More than 400 breastfeeding counsellors volunteer on the Breastfeeding Helpline each month, answering as many as 6,000 calls.

As breastfeeding mothers themselves, they know that breastfeeding may not always seem easy. They can provide reassurance and give you knowledge about how breastfeeding works and help in overcoming common hurdles. Counselling is available free to all callers.

Breastfeeding counsellors are all trained volunteers. All have breastfed at least one baby and have completed a Certificate IV in Breastfeeding Education (or equivalent) through the ABA. Counsellors are continually updating their breastfeeding knowledge and skills through ongoing training.

DIDSS offers peer support* that aims to provide help and hope for separated dads and their families.
You can talk with someone who has personally experienced separation… and discover what it might take for you to get through it!

EDuCARE Support Service is a non for profit service and is part of the Carer Support Program of Hunter New England Local Health District.  EDuCARE aims to provide education and support to all carers regardless of age.  The i-care Young Carer Project is a part of this program and targets Young Carers aged 8 – 18 years.
More Information:
Carers can be parents, family members including siblings, friends and neighbors, who may care for a few hours, a week or all day every day. They provide support to a person with a disability, or a chronic medical condition, mental health related issue, drug and alcohol or is frail aged.  EDuCARE services Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens and Lower and Upper Hunter areas.  The aim of the program is:

• To improve the health & wellbeing of all carers.   
• To increase the responsiveness of health professionals to the needs of carers.  

The i-care Young Carer Project provides Young Carers/Siblings aged 8 -18 years with support and information.  The Project is an early intervention and support program which provides a safe forum for Young Carers to validate their lived experiences; explore their strengths and weaknesses; increase self-esteem; encourage friendships; provide respite from their caring role; increase access to services; have fun and enjoy being a child. This is being achieved through a variety of methods including Camps, Peer Support Groups, Life Skills Workshops, Resources, One Day Activities and Family Days.

We are an independent, not-for-profit organisation focused on the promotion, collection and dissemination of reproductive and sexual health knowledge and information.

About Firstchance

Firstchance is a not for profit organisation which operates both Early Childhood Intervention and School Aged Programs. Firstchance runs its programs with a combination of government grants, parent fees and money raised through fundraising activities.

All Firstchance programs have a family-centred approach to the provision of services. We operate according to the philosophy that all children should receive the best possible opportunities to promote optimal development. The family-centred focus requires that all aspects of the program operate in the context of viewing the child as part of a family whose goals, needs and preferences are to be respected.

Gan Gan Family Centre (GGFC) is a “Families NSW” initiative and part of the state-wide “Schools as Community Centres” Program (SaCC).

Our aim is to support families with children from birth to eight years, with a focus on the under fives to promote happy healthy children and give them a positive start to school.

We are a universal service and open to all families living across the Tomaree Peninsula. All of our activities are free and childcare is available.

 Some of the services and programs available at the Centre are:

·         Transition to school program

·         Sport after school sessions.

·         Play groups

·         Parenting programs

·         Baby Massage

·         Self development courses

·         Toy library

·         Information and referral service

·         Supported play sessions

·         Child health clinic by appointment

·         Men’s & couple’s counsellor by appointment

·         Dads in Distress weekly meetings

For more details about Gan Gan Family Centre and our current activities please drop in to the Centre for a chat or call the Centre Facilitator, PH: 4982 1767 or Mobile: 0438 498 218.

The department offers a range of health, social and welfare payments and services

The centre is open 8:30am – 5:00pm, Monday to Friday excluding Public Holidays

Visit website for information on the services available.

Visit our website for full details of services provided.

Playgroup NSW runs a number of PlayConnect Playgroups in the Port Stephens area including: Anna Bay, Raymond Terrace and Medowie.

PlayConnect is an early intervention program aiming to provide support to children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) or ASD-like symptoms and their families. There is no need for a referral and families can join the PlayConnect Playgroup by contacting Playgroup NSW

The 24-hour a day, seven days a week Pregnancy, Birth & Baby Helpline (Helpline), which commenced operations on 1 July 2010, is an Australia-wide integrated helpline that provides a coordinated entry point to information and support for women, their partners and families on pregnancy and the first 12 months of a baby’s life, as well as direction to maternity related services including specialist and support services.

For more information on the services offered, visit their website.

Brighter Futures provides services and targeted support for children aged 0-8 years and their families as they address challenges that might otherwise place the children or family at risk. For details about the range of services offered, visit website.

Connecting people to their community

• Community Information & Referral Service
• Low cost photocopying, fax and internet
• Crisis Support, Groups, Programs and other services
• Open Mon-Thurs 10am-4pm
• Sited at the Community Centre (opposite the Library), Town Centre Circuit, Salamander Bay

The Tomaree Neighbourhood Centre Inc is a not for profit organisation that identifies local community needs, provides relevant information, referral and other services to empower and improve the quality of life for community members and groups.

TNC is Funded By The Community Service Grants Program

Life with a baby or young child can be unpredictable and sometimes you just need to talk to someone, that’s why our Tresillian Parent’s Help Line is so popular.

You can ring any time of the day or night and speak to one of Tresillian’s qualified Child and Family Health nurses on any aspect of parenting children aged up to five years.