Skip to main content

                    Family support and counselling

                    Two young children with a carer
                    Family support and counselling services are available to families with children up to the age of 18 who live, work or study in the City of Melbourne.

                    ​​We provide social work and family support services to families with complex issues and help families to overcome practical and emotional challenges. We advocate for and can provide referrals for counselling where required as well as linking families to social support and community activities.​

                    Several group programs are also available.

                    To check for eligibility, please refer to the City of Melbourne boundary map.

                    Services

                    Counselling

                    Counselling involves talking to a skilled counsellor who has experience working with children, teenagers and parents. Counsellors meet with family to discuss the issues that are worrying them.

                    Family counselling can involve the whole family, or just parents, or just children. Counselling is voluntary and confidential.

                    Counselling can be helpful if:

                    • You are feeling sad, or angry, or worried about yourself, your child, or your family.
                    • You are finding it hard to adjust to having a new baby.
                    • You don’t understand you baby/child’s behaviour and what it means.
                    • Your child seems upset or worried or angry a lot of the time.
                    • Your partner and you do not agree on how to parent your child.
                    • You are not sure how to talk or play or enjoy being with your baby or child.

                    Family support and social work

                    The Family Support and Counselling program area targets vulnerable children and families where the child’s safety and development is at risk, or where parents are experiencing difficulties which impact on their parenting and their children’s wellbeing.

                    We offer support through these difficult times. Issues facing children and families may include:

                    • mental health, including postnatal depression and anxiety
                    • adjustment to parenting and ongoing parenting struggles
                    • substance abuse
                    • family violence/family conflict
                    • issues of structural disadvantage such as homelessness, poverty, cultural and language barriers to accessing services.

                    As part of our service we provide bilingual support workers and offer interpreters where required. Appointments can take place in your own home, at one of our centres or at any other agreed location.

                    For assistance or to arrange an appointment, please contact the Family support and counselling team.

                    Group programs

                    You and Your Baby – Moving Together

                    You and Your Baby – Moving Together is a therapeutic program focused on supporting mothers and babies aged 0 to 12 months facing some of these challenges:

                    • postnatal depression and/or anxiety
                    • traumatic birth
                    • difficulties bonding with new baby or/and not enjoying baby
                    • significant sleep and settling issues
                    • other life circumstances that make coping or bonding with baby difficult (eg grief and loss).

                    Mothers who have attended Moving Together with previous children are welcome to attend with new baby only.

                    Movement and music are used to help mothers and babies enhance their connection. Discussion offers mothers a space to reflect and share with others their thoughts, feelings and ideas. The group provides an opportunity for mothers to experience and practice new ways to engage and tune in to their babies.

                    Vietnamese Mother’s group

                    A professional support worker and a childcare worker provide various information and support with regards to parenting and other identified support needs. This is also an opportunity for mothers in the Vietnamese community to socialise.

                    For assistance or to arrange an appointment, please contact the Family support and counselling team.

                    Contact us

                    Contact name
                    Family Support and Counselling Intake
                    Telephone number
                    03 9340 142203 9340 1422
                      Was this page helpful?

                      If you'd like to give more feedback or ask a question, please contact us.