Parentline

The Parent Helpline is a service of Child and Youth Health and provides telephone information, counselling and support - 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year.

It is available to parents of children and young people from birth to twenty five years and to people working with children and young people, including teachers and childcare providers.

It provides information about health, behaviour and relationships.
Calls are confidential and you don't have to give your name unless you wish.

Parent Helpline staff have a computer data base with information based on research and this is continually updated.

Staff are qualified nurses and community health workers with selected volunteers. All receive ongoing training and support.

Information about where callers can get further help is given.

Some examples of what the Parent Helpline can respond to:

Health:
head lice, infectious diseases, immunisation, teething, bedwetting, cold sores, AIDS, gastro and fevers.

Behaviour:
aggression, sibling rivalry, toilet training, sleep, lying, stealing, unsettled babies, school refusal and bullying.

Nutrition:
breast feeding, fussy eaters, vitamins and general nutrition information.

Parenting:
building self esteem, discipline, grief and separation, stepfamilies and resources for counselling.

Parents:
postnatal depression, pregnancy, mastitis, coping with problems and support.

Youth issues:
Communication, teenage runaways, managing adolescents, self-esteem, drugs, discipline and adolescents and the law.