Get Help

If you are in an emergency situation, or immediate danger, please call 000.  

If you, or someone you care for, is in need of support, the agencies and organisations listed below may be able to help.

If you're having trouble finding the help you need, call our customer service team on 5261 0600 or send us a message online.

Alternatively, Ask Izzy is a free and confidential website that connects people in need with housing, a meal, money help, family violence support, counselling and much more.

Alcohol and other drugs

Helplines

  • DirectLine: Call 1800 888 236. Confidential alcohol & drug counselling and referral.

Local support services

Children at risk

Helplines

  • Kids Helpline: Call 1800 55 1800. 24 hour counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25.
  • Headspace: Mental health support for 12 - 25 year olds. Call 1800 650 890 or chat online
  • ReachOut: online peer support and resources for young people.

Child safeguarding

  • If you believe a child is in immediate danger please call 000
  • If you believe a child has experienced harm, but there is no immediate danger, and you believe their parent/guardian are not protecting them from that harm you should contact Child Protection (Department of Families, Fairness and Housing): Call 1300 360 462 (business hours) or 13 12 78 (after hours).
  • If you still hold concerns for a child’s wellbeing, contact The Orange Door Barwon: Call 1800 312 820, email barwon@orangedoor.vic.gov.au.

Surf Coast Shire Council is a Child Safe Workplace. Further information on how we support our community to safeguard children can be found on our Child Safe Workplace page.

Carer support

Carers

More information can be found on Council’s Carer Support page. 

Disability

Disability support

Disability advocacy services

Family violence and sexual assault

Family and domestic violence is any violent, threatening, coercive or controlling behaviour that occurs in current or past family, domestic or intimate relationships.

If you feel you are in immediate danger, call 000.

Helplines

Local support services

Financial support

Emergency relief

Emergency Relief is a service provided by the federal government for those experiencing financial hardship.  Emergency Relief is delivered by community organisations, and can include food parcels, supermarket vouchers, assistance with bills and other financial support services.

Other financial support services

Council has a hardship policy to provide flexibility to those experiencing financial hardship.  Contact Council directly on 03 5261 0600.

First Nations

Helplines

Aboriginal Health and Community Services:

Registered Aboriginal Parties:

Food security

Food relief providers

Housing and crisis accommodation

Local support services

LGBTQIA+

Helplines

For parents and rainbow families

Mental health

Helplines

  • Lifeline: Call 131114
  • Suicide callback service: Call 1300 659 467. Crisis counselling to people at risk of suicide, carers for someone who is suicidal and those bereaved by suicide.
  • headspace: Call 1800 650 890. Support 12-25 year olds and their families.
  • Beyond Blue: Call 1300 22 4636.
  • Black Dog Institute: Resources including Sleep Ninja app and Online Clinic.
  • 13YARN: Call 13 92 76. Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders crisis support line.
  • MensLine: Call 1300 78 99 78. Telephone and online counselling for men.
  • Kids Helpline: Call 1800 55 1800. 24 hour counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25.
  • PANDA: Call 1300 726 306. Mental health support for expecting, new and growing families.
  • Blue Knot: Call 1300 657 380, email helpline@blueknot.org.au. Support for adult survivors of childhood trauma and abuse.
  • Gambler’s Help: Call 1800 858 858. Online, telephone and face-to-face counselling, advice and information for people affected by gambling harm.

Local support services

Parents and caregivers

Helplines

  • Maternal and Child Health Line: Call 13 22 29. Information and advice about care and health of children from birth to school age.
  • Parentline: Call 13 22 89. Counselling and support for parents and caregivers of children from birth to 18 years.
  • PANDA: Call 1300 726 306. Mental health support for expecting, new and growing families.
  • For When: Call 1300 24 23 22. Support and referral to perinatal and infant mental health services.
  • Kids Helpline: Call 1800 55 1800. Phone and online counselling for young people aged 5 to 25 years.
  • Red Nose Grief and Loss: Call 1300 308 307. Support for parents and families who have experienced the death of a child during pregnancy, birth, infancy or childhood.
  • COPE - Centre for Perinatal Excellence: Providing support for the emotional challenges of becoming a parent.
  • New Parents, New Possibilities: Support for LGBTQIA+ parents

Local support

Parenting websites

More information for parents with young children can be found on Council’s Child and Family Health and Parenting page. For more support for young people aged 12-25yrs, visit the Surf Coast Youth page.

Transport

For more information, see Council’sAccessible transport and parking page.

 

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