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Services that can help

There are many services available to help you in all areas of family relationships, separation and parenting. Some of these services are listed below. For specific services in your state or territory, see the links under ‘More information’.

Family relationship centres offer information, advice and other help for families facing separation or relationship difficulties. Centres can also help people use other services that can help them with their family relationships. They can also offer dispute resolution services which give each parent a chance to talk through disagreements and come to a parenting agreement together, away from the courtroom.

The Family Relationship Advice Line (call 1800 050 321) and Family Relationships Online (link below) offer telephone information, referral to services and advice and online family law information.

There is a legal aid commission in each state and territory. Legal aid is independent of the government. Its role is to help people with their legal problems. Legal aid may be able to give you legal advice on family relationships and family breakdown, family violence, civil law disputes and criminal law. If you are eligible, legal aid may pay for a lawyer to represent you in court.

To find the contact details of a legal aid commission near you, see ‘Getting legal help’ (link below), or go to the National Legal Aid website (link below). You are currently on the Victoria Legal Aid website.

The Family Law Courts provide a combined telephone family law information line and website for the Family Court of Australia and Federal Magistrates Court of Australia. You can contact the courts at 1300 352 000 (for the cost of a local call) or find family law information on the Family Law Courts website (link below).

The Child Support Agency has information and publications on everything to do with child support payments and care arrangements. It has an online community service directory that can help you find services including separation and grief counselling, parenting guidance, legal advice, support groups, financial counselling and dispute resolution. The agency website (link below) can be translated into other languages. There is also a website for Indigenous parents (link below).

Centrelink (link below) has many publications and services to help families, single parents, grandparents and carers, as well as people who are experiencing family violence. Many publications have been translated into community languages. There are also services and publications available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

Children’s contact services are places where children can see their parents or where changeover from one parent to another can occur. If you have had problems with contact arrangements and need a safe, neutral place for contact to happen, you could try a contact service. Many contact services also provide support programs for children and parents experiencing family breakdown. See the Family Relationships Online website (link below) for a list of services in your area.

Family violence services are available for people who wish to leave, or have left, a violent relationship. If you are experiencing family violence and the situation is urgent do not wait, contact the police on ‘000’.

To find the contact details of services in your area contact a legal aid commission, Family Relationship Centre or the Family Relationship Advice Line.

Mensline Australia (link below) provides services for men who are dealing with family and relationship problems, especially family break-down or separation. You can get short-term telephone counselling, information, referrals and support programs.