A variety of resources are available for parents seeking support and information on children's health topics.
Parenting Support
- Family and Child Connect is a free support to help with a range of family and parenting challenges. They can help connect you with the most appropriate service for your family’s needs. Contact them on 13 FAMILY (13 32 64) or by completing their online referral form.
- The Raising Children Network is a parenting website that provides reputable, trusted, and up-to-date videos, apps and articles to help parents/carers navigate the day-to-day decisions of raising children, including those with special needs, and looking after their own needs.
- Parentline is a confidential telephone service providing professional counselling and support in Queensland and the Northern Territory. Phone 1300 301 300.
- The Fathering Project provides education and Dad’s groups for fathers.
- Triple P Positive Parenting Program has a good section on common Parenting Topics.
- Head to Health website links Australians to free or low-cost online and phone mental health services.
- TIACS is a free, mental health counselling service for tradies, truckies, rural and blue collar workers. TIACS provides professional mental health counselling to Australia’s blue collar community. TIACS also provides counselling services to anyone who may be a carer, friend or loved one of a blue collar worker who is doing it tough.
Disability/Carer Support
- Carers Queensland is a support organisation for Carers. They can help you and your family navigate the support systems for young people with a Disability. Phone (07) 3900 8100.
- Carers Australia is another Australia-wide support organisation for Carers.
- Carers Gateway - The Australian Government has introduced a Carer Gateway website and call centre as an entry point for carers to access practical information and advice, online supports, and services in their local area. Call 1800 422 737 Monday to Friday between 8am and 5pm.
- Centrelink Carers Payment information
- Queensland Companion Card - The program is for people with significant and permanent disability who have a lifelong need for a high level of care to participate in community events and activities. This card allows a person’s carer free entry into participating venues and events.
- Grandparent Carers
- Raising grandchildren | Seniors | Queensland Government
- Grandparent Advisers through the Australian Government provide help to non-parent carers such as grandparent carers, foster carers and kinship carers. The Grandparent Adviser Line is 1800 245 965 (free from your home phone).
- Organisations like the Create Foundation, the Mirabel Foundation and the Pyjama Foundation support children who can’t live with their parents. They hold events where children can meet others who are in the same situation.
- The Time for Grandparents program organises free day activities and camps for children, giving you a break. They also organise free overnight support and respite camps for you and your grandchildren. Phone the Grandparents Information Line on 1300 135 500 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm) for information and bookings.
Autism Support
- Autism Gold Coast a support organisation with for families with a family member on the Autism Spectrum across the Gold Coast.
- Autism Queensland provides a range of education, therapy and support services to assist people with Autism, their families and the Professionals working with them.
- “Dippers” is Run by Autism Swim every summer. Dippers is a modified nippers and surf education program. Dippers inclusively welcomes Individuals of all ages and abilities and operates in partnership with local Surf Life Saving Clubs (GC location is Coolie).
FASD Support
- FASD Hub Australia provides high quality, evidence-based content about alcohol and pregnancy and FASD in Australia
- NOFASD is the National Organisation for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
- RFFADA – The Russell Family Fetal Alcohol Disorders Association is a not-for-profit health promotion charity dedicated to ensuring that individuals affected prenatally by alcohol have access to diagnostic services, support and multidisciplinary management planning in Australia and that carers and parents are supported with a “no blame no shame” ethos.
- Qld Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Support Group A facebook support group open to anyone. Parents, carers, families, adults and young people living with FASD, educators, community members.
Support for Teenagers
- Headspace – support for young people aged 12 and above. They offer in-person therapy, as well as phone and online options. There are lots of useful resources on their website.
- ReachOut - Online resources and support for young people under 25 going through a tough time.
- Relationships and Reproductive Health - The True Website offer Education and Consultations about reproductive health concerns.
- True Relationships & Reproductive Health have co-designed Real Talk: About Sex n' Stuff, an evidence-based, inclusive, and shame-free illustrated digital PDF booklet that can be printed, or individual pages can be printed to suit specific educational/service needs. Real Talk: About Sex n’ Stuff contains illustrations of nudity and sex and is recommended for people aged 16+.
- Planet Puberty is a resource to support young people with Autism and Intellectual Disability navigate Puberty.
- Our Guides | Defend Young Minds™️ is a resource to help carers to talk with young people about porn and protection against sexual abuse.
Financial Support
- Housing Assistance website to access information about emergency and temporary housing in Queensland.
- National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 to speak to a financial counsellor to get advice.
- Ask Izzy is an online directory of community support services to help Queensland families (e.g. parenting groups, domestic and family violence support services, and food banks)
Relationship Support
- Relationships Australia or 1300 364 277
Early Learning Resources
- Growth and development milestones
- Ages and Stages Parent Information Sheets
- Red Flags Early Identification Guide (for children aged birth to five years)
- Red Flags Early Identification Guide (for school aged children)
- First 1000 days: conception to two years | Raising Children Network
- Play & wellbeing guides: kids & families | Raising Children Network
- Happy Families - Parenting Resources & Advice
Mealtime Resources
- Dear Parent: Navigating Challenging Mealtimes with Anxious Eaters (getpermissioninstitute.com)
- How to Start Serving Family Style Meals: 5 Easy Steps - Feeding Bytes
- What is Responsive Feeding? - Chicago Feeding Group
- Working with ‘Picky Eating’ in Pre-School and Childcare Settings | Res (teachable.com)
- Toddlers nutrition & fitness | Raising Children Network
- Preschoolers nutrition & fitness | Raising Children Network
- School-age nutrition & fitness | Raising Children Network
Transition to Prep Resources
- Early Childhood Education and Care Transition to School Resources
- Raising Children Network School Resources
- Education Queensland Transition to Prep for children with disability fact sheet
- Raising Children Network Children with Disability School Resources
- Raising Children Network Children with Autism School Resources
- Autism Hub Transition to Prep Resource
Learning Difficulties Resources
- Auspeld Learning for all - The Australian Federation of SPELD Associations.
- SPELD Qld - Supporting people experiencing learning differences.
- Understanding Learning Difficulties – A Guide for Parents
- Learning Difficulties Australia
- International Dyslexia Association
Healthy Life Resources
- PodSquad - a free, play-based wellbeing program that supports children aged 5-12 years and their families as they build healthy habits together through an engaging and interactive app.
- Fairplay Voucher - Families can apply for a voucher valued up to $150 for their child to pay membership, registration or participation fees with activity providers.
Speech and Language Resources
- Talk With Me! is our Child Development resource to support early language development
- Speak With Me is our Child Development resource to support speech sound development.
- Speech Pathology Australia Fact Sheets
- Communication milestones
- The Hanen Centre - Helpful Info
- The Hanen Centre - Language Delay - What Parents Need to Know
- The Hanen Centre - Language-building Tips for Parents
- The Hanen Centre - Language and Literacy Tips
- The Hanen Centre - Literacy at Home
Resources Recommended by our Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists
- Developmental Coordination Disorder Australia Inc.
- Developmental Coordination Disorder - CanChild
- Difficulties with Gait (Walking)
- Gross Motor Delay
- Idiopathic Toe Walking
- Infant Head Shape
- Infants Feet
- Torticollis
Technology Resources
- Online safety | eSafety Commissioner
- For parents & carers | ACCCE
- Raising Children Network Movie Reviews
- Technology and teenagers - ReachOut Parents
- Social media advice – for families | headspace
- What Is Healthy Electronic Gaming? | headspace
- understanding gaming - a guide for family and friends (headspace.org.au)
- Home (gameaware.com.au)
- Pre-teens entertainment & technology | Raising Children Network
- Teens entertainment & technology | Raising Children Network
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
- ADHD Australia
- Parent Training for families of children with ADHD
Gender Diversity
- Gender dysphoria & identity: kids & teens | Raising Children Network
- Queensland Children’s Gender Service (QCGS) (health.qld.gov.au)
- Understanding gender identity - for families | headspace
- Parents of Gender-Diverse Children (pgdc.org.au)
- Families like mine - Beyond Blue
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Resources
- NDIS Early Childhood Approach (ECA) Program (Children <9 years)
- NDIS Program (Children >9 years)
- NDIS Booklets and Fact Sheets to help plan NDIS supports.
- Raising Children's Network extensive information about all aspects of the NDIS
- Carers Australia Carers Checklist can help you prepare for your NDIS planning meeting
Transition to Adulthood Resources
- Transitioning to Adulthood - a Guide for adolescents and young adults. Children's Health Queensland
- Trapeze - Checklist for Young People Transitioning to Adult Services
- NDIS Booklets and Factsheets - We recommend reading the Employment information booklet.
- Disability Employment Services
- Raising Children's Network section on Work
- Raising Children's Network section on Transition Plans
- School Leavers Resources eKit - Resources about student payments to share with school leavers, other students and their families.
- Centrelink - Applying for the Disability Support Pension
- Centrelink - Carers Payment for Young People over the age of 16
- Disability Support to Help You Study
- Education Queensland Resource - Transition to Post-School for Students with Disability