Children, families and young people

Information on programs such as Adoption, Child Protection, Placement and Support, Family Services, Family Violence, Sexual Assault, Youth Justice and Youth Services.

Latest News and Events

  • Human Services Aboriginal Strategic Framework 2013–2015 launched

    Image of Aboriginal art Wednesday 12 June 2013

    The Human Services Aboriginal Strategic Framework 2013–2015 was launched on Friday 7 June 2013 at the Aboriginal Human Services Roundtable.

  • Launch of Victoria's vulnerable children strategy

    Image of Victoria's Vulnerable Children Strategy cover Friday 03 May 2013

    A ten-year strategy has been released outlining the Victorian Government's long-term commitment to improve the lives of vulnerable children.

  • Services Connect to benefit vulnerable Victorians

    Image of Services Connect document Wednesday 01 May 2013

    Today the Minister for Community Services, the Hon. Mary Wooldridge MP announced that the Victorian Government is investing $12 million in the 2013-14 State Budget to continue to develop and start roll-out of Services Connect, the new model for joined-up integrated services for disadvantaged Victorians.

  • Bully Stoppers campaign launched

    Image of Bully Stoppers logo Tuesday 26 March 2013

    A new campaign has been launched to help put a stop to bullying in Victorian schools.

  • Amendments to the Adoption Act 1984

    Image of Minister for Community Services Mary Wooldridge addressing Parliament. Tuesday 12 March 2013

    Birth parents will be able to receive identifying information about their adult adopted children under amendments to the Adoption Act 1984, introduced in Parliament on 6 March 2013.

Highlighting...

Boy thumbnail

Become a permanent care parent

Permanent Care services provide a stable and secure family life for children who, for various reasons cannot live with their own family. Helping a child feel part of a supportive and stable family environment can be rewarding for all family members.

More on Become a permanent care parent

Start here for children, families and young people

Start here for an overview of the services and information the department offers in the area of children, families and young people.

Family and early parenting support

Promoting outcomes for vulnerable children and families and providing support to parents from pregnancy to when their child is four years of age.

Child protection

Assistance specifically targeted to children and young people at risk of significant harm or where families are unable or unwilling to protect them.

Kinship, foster & other care

Information on temporary placements for children with relatives, foster parents or in residential care facilities. Includes a guide on how to become a carer.

Adoption and permanent care

Information on permanent placement of a child who cannot live with their birth family with a new family. Includes a guide on local and intercountry adoption.

Care leavers

An overview of support services for former care leavers (Forgotten Australians) and young people aged 16-21 that are leaving or have recently left an out-of-home care placement.

Family violence

Help is available for those who have experienced family violence. Family violence includes not only physical injury but direct or indirect threats, sexual assault, emotional and psychological torment, economic control, damage to property, social isolation and any behaviour which causes a person to live in fear.

Sexual assault

Sexual assault support services provide direct services for children, young people and adults who have experienced recent or past sexual assault.

Young People

Information on services, programs and initiatives to help young people be safe, grow their abilities, and become more involved in their communities.

Youth justice

The Victorian youth justice program works with young offenders aged between 10 and 20 years to ensure care, custody and supervision for young offenders through the provision of programs.

Service Directory

Help
Search the site