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Getting help

There are many services available to help you with family relationships, separation and parenting. This page provides a directory of services available to help you with family relationships, separation and parenting.

Legal help 
Child contact centres
Courts
Family dispute resolution
Family violence and support services
Government departments and agencies

Legal help

Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) is a state-wide organisation that helps people with their legal problems.

Phone: (03) 9269 0120
Country callers: 1800 677 402  
See What we do for more information about our services

You can also:

Child contact centres

Child contact centres are places where children can see their parents or where changeover from one parent to another can occur. Many contact centres also provide support programs for children and parents experiencing family breakdown.

Courts

If you cannot agree with your ex-partner or if your case is not suitable for family dispute resolution you may need to go to court. In court decisions on matters such as parenting orders and division of property can be made. The courts offer help, information and referal services.

Family Court of Australia
Commonwealth Law Courts, 305 William St, Melbourne 3001
Phone: 1300 352 000
Family law courts 

Federal Magistrates Court
Commonwealth Law Courts, 305 William St, Melbourne 3000
Phone: 1300 352 000
Family Magistrates Court of Australia 

Magistrates’ Court of Victoria
233 William St, Melbourne 3001
Phone: (03) 9628 7777
Magistrates’ Court of Victoria 

Court Network
Information, support and referral service
Phone: (03) 9603 7433
Country callers: 1800 681 614
Court Network 

Family dispute resolution

Victoria Legal Aid has a family dispute resolution service. Family dispute resolution can help couples who have separated, sort out disputes more quickly and easily than by going to court. See Resolving family disputes.

Family violence and support services

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’.

Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service
Phone (03) 9654 3111 or 1800 105 303
Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service

Domestic Violence Resource Centre
Phone: (03) 9486 9866 
TTY: (03) 9417 1255
Domestic Violence Resource Centre 

Immigrant Women’s Domestic Violence Service
Phone: (03) 8413 6800
Immigrant Women’s Domestic Violence Service 

Kids Help Line
Phone: 1800 551 800
Kids Help Line

Men’s Referral Service
Phone: (03) 9428 2899
Country callers: 1800 065 973
Men’s Referral Service

Mensline
Phone: 1300 789 978
Mensline

Parentline Victoria
Phone: 132 289
Parentline Victoria

Victims of Crime Helpline
Phone: 1800 819 817
Victims of Crime 

Women’s Domestic Violence Crisis Service – 24 hours
Phone: (03) 9373 0123 
Country callers: 1800 015 188
Women’s Domestic Violence Crisis Service

Women’s Information and Referral Exchange (WIRE)
Phone: 1300 134 130
WIRE

Government departments and agencies

There are several government departments and agencies that can help with family relationships, separation and parenting.

Australian Federal Police
Missing children: (03) 9607 7777
Australian Federal Police 

Centrelink
Family Assistance Office: 136 150
Multilingual Service: 131 202
Centrelink 

Child Support Agency
Phone: 131 272
Child Support Agency  

Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages
Phone: 1300 369 367
Births Deaths Marriages Victoria