For many people, including children, the festive season can be especially hard. This is often the case for those facing a range of social challenges such as homelessness, financial stress, substance misuse, relationship breakdowns, the death of a loved one, mental health concerns, or separation from family. This can be particularly difficult for children who, for various reasons, are unable to live with their parents, relatives, or siblings.

Everyone’s experience of the Christmas season is different. For those who are struggling—or know someone who is—there is a wide range of support available. Some services are listed below:

Resources for adults and Parents

Family Relationship Advice Line | Family Relationships Online

• Contact number: 1800 050 321
• Website: https://www.familyrelationships.gov.au/talk-someone/advice-line

The Family Relationship Advice Line can provide advice about separation, parenting arrangements, conflict resolution and the family law system.

ParentLine NSW

• Contact number: 1300 1300 52
• Website: www.parentline.org.au

Parentline NSW is available to talk to about almost anything related to parenting or raising a child. They can provide advice on behaviour management, family relationships, children’s development and much more. Counsellors will assist families to access any services or information that may be of use to their circumstances.

1800RESPECT

• Contact number: 1800 737 732
• Website: www.1800respect.org.au

1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. Support is available in 28 languages.

Reach Out for Parents

• Website: One-on-one support | ReachOut Australia

Reach Out for parents provides free professional coaching for parents and carers of 12–18-year-olds in Australia.

Beyond Blue

• Website: https://beyondblue.org.au

Beyond Blue has a range of mental health services available for adults accessible at any hour.

Resources for Youth

Remember, children are most likely to turn to each other for support before seeking out an adult or service provider.

The Youth Directory

• Website: Youth Refuge Directory (NSW) — Caretakers Cottage

The Youth Directory is a free directory for crisis accommodation services for teens in NSW. The directory includes up-to-date contact details for all crisis accommodation services those under the age of 18, as well as contact details for Child Protection Services (Family and Community Services, Juvenile Justice, Police Youth Liaison Officers).

Headspace

Early intervention mental health support for children aged 12-25

• Headspace https://headspace.com

Youth Beyond Blue

Mental health support for children between 12-25

• Youth and mental health – Beyond Blue

Suicide Call Back Service

• Contact number: 1300 659 467
• Website: www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au

Suicide Call Back Service is available for online, phone and video counselling for anyone affected by suicidal thoughts.

Resources for children

Children can support each other by:

• Contacting 000 if a friend needs urgent assistance or is at risk of harming themselves or others
• Reaching out to a friend, offering support and letting them know you care
• Letting their friend know they may need to tell a trusted adult about their concerns

WOAH: What’s OK At Home | Domestic Violence Resource Centre (DVRCV)

• Website: https://woah.org.au/

A website with interactive resources to help children understand what family violence is, why it happens, how to recognise it and how to help others who are experiencing it.

Kids Helpline

Free, private, and confidential helpline for children 5 to 25 years

• Kids Helpline https://kidshelpline.com.au

Kids Helpline is available for free, private help:

• Call 1800 55 1800 – available 24/7
• Chat online – available 24/7

If it’s not an emergency, headspace can also help with qualified professionals ready to help:

• Call 1800 650 890 – available Mon-Sun, 9am-1am AEST
• Chat online – available Mon-Sun, 9am-1am AEST

Removing images online

Children and their parents may also benefit from the following E-Safety Resources:

Children and parents can report illegal and restricted content to E-Safety to help remove it from online spaces.

• Website: https://www.esafety.gov.au/node/1221
• If you’re 18 or older, you can use StopNCII.org or takeitdown.ncmec.org – which are free online tool that prevents your image or video from being shared on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Bumble, OnlyFans and Reddit.

Further resources

• NSW Government: Support over the Holidays: Cost of Living – https://nsw.gov.au
• Reach Out: Coping with Stress at Christmas – https://au.reachout.com
• Health Direct: Your Christmas mental health questions answered – https://www.healthdirect.gov.au
• Mind UK: Christmas and mental health – https://mind.org.uk
• Sane: Where to find mental health support this holiday season – https://sane.org.au
• How to manage Festive Stress – Lifeline https://wa.lifeline.org.au
• Support over the Holidays: Cost of Living – NSW Government – https://nsw.gov.au
• Children at risk of harm over Christmas – NSW Department of Communities and Justice – 132111 or https://dcj.nsw.gov.au
• 25 Christmas Wellbeing Tips to Keep Carers Healthy and Happy – Helping Minds https://helpingminds.org.au
• Coping with Stress at Christmas – Reach Out https://au.reachout.com