Support services

A number of services may be able to provide you with some support.

Animals

STRONGER TOGETHER – PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM

Grief and bereavement

Kidsafe Victoria is proud to have partnered with The Compassionate Friends Victoria to bring a Peer Support program to bereaved families.

When you lose a child you may feel isolated and alone – we understand and are here to support you.

Free Monthly Online video

  • Available to all to all parents bereaved of a child due to a preventable incident

The program is a safe space for you to talk to other bereaved parents, share happy and sad memories of your child and experience support from others who are on a similar journey. The program facilitators are also bereaved parents.

To register your interest, please email alex@kidsafevic.com.au.

We are sorry you have found us this way, but we look forward to meeting you.

Red Nose

Grief and bereavement

Red Nose bereavement support services assist families who have experienced the sudden and unexpected death of a baby or child, during birth, pregnancy or infancy.

  • Counselling
  • Parent and family support
  • Sibling support
  • Grandparent support groups
  • Telephone support
  • National 24 hour bereavement support line

https://rednosegriefandloss.com.au/

24 hour bereavement support line 1300 308 307

The Compassionate Friends

Grief and bereavement

The Compassionate Friends Victoria is part of a world-wide organisation offering friendship and understanding to families following the death of a son, daughter, brother or sister. TCF offers support in the grief and trauma which follows the death of a child at any age and from any cause.

  • Support and information centre
  • 24 Hour grief telephone support
  • Social Support Groups
  • Grief information and resources
  • Library

http://www.compassionatefriendsvictoria.org.au/default.htm

(03) 9888 4944  Free Call: 1800 641 091 (Country Victoria and Tasmania Only)

Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement

Grief and bereavement

The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement is the largest provider of grief and bereavement education in Australia. Its mission is to build the capacity of individuals, organisations and communities in order to enhance well-being following adverse life events.

  • Counselling services
  • Support groups
  • Telephone support services
  • Personal stories
  • Bereavement support information and resources

http://www.grief.org.au

(03) 9265 2100  Freecall: 1800 642 066

Hope Bereavement Care

Grief and bereavement

Hope Bereavement Care provides counselling and educational services for families and others who have experienced the sudden or unexpected death on an infant, young child or adolescent under 18 years of age.

 

Hope Bereavement Care works in partnership with SIDS and Kids and carries out the work of SIDS and Kids in the Barwon region.

 

  • Counselling
  • Support groups
  • Grief and trauma resource library
  • 24-hour telephone support service

http://www.bereavement.org.au

24 hour telephone support  1800 240 400

Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma, Loss and Grief Network

Trauma and grief

ACATLGN aims to increase awareness and knowledge amongst a range of professionals working with children and young people in order to improve the wellbeing of children and adolescents affected by trauma and grief.

  • Information and resources
 

http://earlytraumagrief.anu.edu.au

Beyondblue

Grief

Beyondblue works to increase awareness and understanding of depression and anxiety. Beyondblue has a number of support services for individuals experiencing difficulties, as well support for family and friends.

  • 24 hour telephone support
  • Online chat
  • Information and resources
 

http://www.beyondblue.org.au

1300 22 4636

Lifeline

Grief

Lifeline provides Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24 hour support

  • 24 Hour telephone crisis line
  • Online crisis support chat
  • Mental health resource centre
 

https://www.lifeline.org.au/Home

13 11 14

Road Trauma Support Services Victoria

Road trauma

Road Trauma Support Services Victoria contributes to the safety and wellbeing of Victorian road users and provides counselling and support to people affected by road trauma.

  • Telephone counselling
  • Road trauma fact sheets
  • Peer support
  • Bereavement support workshops
  • Facilitated support groups
  • Community education and information sessions

http://www.rtssv.org.au/

1300 367 797

TAC

Road trauma

The TAC provides information, support and advice for people who have lost a family member in a transport incident.

  • Financial support
  • Counselling services
  • Information for parents of injured children
 

http://www.tac.vic.gov.au

1300 654 329

BrainLink

Brain injury

BrainLink is a Victorian based service that is dedicated to improving the quality of life of people affected by acquired disorders of the brain.

 

BrainLink’s first priority is to respond to the immediate needs of the families and friends of those who are living with an acquired brain disorder

  • Peer support programs
  • Respite opportunities
  • Information and resources
  • Referral service
  • Service finder

http://www.brainlink.org.au/

Toll free: 1800 677 579   (03) 9845 2950

Samuel Morris Foundation

Non fatal drowning

The Samuel Morris Foundation, supports children disabled by near drowning (or other hypoxic brain injuries).

  • Support group for parents of children who have experienced a near drowning
  • Information and resources
 

http://www.samuelmorrisfoundation.org.au

(02) 4729 2339

KIDS Foundation

Burn injury

The KIDS Foundation provides services and programs assisting children with burns and other life-changing injuries, to increase their quality of life during recovery and beyond survival.

 

  • Burns Survivors Network
  • Children’s camps
  • Counselling
  • Personal development and leadership program for young people with life-changing injuries
  • ‘Kids Place’ rehabilitation unit

http://kidsfoundation.org.au/

1300 734 733

SCOPE

Disability

SCOPE provides services to people with a disability in Victoria.

  • Client services
  • Disability employment therapy, psychology and related services
  • Communications resource centre

http://www.scopevic.org.au

(03) 9843 3000

Limbs 4 Life

Amputation

Limbs 4 Life offers a range of programs and services that assist amputees, their families, their care givers and health care professionals.

  • Peer support
  • Educational, social and sports programs
  • Carers, children and youth program
  • Parent networking sessions
  • Information sessions

http://www.limbs4life.org.au

1300 782 231

State Wide Equipment Program (SWEP)

Equipment

SWEP provides Victorian people who either have a permanent or long-term disability with subsidised aids, equipment and home and vehicle modifications to enhance their independence and facilitate community participation.

  • Subsidies towards the cost of aids and equipment
 

http://swep.bhs.org.au/home

1300 747 937

River’s Gift 

SIDS

River’s Gift is the largest source of funding for SIDS research in Australia. To date, River’s Gift has generated over $1 million to Stamp out SIDS by funding scientific research and raising awareness.

  • Information and resources
  • Social and fundraising programs

Read River’s story

http://www.riversgift.com

Bella’s Footprints

Button Battery Safety

Allison Rees tragically lost her 14 month old daughter Bella, to a button battery injury.
In sharing Bella’s story, Alison aims to raise awareness of the dangers of button batteries.

Together, we can bring much needed change for manufacturers and retailers alike, as well as educate mums, dads, aunties, uncles, grandparents and friends; so no other family needs to suffer the pain of losing a child to a button battery ingestion.

 

Read Bella’s story

http://bellasfootprints.com.au

+61 3 9307 0344

ForWhen

Mental Health Support for Expecting and New Parents

QEC and other early parenting services across Australia joined forces to create this national initiative supporting the mental health of expectant and new parents. This service connects you to the right service that can help you understand what you are feeling and provide the guidance and support you need at the right time.

 

It is estimated that 1 in every 5 new and expecting mums, and 1 in every 10 dads, experience perinatal depression and/or anxiety.

 

  • Mental Health care referral service
  • National Free Hotline 9am-4.30pm Monday to Friday 

forwhenhelpline.org.au

1300 24 23 22