Our telephone counsellors are qualified and experienced professionals with social work or psychology backgrounds.
Who can ring Parentline?
All Victorian parents and carers of children aged from birth to 18 years old.
We also provide a consultation service for professionals. See:
Parentline for Professionals
How we can help
We understand
- Parenting is not always easy, and at times all families can benefit from extra support.
- Strategies are developed in partnership with parents and carers, who are the experts in their own lives, so parents and carers can enjoy their children and their parenting experiences.
- Our counsellors provide a personalised and tailored response to each caller, in a non-judgmental way.
"The counsellor didn’t just blab on…. what they said was relevant to my situation. I felt understood."
We respect your privacy
Parentline respects privacy of callers. Your calls are confidential and anonymous.
How Parentline works
When is Parentline open?
You can call from 8am to midnight, seven days a week, every day of the year, including public holidays.
Are the calls to Parentline time-limited?
No. Calls are not time limited. Parentline counsellors try to give callers as much time as they require.
Is it free to phone Parentline?
Calls from a landline are charged at a local call rate. Mobile call rates will depend on your network provider. If unsure, please check with you provider.
We are happy to call you back to minimise the cost to you.
Can I ring Parentline more than once?
Yes. If your question is about parenting anyone can ring as often as you need.
If the line is busy, can I leave a message?
Yes. If a counsellor is not available at the time of your call, you can request a call back. A voice message will explain how to do this, and you will not lose your place in the queue.
About counsellors
Who answers the phone when you ring Parentline?
Our staff are qualified and experienced counsellors with social work or psychology backgrounds.
Can I ask to speak to a male or female counsellor?
Yes. You can request a male or female counsellor.
Can I speak to the same counsellor if I ring Parentline more than once?
Yes. You can ask to speak to the same counsellor.
Your privacy
Do I need to give identifying information to the counsellor?
Parentline is an anonymous service. Counsellors do not keep case-related notes.The counsellor will ask for your postcode for statistical purposes, but it is your choice as to how much detail you provide aside from this.