Resources

This page is updated regularly so we can provide you with the most up-to-date and relevant info, resources and options for separated families.

Please let us know if you have other useful suggestions.

More links

Family Relationships Australia 

Going through separation

Children and Parenting after separation

Relationships Australia

You can download these booklets for free in PDF format below or purchase hard copies via the Relationships Australia National website.

• Women and separation
• Men and separation
• Safe from violence
• A fair share – negotiating your property settlement
• Share the care – Parenting Plan
• What about the children?
• Partners – a guide
• Why am I going to Relationships Australia?
• Migrant men and separation

  Parenting

• Parentline– A phone service that provides counselling support for parents and carers of young people who may be struggling with a range of parenting issues, including; parenting after separation, child/parent conflict, and disagreement about parenting strategies between care givers. Phone 1300 301 300

• Early Childhood Australia– peak organisation for early childhood advocacy.
• Kids Count– online resources about parenting.
• Raising Children Network– resources for parents.
• Stepfamilies Australia– online and telephone support for stepfamilies.
• Tweddle – Child Family Health Service– early intervention and prevention health service.
• Dads Online– support for separated dads.
• ReachOut Parents – 24/7 service providing practical tips, tools and strategies to help parents strengthen their relationship with their teenager.

 Family Separation Legal and Government Agencies

• Centrelink– payments and services for people at times of major change.
• Family Court of Australia– assists people to resolve complex legal and family disputes.
• Federal Circuit Court of Australia– assists people to resolve legal and family disputes.
• Family Law Section– professional association for family law practitioners.
• Indigenous Legal Assistance Programme– legal assistance services for Indigeneous Australians.
• Victoria Legal Aid– free legal information for Victorians.

Crisis/help/support

• Kids Helpline– 24/7 phone and online counselling service for young people.
• Life: Living is for Everyone– suicide and self-harm prevention resource.
• Lifeline– 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services.
• Mensline Australia– telephone, online support and information service for men.
• 1800 Respect– 24/7 sexual assault and family violence helpline.
• Child Support– resources for separated parents and their children.
• Family Relationships Online– resources about family relationship issues.

 Family violence

• If you feel unsafe right now, call the POLICE – 24/7. Phone 000
• 1800 Respect– 24/7 National sexual assault, domestic and family violence telephone counselling service. Phone 1800 737 732
• Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety– women’s safety research.
• Djirra: Aboriginal Family Violence Legal Service– Legal advice, casework and court representation. Phone 1800 105 303 (free call)
• Domestic Violence Resource Centre– resources for those affected by family violence.
• Family Relationship Advice Line – A national telephone service that assists families affected by relationship or marriage breakdown. The service provides advice on mediation services and issues that come up after separation including parenting after separation and property dispute resolution. Phone 1800 050 321
• inTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence– culturally sensitive Family Violence support for women and children from migrant and refugee backgrounds. Provides case management, immigration and legal support services. Phone (03) 8413 6800
• Kids Helpline – 24/7 confidential phone, web, and email counselling for people aged 5-25. Phone 1800 55 1800
• Legal Aid – VLA Legal Information Service– Free general information over the phone about the law and how we can help you. Open Monday to Friday, 8.45 am to 5.15 pm. Phone 1300 792 387
• Lifeline– Lifeline’s telephone crisis support service is available 24/7 to anyone needing emotional support. Phone 13 11 14
• National Relay Service– Voice 1800 555 660 (free from landlines), or TTY 1800 555 630 (free)
• No to Violence Men’s Referral Service– An anonymous and confidential telephone counselling, referral and information service for men. Monday to Friday 8am to 9pm, Weekends 9am to 5pm. Phone 1300 766 491
• Q-Life– Telephone and webchat support services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) people and their friends, families and allies. Phone 1800 184 527
• Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre– 24/7 family violence crisis accommodation and women’s refuge referral service. Phone 1800 015 188
• Salvation Army Homelessness Crisis Line– 24/7. Phone 1800 627 727
• Sexual Assault Crisis Line– Weeknights 5pm-9am, Weekends and public holidays 24 hours, Phone 1800 806 292
• Suicideline– 24/7 specialist telephone counselling and information to anyone affected by suicide. Call if you are thinking about suicide, worried about someone, or have lost someone to suicide. Phone 1300 651 251
• TIS Translating and Interpreting Services. Phone 133 677
• What’s OK at Home?– website for young people experiencing family violence and other issues.
• Womens Legal Service– Free legal advice by phone on our Legal Advice Line. Phone (03) 8622 0600 (for metropolitan callers) or 1800 133 302 (for country callers)

Health and mental health

• headspace– mental health services for young people.
• beyondblue– anxiety, depression and suicide support service and resources.
• BeyondNow– suicide safety planning app to help people when distressed and at risk of suicide.
• Healthdirect– health advice.
• Multicultural Mental Health Australia– mental health support for culturally and linguistically diverse people.
• SANE Australia– online and telephone mental health support.
• Black Dog Institute– information about mental health.

 Problem gambling

• Betsafe– responsible gambling program.
• Gambling Help Online– 24/7 telephone support.
• Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation– support services for Victorians affected by gambling.

  Young people

• connectEDspace– resources for young people.
• headspace– mental health services for young people.
• ReachOut– online mental health support for young people.