Building strong, supportive relationships with families is a key part of early childhood education—and it’s essential to have the right tools ready when families need a little extra help.
This post provides a practical list of community services and websites that you, as an educator, can use to connect families with the support they may need. You are expected to be familiar with the local, state-based, and sometimes national resources available—especially those that promote parenting, family wellbeing, and early intervention.
- Allergy Aware: “Information to help parents understand and manage allergies.”
https://www.allergyaware.org.au
- Amaze: Raises awareness and influences positive change for people on the autism spectrum and their families; provides independent information and resources
- Birdie’s Tree: Storybooks and resources to help parents and carers support babies and young children’s mental health following natural disasters.
https://www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au/natural-disaster-recovery
- Bringing Up Great Kids: Provides information and resources on raising children in various languages.
http://www.bringingupgreatkids.org/en/
- Centre for Community Health (Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne):Supports communities to continually improve the health, wellbeing and quality of life of children and their families….
- Continence Foundation of Australia: provides resources and information about bladder and bowel control issues for children and adults
- Deadly Story: Is a resource that aims to support Aboriginal children and young people growing their knowledge of their culture, country and community
- Disability Gateway: “has information and services to help people with disability, their family, friends and carers, to find the support they need”
https://www.disabilitygateway.gov.au
- Family Relationships Online: “Information for all families – whether together or separated – about family relationship issues.”
https://www.familyrelationships.gov.au
- Head to Health: Head to Health helps find digital mental health services for children and adults from some of Australia’s most trusted mental health organisations. There are apps, online programs, online forums, phone services and a range of digital information resources.
https://www.headtohealth.gov.au
- Level Playground: “is about giving children the chance to be themselves- to learn and play in ways that they choose, and to feel safe, supported and inspired to discover new things.”
https://www.levelplayground.org.au
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute: Largest research institute in Australia specialising in child health. Various Parent Fact Sheets on Health and Wellbeing issues available.
- One Place Community Services Directory (QLD only): lists more than 58,000 community services across QLD
- Raising Children: “complete online resource for Australian parents and carers. It offers trusted, reliable, free information on everyday parenting issues”
https://raisingchildren.net.au
- Reach Out: offers information, support and resources to help young people improve their understanding of mental health concerns, promote wellbeing and resilience, consider significant developmental issues such as sexuality and bullying and increase coping skills.
- Red Nose: Promotes safe sleep practices and provides grief and loss services
- Smalltalk: “a set of evidence-based parenting strategies that parents can use to enhance the home learning environment for their children from birth to school age.”
- Student Wellbeing Hub: Information and advice about bullying, online safety communicating with your child and the school, and more
https://studentwellbeinghub.edu.au
- “What were We Thinking”: “Information, resources and reassurance for new parents navigating the highs and lows of life with a baby”