Child and family services information, referral and support teams
Knowing how and where to access the service system, or making an appropriate referral can be challenging. To make it easier to access family services, a clearly identifiable point of entry has been established.
There are 24 Child FIRST sites established in sub regional catchments across the state. These 'hubs' provide a central, community-based referral point to a range of community based Family Services and other supports.
Child FIRST ensures that vulnerable children, young people and their families are linked effectively into relevant services and may be the best way of connecting children, young people and their families to the services they need.
Factors which affect a child's safety, stability or development are:
- significant parenting problems that may be affecting the child's development
- serious family conflict, including family breakdown
- families under pressure due to a family member's physical or mental illness, substance abuse, disability or bereavement
- young, isolated and/or unsupported families
- significant social or economic disadvantage that may adversely impact on a child's care or development
Use the table below to find your local Child FIRST referral number by working out which Department of Human Services (DHS) region and Local Government area you are in. In some areas referrals about Aboriginal children and families can be made directly to an Aboriginal organisation, as indicated with a star (*) in the table.
| DHS Region | Local Government Area | Child FIRST referral number |
|---|---|---|
| Barwon South Western | Greater Geelong, Queenscliff, Surf Coast | 1300 551 948 |
| Colac-Otway, Corangamite | (03) 5232 5500 | |
| Warrnambool, Moyne, Glenelg, Southern Grampians | 1300 889 713 | |
| Eastern Metropolitan | Yarra Ranges, Knox, Maroondah |
1300 369 146 |
| Monash, Whitehorse, Manningham, Boroondara | 1300 762 125 | |
| Gippsland | East Gippsland | (03) 5152 0052 |
| Wellington | (03) 5144 7777 | |
| La Trobe, Baw Baw | 1800 339 100 | |
| South Gippsland, Bass Coast | (03) 5662 5150 | |
| Grampians | Northern Grampians, West Wimmera, Hindmarsh, Yarriambiak, Horsham | 1800 195 114 |
| Ararat, Pyrenees, Hepburn, Ballarat, Golden Plains, Moorabool | 1300 783 341 | |
| Hume | Wodonga, Towong, Indigo | 1800 705 211 |
| Alpine, Benalla, Mansfield, Wangaratta | 1800 705 211 | |
| Greater Shepparton, Strathbogie, Moira | 1300 854 944 | |
| Mitchell, Murrundindi | 1800 663 107 | |
| Loddon Mallee | Greater Bendigo, Campaspe, Central Goldfields, Loddon, Macedon Ranges, Mount Alexander | 1800 260 338 |
| Buloke, Gannawarra, Swan Hill, Mildura | 1300 665 218 | |
| North and West Metropolitan | Nillumbik, Whittlesea, Banyule, Yarra and Darebin | (03) 9450 0955 |
| Brimbank Melton | 1300 138 180 | |
| Hume Moreland | 1300 786 433 | |
| Hobson's Bay, Maribrynong, Melbourne, Moonee Valley and Wyndham | 1300 775 160 | |
| Southern Metropolitan | Casey, Cardinia, Greater Dandenong | (03) 9705 3939 |
| * Aboriginal children and families (Casey, Cardinia and Greater Dandenong) | (03) 9794 5973 | |
| Frankston, Mornington Peninsula | 1300 721 383 | |
| Kingston, Bayside, Glen Eira, Stonnington, Port Phillip | 1300 367 441 |
