You and your kids are important and have the right to be safe at home and in the community.
Every mum, dad and caregiver — no matter what their family looks like — needs help at some stage of their kids’ development.
From babies to toddlers to teens, kids have different challenges. Sometimes we need family and friends to give us a break, or teachers and child carers to provide advice, or community services to help us deal with bigger issues.
Getting information and support early can help kids and their families stay safe and well.
Whatever your family situation, ASK can help.
It’s ok to ASK for help. ASK is a safe place.
Information for you
The Families Growing Together program offers parents and carers a range of face-to-face workshops and online webinars to suit their parenting needs.
For Aboriginal families and communities, a co-design process is used to tailor the workshops.
Delivered in a relaxed and informal style, these workshops and webinars offer parents helpful information and a choice of simple, practical strategies based on the latest parenting research and using information from Parenting SA.
Workshops and webinars are all live and free and are designed to be interactive with videos, activities and time for parents to discuss information together in small groups or through the chat function.
Parenting SA provides the community with free quality information on raising children.
Parenting Easy Guides
- About babies
- Being a parent
- Family break-up
- Families that work well
- Growing and learning in the family
- Living with young people
- New parents
- Parenting style
- Positive approaches to guiding behaviour (2 to 12 years)
- Time in: guiding children's behaviour
- What about parents' rights?
- All Parent Easy Guides
Parenting SA videos
Raising Children Network provides ad-free parenting videos, articles and apps backed by Australian experts
Free, reliable, up-to-date and independent information to help you and your family grow and thrive together, including:
Multiple Birth South Australia is a welcoming, inclusive community that understands the unique challenges experienced by multiple birth families.
They provide practical support, including a Home Help Service, free feeding pillow hire, webinars, events and a network of connections.
Circle of SecurityTM is for parents and families with kids aged 6 and under, to better understand your relationship and ways to meet their needs. The course is offered by several providers, including:
Women’s Information Service 'What's On' is a regularly updated a list of services and activities, including parenting courses across the state.
SA.gov.au has a page for families providing foster or kinship care, including advice, home visits and support.
Department of Child Protection has information for families caring for Aboriginal children and young people who have been removed from the family home.
Connecting Foster and Kinship Carers - SA is an expert group that recognises carers as vital partners in the child protection system. They provide individual and systemic advocacy, information, education and support to the carer community across South Australia.
Grandparents for Grandchildren supports grandparents and other kinship carers who may be struggling with the complexities of caring for their grandchildren.
Health direct provides advice on symptoms and finding a health service or information.
Phone 1800 022 222 (24-hour service)
The Child and Adolescent Virtual Urgent Care Service is for children aged 6 months to 17 years. It is an online form from the Women's and Children's Hospital that will direct you to the best care for your child. The service is open every day from 9:00am to 9.00pm.
If life is in danger, phone 000 (triple zero)
SA Dental provides services to all kids under 18 years of age if they live or go to school in South Australia. Some or all costs may be covered by the Child Dental Benefits Schedule.
Services for you
Child and Family Health Service (CaFHS) supports all SA families with babies and kids 0 to 5 years. They have a focus on 0 to 3 years and can help you with:
- babies' feeding and settling
- milestones and development checks
- information and suggestions for parents and caregivers.
CaFHS provides a free home visit/consultation to all families with newborns, generally within a month of the baby coming home from hospital.
Parent Helpline
CaFHS Parent Helpline is for parents and carers of children from 0 to 5 years who need some advice over the phone.
Phone 1300 364 100
CaFHS Early Parenting Groups
Phone 1300 733 606
Early Parenting Groups in your area
These centres offer a range of services bringing together education, health, community development activities and services for families.
Services may include:
- preschools
- long day care
- occasional care
- playgroup
- programs to support families with children from birth to school age.
Providing individual and group support before, during and after pregnancy and while you’re parenting. MY Health also has nurses, midwives, doctors and counsellors. MY Health is free and confidential for young people aged 12 to 25 years.
Angle Park office, phone 8243 5637
Christies Beach office, phone 8326 6053
Elizabeth office, phone 8255 3477
Talking Realities Young Parenting Program, phone 8243 5637
Playgroup SA is a non-profit, community-based organisation which is committed to providing quality services to families with young children across South Australia.
MyTime is for parents and carers of kids with a disability, developmental delay or chronic medical condition. It’s a place for parents to unwind and talk about their experiences.
Family by Family links families up with other families to make changes they want in their lives. All Australian families deserve to thrive, not just survive. Thriving families are moving towards what they want: they try new things, plan for the future, connect family members to new opportunities, and offer positive feedback and mutual support.
Phone 7230 5475
Email hello@familybyfamily.org.au
Centacare Catholic Family Services
Centacare's Family Dispute Resolution team helps separated parents and grandparents to make decisions about parenting, care arrangements and division of property. The service is child-focussed, with the needs and interests of children and young people at the centre of any agreements reached, and is guided by accredited Practitioners working within the family law framework.
Family Dispute Resolution is offered in person in the office or over the phone.
Phone 8215 6700
Email fdr@centacare.org.au
Relationships Australia (South Australia) – iKiDs children's counselling
iKiDs is for children and young people from the age of five whose parents have been separated for no more than three years. Counselling through iKiDs (I Know I Do) provides a safe, friendly and confidential way for children to talk about what they are feeling or thinking.
Phone 8245 8100
Someone to talk to
Parent Helpline South Australia is for parents of children 0 to 5 living in South Australia.
Phone 1300 364 100 (24-hour service)
1800 RESPECT is a national sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line for any Australian who has experienced, or is at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault.
Phone 1800 737 732 (24-hour service)
The Women's Information Service provides information to South Australian women.
They do this:
- online
- over the phone
- in person at their shopfront in the city.
WIS aims to increase access to information that promotes choice and empowerment. They offer an anonymous service.
Free phone 1800 188 158
Phone 8303 0590
Shopfront: 101 Grenfell Street, Adelaide
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
Mensline provides telephone, online and video chat and support from professional staff. Website forums with specific spaces for:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- Vietnamese and Arabic men
- rural men
- partners/children.
Phone 1300 78 99 78 (24-hour service)
The National Breastfeeding Helpline is staffed by trained, volunteer counsellors.
Phone 1800 686 268 (1800 MUM 2 MUM) (24-hour service)