You and your kids are important and have the right to be safe and supported.
Being a young mum or dad can be exciting and overwhelming at the same time.
There are a lot of new things to learn and important decisions to make. Having a support system around you — other young parents, family members and community services — can help you and your kids grow in healthy, positive ways.
Reaching out for support before a problem gets bigger can save young parents lots of worry and stress.
It's ok to ASK for help. ASK is a safe place.
As you care for your kids, you’re not alone. There are a lot of services available to help you, but you might not know where to start. Here are some ideas.
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.
- My Child and Me – a two-part workshop for parents of children aged 2–12 years
- Living with Young People – a two-part workshop for parents of children aged 12–18 years
- Growing and learning in the family — a two-part workshop to support parents to connect with their child through play
- Coping Skills – a two-part workshop exploring stress and resilience
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.
Parent easy guides
- Young parents
- Dealing with a crisis
- Self-esteem
- Single parenting
- Being a parent
- Where do you get your parenting ideas from? (Video 6.25 mins and transcript)
- Optimism - Parent Easy Guide
- Positive approaches to guiding behaviour (2 to 12 years)
- Time in: guiding children's behaviour
- Families that work well
- Growing and learning in the family
- What about parent's rights?
- All Parent Easy Guides
Parenting SA videos
A link to all seminars, videos and recorded events
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:
Reach Out have a list of support options for single parents.
They also have an online community to support young people with concerns including being a young mum, mental health, study and work.
Young, Pregnant and Parenting Network supports pregnant and parenting young people from diverse communities and backgrounds to access quality services.
Headspace has information and support about your mental health and wellbeing.
Headspace welcomes all people irrespective of ethnicity, lifestyle choice, faith, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Beyond Blue gives access to information and referral to relevant services for depression and anxiety-related matters (not a counselling service). Cost of a local call.
- Pregnancy and new parents information
- Advice for new dads
- Lesbian, gay, bi, trans, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+), and bodily, gender and sexually diverse people
Phone 1300 22 4636 (24-hour service)
Online Forums for sharing your experiences and tips for staying well
Flexible learning options (FLO) support young people who are pregnant or parenting or disengaging from school. FLO is provided by the Department of Education. There are schools where young parents can attend with their baby.
Email education.flexiblelearning@sa.gov.au or contact your school.
St Joseph’s Education Centre at Enfield, offers a SACE program for pregnant women and young mums. They provide a creche, transport and a network of services from outside agencies.
Centrelink provides payments and services to help with the cost of raising children. You may be eligible for:
- Parenting Payment to provide income support while you’re a young child’s main carer.
- Youth Allowance if you are aged 24 or younger and a student or Australian Apprentice, or 21 or younger and looking for work.
- ParentsNext support for parents with children under 6 who receive Parenting Payment to help them with their study and work goals.
- Education Entry Payment provided once a year when you start study – if you get certain income support from Centrelink.
- Concession and health care cards so you can access cheaper health services and medicines
Centrelink families line - phone 136 150 (Monday to Friday, 8.00 am to 8.00 pm)
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:
- feeding, settling, children's milestones and development checks
- information and suggestions for parents and caregivers.
CaFHS Parent Helpline gives information and support over the phone to parents and carers of children from birth to five years.
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
Anglicare SA Children and Families Services supports people from before birth to infancy, toddlers, school-age children, teenagers, young adults, and mums and dads to have strong relationships.
Centacare Catholic Family Services offers parenting support and accommodation at a number of locations, including on-site learning programs where residents can complete their high school education.
Phone 8359 1022
Elm Place offers support services to people whose lives have been affected by institutional and out-of-home care.
Post-Care Support Services (PCSS)
Post-Care Support Services (PCSS) is a free, information, advocacy, case management and counselling service to support people who have lived in out-of-home care
Phone 1800 188 118
Email elmplace@rasa.org.au
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)
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
Kids Helpline provides help and support for young people aged 5 to 25 years (and their parents/caregivers) and is staffed by professional counsellors. Online chat is available.
Phone 1800 55 1800 (24-hour service)
If life is in danger, phone 000 (triple zero)
Mensline Australia offers free professional telephone counselling support for men with concerns about mental health, anger management, family violence (using and experiencing), addiction, relationship, stress and wellbeing.
Phone 1300 78 99 78 (24-hour service)