Family Support Services

The Child Development Service is your first point of contact for any childhood development concerns you may have. It offers assessment, referral, information and linkages for children 0 to 6 years where there are concerns relating to their development and provides early intervention therapy services for children aged between 24 to 36 months with developmental vulnerabilities or delays” Any family in the ACT with concerns regarding their child’s development can contact the Child Development Service or attend a drop-in clinic and speak to an allied health professional.

Attendance at a FREE Drop In Clinic provides parents in the ACT with an opportunity to discuss issues about their child's development with a Speech Pathologist, Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist. No appointment is necessary, head to Child Development Service website to find the timetable or a drop in near you.

Parents and carers can visit their local Child and Family Centre to chat with a trained professional about parenting, ask questions and get information. This can lead to ongoing, one-to-one support with Child and Family Workers.

• Location: 51 Ernest Cavanagh St, Gungahlin

Parents and carers can visit their local Child and Family Centre to chat with a trained professional about parenting, ask questions and get information. This can lead to ongoing, one-to-one support with Child and Family Workers.

• Location: 159 Anketell St, Greenway.

Parents and carers can visit their local Child and Family Centre to chat with a trained professional about parenting, ask questions and get information. This can lead to ongoing, one-to-one support with Child and Family Workers.

• Location: 6 Luke St, Holt (Kippax).

The Community Bus Service is proudly funded by the ACT Government and operated by the ACT’s Regional Community Services. They provide flexible Bus Services for ACT residents, Monday to Friday, generally within their own regional area. Pickup and set down points can be negotiated when making a booking. The community bus service is for people who are socially isolated because of a lack of transport options. Contact your regional community service (5 to choose from) for an assessment and to register to use the service, via the link below.

ACT Health Services offer a range of services in the community, at our hospitals and even from your home. Take a look.

The Early Parenting Support Line offers information and support on concerns with infant growth and development, parenting, breastfeeding, child nutrition, infant behaviours and emotional wellbeing.

• Location: ACT

Online videos to help parents during the early stages of their baby's life.

Canberra Health Services offer appointments for parents and families experiencing emotional, social and psychological difficulties that may have an impact on the health and wellbeing of the children and family.

• Location: Multiple

Our Family Case Management team provides support to families who are experiencing challenges and need some additional assistance. 

Loose Parts Playgroup is a great early learning and play opportunity for kids. Throughout the term kids will engage in unstructured play, while parents have an opportunity to connect with each other and a range of services, including health and early learning professionals.

• Day / Time: Monday
• Duration: 9:30-11:30
• Location: Westfield Woden

OneLink provides information and connections for support services in the ACT, including services for families and young people, and services for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Case management support

Early intervention therapeutic program for families with children 0-5 years of age.

Supporting parents to develop healthy habits for children 0-2 years of age.

Loose Parts Playgroups are a great early learning and play opportunity for Canberra kids. Throughout the term kids will engage in unstructured play, while parents have an opportunity to connect with each other and a range of services, including health and early learning professionals.

• Day / Time: Tuesday
• Duration: 9:30 -11:30
• Location: Westfield Belconnen

We provide family case management support to families across the ACT who are experiencing difficulties and requiring support.

There are two mentoring options available depending on the identified needs of the child/young person - 'Kids Friends' (friendship mentoring) and 'Tutoring' (educational mentoring).

Provide family case management support to families across the ACT who are experiencing difficulties and requiring support.

Supporting families and individuals in the wider Belconnen and Gungahlin regions.

• Location: Belconnen and Gungahlin

Learn new parenting skills in the home.

Home interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters - free two year program.

• Location: Kippax

The Mower Shed provides employment, job readiness training and mentoring. Since 2016, we have played a valuable role in transitioning over 85% of our casual staff onto other employment pathways and training.

Canberra PCYC is committed to ensuring that young people and their families build positive futures. Our evidence-based programs utilise hands-on, high adrenaline activities, education, vocational, and social skills training to divert young people from the justice system.

• Location: ACT

Warm Connections Counselling provides individual therapeutic support to parents/carers of children/adolescents aged zero to 15 years. We also offer individual counselling to children/adolescents aged nine to 15 years.

If you, or someone you know, is experiencing domestic and family violence, help is available. Our Domestic Violence Support Service provides free, confidential, non-judgemental support to help women decide what steps they want to take, and then support them through those steps.

• Location: Canberra City

YWCA Canberra is a trusted registered community housing provider, supporting Canberrans for more than 60 years with transitional housing, affordable housing and supportive tenancy services. Rentwell is our property management service that provides affordable rental properties owned by private investors to people who are struggling to secure and maintain tenancies in the mainstream market.

The Early Childhood Approach service helps families with children aged 0 - 8 with assistance, advice and access to support in your local community.

EACH is the NDIS Partner in the Community delivering the Early Childhood Approach in the ACT. Every Friday we hold a drop-in session where you can "Ask EACH" any questions you may have about your child's NDIS plan.

• Day / Time: Friday
• Duration: 2pm-4pm
• Location: Unit 1 of 57 Eyre St Kingston ACT

This is a Facebook group where families can access news, activities and resources.

• Location: Facebook

Chat with Shilpa - an EACH Early Years Specialists if you have any concerns about your child's developmental needs or NDIS plan. Drop in or call EACH to make an appointment at Mura Lanyon Community Centre.

• Day / Time: Tuesday 9:00am - 12:00
• Duration: Last Tuesday of each month
• Location: Mura Lanyon Youth & Community Centre

ACT Playgroups are inclusive of all, regardless of gender, race, colour, or religion. We have evolved to provide a valuable service to our members, and our member benefits are reviewed regularly.

The Directory was developed in response to feedback from schools, ECEC’s and service providers who spoke to the challenge of finding services and programs to refer children and families to. This Directory can assist families across Canberra- not just Belconnen.

A poster for parents and carers about developmental milestones and development checks referring to the Blue Book. It was developed with University of Canberra, Australian Early Development Census and CHS and formally approved by Canberra Health Service and ACT Health.

These resources were developed in response to a need identified by the community through our extensive engagement across the early years sector. In particular, working with the ECECs and primary schools in Belconnen, who identified the lack of child development knowledge of families and educators as a barrier to children accessing supports early.

This map helps you understand the journey of a family as they access and move through the various parts of the system that support children and families to thrive. It offers a visual guide, mapping the entry points into the system and the journey through it. This helps you and those in the system to communicate better about how to navigate and find support when and where it’s needed.

Marymead CatholicCare Canberra & Goulburn have been providing services to couples and families for over 25 years. We provide an extensive range of family support programs from outreach services, family counselling and mediation, domestic violence support, case management, relationship education to parenting groups and Next Steps including ongoing CBT sessions.

Telephone and face to face counselling and education.

This website provides ad-free parenting videos, articles and apps backed by Australian experts.

A free program that empowers, supports, and connects parents and anyone in a caregiving role raising a child and/or children aged 0-8 years with a disability or developmental concerns. They also offer free workshops.

• Location: Woden

Rent relief for those who are renting within the ACT in private rentals – Real Estate and private landlords. Paid directly to Real Estate Agents or Private Landlords, Subject to eligibility criteria, grants of 4 weeks rent of up to $2,500

• Day / Time: Anytime
• Duration: Ongoing
• Location: ACT

Care offers a range of energy support programs that can help you when it comes to managing your energy bills, this includes: - Referral for a $300 voucher towards future electricity bill under the ACT Government Utilities Hardship Fund - Energy financial capability appointments to help you review your energy bills and usage, set up bill-paying systems and ensure you have access to concessions and rebates - Support and advocate for you when linking in with your energy provider's financial hardship team - Discuss other initiatives that can support you including energy upgrades to transition away from gas through Access to Electric and other ACT Government energy programs.

Care Community Loans is a community based program offering 0% interest loans to people on low to moderate incomes. The loan is up to $2000, subject to eligibility. These loans provide access to a safe form of credit for essential goods and services without any other fees or interest payments. Also available is a domestic violence 0% interest loan – contact staff for further information.

Our Family Case Management team provides support to families who are experiencing challenges and need some additional assistance. We aim to strengthen your skills and capacity so that you can continue to nurture and sustain your own wellbeing.

We will work with you and your child in your preferred location, which can be at our community hubs, at home, or in your child’s education setting. We are currently accepting requests for service for children aged between 2-12 years of age.

Families can find out what support they can get to help with the costs of raising children. Including support for Education, Energy Bills, Transport, Health Care, Parenting and Child Development, Australian Government Support and other cost of living support.

The Equity Fund provides low-income families and independent students with a one-off payment to help with education expenses like school uniforms and excursions, sport equipment and activities, tuition, and music lessons – the things that support students to fully engage in their education.

If you're eligible, you can get a loan from $2,000 to $15,000 to buy energy-efficient products. You have up to 10 years to repay it. There's zero interest, and no upfront costs or fees (terms and condition apply).

These scholarships help young people develop professionally and personally. They help young people to attend events or activities and to remain connected and engaged with their community.

• Duration: Closes Dec to Mid Jan.

Heartfelt is a pilot program and a specific therapeutic service responsive to children as victims /survivors of domestic and family violence (DFV) in their own right. The program has been adapted to support the diverse needs of children aged 5-12 years. Referrals for children to the program will ideally come from professionals who have supported or continue to support the child’s family. For more information email Australian Childhood Foundation.

Time flies, make every parenting moment count. Proven, positive tips that can help every family. You can support your child’s development, grow closer and solve problems – positively. There are many simple strategies you can start using right now, to make every moment count!

• Day / Time: Anytime
• Location: Online

Dealing with Child and Youth Protection Services? Are you trying to make sense of what's happening? Red Cross can help. Drop in or book a time to chat at Mura Lanyon Youth and Community Centre in Conder.

• Day / Time: Last Thursday of the Month
• Duration: 9am -12 midday
• Location: Mura Lanyon Youth and Community Centre

Your trusted source for evidence-based information and resources on early childhood development. Our expertise lies in assisting parents, families, and caregivers of children aged 0-8 years who may have disabilities, developmental delays, or concerns. We are dedicated to providing the right information and fostering a supportive community to guide your child’s developmental journey.

• Location: Android and iPhone

ACT families experiencing financial barriers have lower levels of participation in sport and recreation. This has a direct impact on their health and wellbeing and on their level of connection to their community.

The Kids into Sport program was established to ensure that regardless of the barriers, every child in the Tuggeranong Valley is given the opportunity to play sport.

Dr Justin Coulson's goal is for parents, teachers, and those who work with children to see them for the precious humans they are; to connect with them in meaningful ways; and to guide those children to become strong, caring, whole adults. Plenty of free resources to guide your parenting for children and teens.

• Location: Online

Our Tax Help program is free and helps eligible people earning $60,000 or less lodge their tax return online.

Parentline ACT offers free and confidential counselling and support services to all parents and carers in the ACT and surrounds. This service is offered via telephone and there is no appointment necessary.

• Day / Time: Monday - Friday 9am-4pm
• Location: Telephone

My Time is for all parents and carers of children under the age of 18 who need a higher level of care than other children. This might be because of disability, chronic medical condition, or other additional needs including developmental delay. Groups meet in Belconnen, Gungahlin and Tuggeranong.

• Day / Time: Vary

Contact Sanctuary Aus to learn more about their support services which includes Counselling and Psychotherapy for all ages, Relationship Therapy including Family Counselling, Divorce and Separation, Domestic Violence Recovery, Trauma, Play Therapy and many group programs to support children.