Connect and Support Provider Benevolent Society 1300 006 480 or benevolent.org.au/services-and-programs/list-of-programs/family-connect-and-support - helps vulnerable children and families to connect with local support.
Department of Communities and Justice 132 111 or dcj.nsw.gov.au - supports families to keep children at home in a safe environment and to improve parenting capacity and children’s wellbeing.
Family Program, Supports and Services in Newcastle and surrounds
- Eastlakes www.efss.org.au
- Westlakes (02) 4950 3888 or www.wesleymission.org.au/find-a-service/families-and-children/wesley-family-centres/westlakes
- Port Stephens (02) 4987 4674 or www.psfans.org.au
- Wandiyali Brighter Futures (for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples) (02) 4957 5900 or www.wandiyali.com.au/services/brighter-futures

Individuals can self-refer to the following services:

Relationships Australia 1300 364 277 or relationshipsnsw.org.au/support-services
Wesley Mission Family Services (02) 4915 3600 or wesleymission.org.au/find-a-service/families-and-children
Samaritans 1300 656 336 or samaritans.org.au/services
Interrelate 1300 473 528 or interrelate.org.au

Child Development Team (assessment only) (02) 4924 6400 or hnekidshealth.nsw.gov.au/facilities/community_based_services/hunter_region/cdt - a multidisciplinary team which specialises in developmental assessments for children (18mths to two years). A health professional referral is required for this service.
First Steps Parenting (02) 4924 6550 or hnekidshealth.nsw.gov.au/facilities/community_based_services/hunter_region/first-steps - multidisciplinary emotional and practical intervention for families with children aged 0-5 years. A health professional referral is required for this service.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services www.health.nsw.gov.au/mentalhealth/services/children/Pages/programs-children-teens.aspx - assessment and treatment of young people with a variety of difficulties, which are seriously impacting their mental health. Call the NSW Mental Health Line 1800 011 511 for advice, assessment and referral. Individuals can self-refer to or be referred to this service by a health professional.

Carer Gateway 1800 422 737 or carergateway.gov.au - provides practical advice and support for carers.
Parent Line NSW 1300 1300 52 (9am - 9pm Monday - Friday, 4pm - 9pm weekends) or parentline.org.au - free telephone and counselling service for parents, with children up to 18 years of age.
Mental Health Resources headtohealth.gov.au - digital resources to help support mental health and wellbeing.
Mental Health Line 1800 011 511 (24/7) or health.nsw.gov.au/mentalhealth/Pages/mental-health-line.aspx - mental health advice and referrals to local mental health services.

Lifeline (all ages)
- Phone counselling (24/7) - 131 114
- Web chat (12pm-2am) - lifeline.org.au/crisis-chat
- Text service (12pm-2am) - 0477 131 114
Kids Helpline (5-25 years)
- Phone counselling (24/7) - 1800 551 800
- Web Chat (24/7) - kidshelpline.com.au/get-help/webchat-counselling
National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service (all ages)
- Phone counselling (24/7) - 1800 737 732
- Web chat (24/7) - 1800respect.org.au/#/welcome

If you are in an emergency, crisis, or at immediate risk of harm to yourself or others, please call Triple Zero (000).