Education and social support services
Early Childhood Health Centres [ECHC]
Area Covered: NSW
Resource Type: Service Provider
ECHC are located in all area health regions across NSW, providing free community health services for parents and children (0-5 years). They can provide advice and help on baby care issues, parenting, sleeping, growth and development, immunisations, safety and play, nutrition and feeding. They offer counselling and support for mums with postnatal depression. Home visits can be arranged. Staffed by qualified health professionals, including midwifery.
Website www.health.nsw.gov.au
Telephone Contact the ECHC in your area or your local council for details and locations of your nearest ECHC.
Lactation Support Service
Area Covered: NSW
Resource Type: Service Provider
A range of breastfeeding support services – led by a specialist midwife – is available at the Royal Hospital for Women. Pregnant women can learn what to expect and women who are breastfeeding can gain helpful tips.
Website www.rhw.org.au
Telephone 02 9382 6341
Australian Breastfeeding Association [ABA]
Area Covered: Australia
Resource Type: Organisation, Website, Information, Forum, Classes
ABA is an organisation of people with interests and skills in the promotion, education and protection of breastfeeding. Services include a website with forum, classes and an extensive library of information on breastfeeding. A 7-day a week breastfeeding helpline provides information state by state.
Website www.breastfeeding.asn.au
Telephone 02 8853 4999 [NSW Helpline]
Email info@breastfeeding.asn.au
Good Beginnings Australia – Head Office
Area Covered: Australia
Resource Type: Service Provider
A national parenting program to offer support to parents to assist them to make safe environments in which babies and toddlers can thrive. Services include home sitting, parenting groups, fathering, and culturally specific programs. The office is wheelchair accessible (lift). There are centres around the country, including Broken Hill, Randwick and Inner West (Sydney).
Website www.goodbeginnings.net.au
Telephone 02 9211 6767
Email nationaloffice@goodbeginnings.net.au
Address Suite 38, 8-24 Kippax Street Surry Hills NSW 2010
Family Support Programs [Barnardos Australia]
Area Covered: NSW
Resource Type: Service Provider
They operate children’s family centres at Auburn, Penrith, Redfern and South East Sydney, the Illawarra region, and in the Far West NSW at Gilgandra and Wellington. Services include home visiting, young mothers’ groups, parent education, crisis care, foster care and adoption, family support, counselling, and child safety. They provide information, support and practical assistance with child-rearing, problem-solving, and living with a disability.
Website www.barnardos.org.au
Telephone 02 9281 7933 or 1800 061 000
Email barnmktg@zip.com.au
Address Barnardos Australia Head Office, 60-64 Bay Street, Ultimo NSW 2007
PANDA [Post and Ante Natal Depression Association]
Area Covered: Australia
Resource Type: Organisation, Information, Depression, Mental Illness
PANDA is a Victorian based, non-profit self-help organisation for women affected by post and antenatal mood disorders, including partners and extended family members. Their website provides sections on what post natal depression [PND] is, how to relieve it, how to prevent it, breastfeeding with PND etc. Services include a helpline, education, support services and referral. Fact sheets and handouts can be downloaded online e.g. practical strategies for feeling better, and many more.
Website www.panda.org.au
Telephone 03 9428 4600 (Melbourne)
Telephone 1800 130 026 (outside Melb.)
Email info@panda.org.au
Address 270 Church St, Richmond VIC 3121
Parent Education Centre [Royal Prince Alfred Hospital]
Area Covered: Central, Inner West, and South Sydney area
Resource Type: Service Provider
Parent Education services available (e.g. parenting skills) for women with babies in the central Sydney and south western Sydney AHS. Fully accessible. Telephone 02 9515 5284
Address Level 5 East Wing, RPA Women and Babies, RPA Hospital, Missenden Road
Camperdown NSW 2050
The Centre for Practical Parenting
Area Covered: Sydney
Resource Type: Service Provider, Classes, Depression, Anxiety
Provide counselling on parenting skills, adjustment to motherhood, depression and anxiety. They run workshops for effective parenting. Serves Sydney region.
Telephone 02 9314 1580
Address 7 Bridges St, Maroubra NSW 2035
Brighter Futures Bankstown [Benevolent Society]
Area Covered: Sydney
Resource Type: Service Provider
Children aged up to 8 years and their families who need extra support can access this service. Services include professional home visiting, centre-based activities, group work, supported playgroups and a peri natal support service.
Telephone 02 8700 2200
Address 797 Punchbowl Road Punchbowl NSW 2196
Early Prevention Program [Benevolent Society]
Area Covered: Southern Sydney Suburbs
Resource Type: Service Provider, Mental Illness
This program has been developed to offer ongoing support for mothers starting in pregnancy. Includes antenatal support groups and then a 20-week group program postnatal. These include a baby massage group and a mother-baby group. The aim of these groups is to support mothers to develop a nurturing relationship with their infant by developing an understanding of the infant’s communication. The program also has a specialist worker for families where a parent is affected by a long-term mental illness. Services are free.
Website www.bensoc.org.au Go to “What We Do” click on “Children & Families”
Telephone 02 9365 7999
Email eipweb@bensoc.org.au
Address 24a Ocean Street, Bondi NSW 2026
Family Relationship Skills Program
Area Covered: Sydney
Resource Type: Service Provider, Intellectual Disability
They focus on the development of family relationship skills, the roles and responsibilities of parenthood. They can arrange one-to-one or group training for parents with intellectual disability. It’s run by Centacare, and serves Sydney region. Languages include Greek and English. Contact – Parent Educator. Programs include support, groups and educative activities for parents.
Website www.centacare.org
Telephone 02 9519 6788
Email paul.chandler@centacare.org
Address 209a Edgeware Road Enmore NSW 2042
NSW Neighbour Aid and Social Support Association [NASSA]
Area Covered: NSW
Resource Type: Organisation
A network of primary volunteers providing a range of services to assist people with disability, and to aid the elderly, to remain in their house and in their community. They can provide practical and social support. The website includes a ‘Find Your local Service’ locater.
Website http://nswnassa.org.au
Playgroup Association of NSW Inc.
Area Covered: NSW
Resource Type: Organisation
An association that represents and supports the establishing of playgroups across NSW. They provide a referral service for families wishing to access their local playgroups. They promote cultural diversity and have information on playgroups available in 15 languages. Support is available to families with additional needs – e.g. indigenous families, parent or child with disability – wanting to attend or attending a playgroup. Playgroup NSW staff assist families with additional needs to find a welcoming community playgroup, or a
special needs playgroup appropriate to their circumstances.
Website www.playgroupnsw.com.au
Telephone 1800 171 882 or 02 9604-5513
Email admin@playgroupnsw.com.au
Address PO Box 6665 Wetherill Park DC 1851
Contact Inc [also known as Project for Isolated Children]
Area Covered: NSW
Resource Type: Organisation
A small community-based organisation, which supports isolated families and children/young people in NSW, includes rural areas. It provides assistance, information, referrals and support to people caring for kids in isolated circumstances. Resources include a newsletter, activity sheets, and videos. They produce the “Watch Me Grow” development sheets (5), which provide information on the ages and stages of child development, which is available in 6 languages. They produce “Who to Contact” sheet which is
a telephone sheet of support services – general listing and contains a separate disability listing sheet ($5 for postage). Website http://www.contactinc.com.au/
Telephone 02 9251 4431
Email admin@contactinc.com.au
Address PO Box 42, Millers Point NSW 2087
Area Covered: Inner City Suburbs
Resource Type: Service Provider
A “Save the Children” program which provides a welcoming environment for children and families facilitated by specialist family workers. They provide free activities, games and equipment for 0-5 year olds. Morning or afternoon tea is included. Meet weekly in playgrounds/community centres of inner city Sydney.
Telephone 02 9211 8800 or 0422 377 574
Email scanswinfo@savethechildren.org.au
