Sexual abuse is a terrible crime that affects people for a long time. You may have been abused many years ago, but could still be suffering the consequences. Find out how to get help and seek justice.

Disaster support

The NSW Government provides Disaster Welfare Services to support people who have been impacted by disasters such as floods, storms, bushfires and other emergencies. The Ministry for Police and Emergency Services (MPES) is responsible for the state wide coordination of Disaster Welfare Services.

Disaster Welfare Services
1800 018 444

Domestic violence

Domestic Violence Line
Available 24 hours
1800 656 463

Domestic Violence Advocacy Service
Services for women and children seeking help and information about how to get protection from the court from domestic violence
1300 888 529

Rape Crisis Centre
Available 24 hours
1800 424 017

Victim’s Services
1800 633 063

Another Closet
Services and Information on violence in gay and lesbian relationships

For more help, services, support and information, see the domestic and family violence section.

Family Referral Services

Family Referral Services helps children, young people, and families who need access to services to address current problems, prevent it from getting any worse, and establishing a protective and nurturing environment. FRS can help you find the right support services in your local area. Services include:

domestic violence support services (including counselling)
housing or accommodation services
financial assistance
counselling and mediation
parenting struggles and support services (including parenting programs)
mental health support services
culturally appropriate support services.

Financial support

Department of Human Services (Centrelink) - Family and parenting payments
13 61 50
(For multilingual support call 13 12 02)

National Debt Helpline
Financial counselling services for free help managing your money and debt
Monday - Friday 9.30am-4.30pm
1800 007 007

Foster care and foster aftercare

While DCJ continues to authorise a limited number of foster carers at this time, we encourage people who are interested in fostering to apply with a non-government agency listed on this site.

UPA Youth Care Services
02 6620 4400
Youth Care UPA is a not-for profit organisation that provides a high quality fostering service that meets the range of needs of children and young people in out-of-home care.

CareSouth
1300 554 260
CareSouth's foster carers are everyday people doing extraordinary things to support children, young people and families across the Illawarra, South Coast, Southern Tablelands and Western NSW.

Gaba Yula Out-of-Home Care
1800 864 846
The Gaba Yula Aboriginal Out-of-Home Care Partnership is between the Greater Western Sydney Aboriginal Corporation and UnitingCare Burnside. Gaba Yula is an Aboriginal foster care program that works to meet the range of needs of children and young people in out-of-home care aged 0 to 18 years in the Western.

CatholicCare Hunter-Manning
02 4979 1120
CatholicCare HM is a mission and outreach agency of the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle working in OOHC since the 1970s

Samaritans Foundation out-of-home care
1300 656 336
Samaritans has supported foster care placements for the past 15 years providing regular support for all carers that includes home visits, phone and after hours support to all our placements.

Pathfinders
1800 314 199
Out-of-home care agency providing placement support and recruitment, assessment and training of foster carers.

Allambi Care
02 4944 5900
Not-for profit organisation that provides accommodation and support services, including foster care, for disadvantaged and homeless children and young people.

Lifestyle Solutions
1800 634 748
Lifestyle Solutions Foster Care program provides children and young people in care with a safe and secure home and care that focuses on their unique support needs.

Stretch-A-Family
02 9569 6933
Sydney based not-for-profit secular organisation that provides care for children who cannot live with their families. Stretch-A- Family (SAF) provides comprehensive support to our foster carers to give children from 0 to 18 years the wings to fly.

KARI
02 8782 0300
Established in 1999, KARI aims to place Aboriginal children and young people with Aboriginal carers and families to facilitate an environment where the child or young person has a connection with their culture whilst in care.

Creating Links NSW Ltd
1300 254 657
Creating Links provides general foster care for children and young people in out-of-home care. We have a strong commitment to children and young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and have dedicated multicultural caseworkers.

Wandiy
02 4957 5900
Wandiyali OOHC Childrens Services is an inclusive not-for profit organisation that provides a high quality fostering service for Aboriginal children that meets the range of needs of children and young people in out-of-home care.

St Saviours OOHC
02 9612 3900
St Saviours has been operating in the Sydney and Illawarra regions since 2000 and we provide Intensive Foster Care and Residential Services to over 75 children and young persons in Out of Home Care using a therapeutic model.

Veritas House Inc.
02 6332 3882
Veritas House Foster Care program provides children and young people in need with a safe and secure home. We provide carers with training, support and an opportunity to become part of a professional caring team.

CatholicCare Broken Bay
02 9481 2600
CatholicCare Broken Bay Services is an inclusive not-for profit organisation that provides a high quality fostering service and intensive residential accommodation that meet the range of needs of children and young people in out-of-home care.

Marymead
02 6162 5800
Marymead was founded in 1967 to provide a person-centred approach to supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged children and families.

Wesley Dalmar
1300 325 627
Wesley Dalmar is part of Wesley Mission, and it has been offering out-of-home care for children and young people since 1893.

Mallee Family Care Inc.
03 5027 7600
Mallee Family Care NSW is a non-government agency that provides care to children in the Wentworth and Balranald Shire areas.

Anglicare NSW South, NSW West & ACT
1800 367 837
Anglicare NSW South, NSW West and ACT has supported and cared for children, young people, families and older people for almost 80 years. We support over 200 children and young people in out-of-home care.

Narang Bir-rong, Barnardos
1300 237 507
Narang Bir-rong translates to “Little Stars.” Narang Bir-rong formally known as LUFS (Link-Up Family Services) was established in 2008 to meet the needs of Aboriginal children and young people in Out-of-Home Care from 0 to 18 years, servicing Aboriginal Kin Carers and Foster Families in Metro Western Sydney and Nepean Blue Mountains.

Ngunya Jarjum Aboriginal Child & Family Network Inc.
02 6626 3700
Ngunya Jarjum (meaning "all our children") Aboriginal Child and Family Network Inc. is a community based service, which is made up of dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people who are committed to improving services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families throughout the Far North Coast.

Gudjagang Ngara Li-dhi (in partnership with Barnardos Australia)
02 4352 5900
Gudjagang Ngara Li-dhi is an Aboriginal foster care service on the Central Coast offering short term and permanent foster care and kinship care services.

Challenge Foster Care
1800 084 954
Challenge Foster Care provides high quality foster care services to children and young people in NSW. We are committed to making a positive difference in the lives of these children and ensuring that they reach their full potential.

Fostering Young Lives, The Benevolent Society
1800 236 762
The Benevolent Society is Australia's first charity. We're a not-for-profit and non-religious organisation and we've helped people, families and communities achieve positive change for 200 years. Through our work, we educate, support and advocate for personal and societal change, to create a just society where everyone thrives.

Anglicare Sydney
1300 111 278
Anglicare Sydney out-of-home care services have been involved in providing foster placements over many decades for children in need and quality support for our valued foster carers.

Illawarra Aboriginal Corporation Myimbarr OOHC
02 4228 1585
Provides general foster care placements and recruitment, assessment and training of foster carers. All placements are case managed by Myimbarr OOHC and receive ongoing support from a Myimbarr OOHC case worker.

CatholicCare Sydney
02 8700 3333
Not-for-profit organisation that has for over 70 years provided services and support to the community. We focus on caring for children and young people and supporting our foster carers to ensure their needs are met.

Barnardos Australia
1800 663 441
Barnardos Australia is a non-government, non-denominational child welfare charity, with a 130 year history in caring for children and a focus on long term support. Barnardos helps stop child abuse by finding safe and loving homes for abused children and working with families to prevent abuse happening in the first place.

CASPA Foster Care (Child and Adolescent Specialist Programs & Accommodation)
02 6627 3700
CASPA offers flexible care options for children and young people who have suffered abuse and can no longer live at home. In providing behavioural, educational and social supports we attempt to level the playing field and assist the young people we care for to reach their full potential. We acknowledge past traumas while focusing on positive outcomes by setting achievable goals and empowering the young people.

Uniting Burnside Foster Care
02 9768 6955
Uniting has provided high quality foster care services to vulnerable children in NSW for over 100 years. At Uniting, our foster care programs focus on ensuring that the emotional, physical and educational needs of children and young people are met, and that their positive wellbeing and individual development are supported and promoted.

Burrun Dalai Out of Home Care & Family Support Service, Tamworth & Armidale Aboriginal Children’s Service (TAACS)
02 6562 1913
Burrun Dalai means 'dream for children' in Dunghutti and is a not for profit Aboriginal out-of-home care agency operating since 1998. Provides foster care placements and case management for Aboriginal children & young people. Also recruits, assesses, trains and supports foster carers.

MacKillop Family Services
1300 791 677
MacKillop Family Services exists to support, foster hope and promote justice for children, young people and families, particularly those who have experienced distress, disadvantage and abuse. We provide out of home care in NSW, VIC and Western Australia.

Marist180 Foster Care
02 8709 9333
Marist180 Foster Care. We focus on providing stable and nurturing homes for children aged eight years and up where they can experience the help and attention they need. We provide support and training for our carers.

MacKillop Family Services (St Joseph’s Cowper)
1300 791 677
St Joseph’s Cowper, part of MacKillop Family Services, is an inclusive not-for profit organisation that provides a high quality fostering and residential accommodation that meet the needs of children and young people in out-of-home care.

William Campbell Foundation
1300 130 585
William Campbell Foundation is a not for profit Christian organisation that provides a range of services, including permanency support programs for children and young people.

Muloobinba Aboriginal Corporation, Cultural Journeyz Hunter Region
02 4969 5299
Muloobinba Aboriginal Corporation provides the Cultural Journeyz program that supports Aboriginal Children and Young People and their Carers in foster care in the Hunter Region.

Settlement Services International, Multicultural Foster Care Program
02 8713 9200
Settlement Services International is an inclusive not-for profit organisation that provides a high quality fostering service that meets the range of needs of CALD children and young people in out-of-home care.

South Coast Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation
02 4448 0222
Not-for-profit organisation providing health and wellbeing services the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. We provide general foster care placements and recruitment, assessment and training of foster carers.

Key Assets The Children’s Services Provider
02 8336 5700
Key Assets Fostering is an inclusive not-for-profit organisation providing a high quality fostering service that meets the range of needs of children and young people in out-of-home care.

Ngurambang Out of Home Care
02 6885 5010
Ngurambang: Special Place Special Home. Ngurambang was established as part of the Aboriginal Out-of-Home-Care capacity building transition, and is supported by a partnership with Uniting (Jaanimili & Burnside).

Life Without Barriers
1300 592 227
For over 15 years Life Without Barriers has provided family support and out-of-home care services in NSW and across Australia. Our experience in working with our carers, listening to their feedback and giving them a real say has ensured we have a valuable care team to make a positive difference in the lives of children and young people.

CatholicCare Wollongong
02 4227 1122
CatholicCare Wollongong seeks foster carers who are able to provide safe, nurturing and stable homes for children and young people to thrive and reach their full potential. As an inclusive organisation, we welcome all foster care applicants and help all those in need, regardless of religious beliefs.

Wanggaay Koori Out of Home Care Service (in partnership with Anglicare)
02 6927 0400
Wanggaay Koori Out of Home Care Service delivers Out of Home Care on Wiradjuri Country. We commit to providing the best possible service to children and young people in Out of Home Care by putting their needs first and helping them to reach their full potential. Wanggaay works in partnership with Anglicare.

Abcare – Coffs Harbour
02 6648 3680
Abcare is an incorporated not-for-profit, non-government, community based organisation located in Coffs Harbour NSW, providing general foster care placements and recruitment, assessment and training of foster carers.

Biripi Aboriginal Children’s Service (BACS) & Walanbaa Gaayili Out of Home Care Service
Biripi Aboriginal Children’s Service & Walanbaa Gaayili Out of Home Care Service provides Foster Care Support Services to Foster & Kinship/Relative Carers and is an inclusive not-for profit organisation that provides a high quality fostering service that meet the range of needs of children and young people in out-of-home care.

Woomera Aboriginal Co, Out of Home Care Foster Care Program
Woomera Aboriginal Co Foster Care Services is an inclusive not-for-profit organisation that provides a high quality fostering service that meet the range of needs of children and young people in out-of-home care.

Foundations Care
Foundations Care is a quality provider of out-of-home care services. We support children and carers through advocacy, training, social events and other support services.

General support and counselling

Mission Australia Helpline
1300 886 999

CatholicCare Relationship Counselling
13 18 19

Lifeline
13 11 14

Relationships Australia
02 9418 8800 or 1300 364 277

MensLine Australia
Telephone and online counselling service for men with family and relationship concerns
1300 78 99 78

Health emergencies

In an emergency or life-threatening situation, call 000 immediately.

Children’s Hospital Randwick
02 9382 1111

Children’s Hospital Westmead
02 9845 0000

Kidsafe
02 9845 0890

Poisons Information
13 11 26

Homelessness and housing

If you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, there are a range of housing options available, including social housing and specialist support for children and young people aged 12 to 15 years.

If you need to leave a violent situation because of domestic and family violence there are emergency and long term housing available. Help is also available 24/7 through the Domestic Violence Line on 1800 656 436

Link2home Homelessness
24 hours emergency accommodation assistance
1800 152 152

Wesley Inner West Youth, Homelessness Outreach Program
02 9716 0263

Inner West Youth Homelessness Service
02 8217 4700

Ask Izzy - is a web-based app that can help you find the services you need, including housing, meals, healthcare, counselling, legal advice, addiction treatment and a whole lot more. It is free and anonymous, and if you’re on the Telstra mobile network, you can access Ask Izzy even if you don’t have credit.

Mental health and wellbeing

When a mental health condition is combined with alcohol and drug use

COPMI
The Children of Parents with a Mental Illness national initiative creates mental health information and resources for Australian parents, children, families, carers and health professionals who work with them

Just Speak Up
Postnatal depression information and resources from beyondblue. This campaign aims to promote awareness of depression and anxiety, reduce stigma and provide information about where to get help

Raising children and teenagers

Child Support (Department of Human Services)
Australian Government Department of Human Services’ child support site. Assisting separated parents with information, payments and support and information about child support choices available to you

Childcare Access Hotline
1800 670 305

Dads Online
Australian-based interactive website for separated dads, offering online support and a chance to share stories, ideas and activities and events relevant to Australian dads

Family Relationships Online
Family Relationships Online is a key component in Government support for building better family relationships. It provides all families (whether together or separated) with access to information about family relationship issues, ranging from building better relationships to dispute resolution. It also allows families to find out about a range of services that can assist them to manage relationship issues, including agreeing on appropriate arrangements for children after parents separate

Karitane
24 hour parenting information and counselling
02 9794 1852 or 1800 677 96

MensLine Australia
Telephone and online counselling for offering qualified counsellors that specialise in family and relationship issues, including relationship breakdown, separation and divorce, parenting, family violence, suicide prevention and emotional well-being

Parent Line NSW
Telephone counselling, information and referral service for parents, carers and professionals who have concerns about a child aged 0 to 18 years. 9am - 9pm Monday to Friday; 4pm - 9pm weekends; closed public holidays. No more than the cost of a local call (note: some mobile providers can charge higher rates for calls to 1300 numbers)
1300 1300 52

Raising Children Network
The complete Australian resource for parenting newborns to teens. The site has a wealth of parenting information and resources for mothers, fathers, grandparents and anyone else who has responsibility for the care of children and includes a large and active forum

ReachOut Parents
Web-based service providing information, tools and resources to help parents and carers support 12 to 18 year-olds in their family environment. Parents will find fact sheets, stories, practical tips and tools covering a range of topics, issues and experiences that are relevant to parents of teenagers

Stepfamilies Australia
Stepfamilies Australia is committed to strengthening stepfamilies. The website contains various useful resources, including tip sheets, information packs, articles and booklist as well as counselling, support groups and other forms of support for stepfamilies

Tresillian
1300 272 736
Information and counselling for parents or carers of children under five years. Open 7am-11pm Mon-Sun.

Triple P Parenting program
1800 789 123
The Triple P positive parenting program is for parents with children aged 3 to 8 years. The program gives you the tools to encourage behaviour you like from your child, deal positively and consistently with problem behaviour, take the stress out of parenting. Triple P can also help to develop family relationships assisting children to reach their full potential.

Young people

CREATE Foundation
02 9267 0977 or 1800 655 105 for young people in care

Kids Helpline
Kids Help Line is Australia’s only free, confidential and anonymous, 24 hour telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between five and 18. The website now offers tailored sections for kids, teens and grownups with targeted information and resources for each group.
1800 55 1800

Legal Aid Helpline for under 18s, 9am to midnight weekdays, 24 hour weekends
1800 101 810

Twenty10 Association
Gay and lesbian youth services, 24 hours
02 8594 9555 or 1800 652 010

Lifeline
13 11 14

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Last updated: 20 Mar 2023