Health service

Tresillian

Provides specialist staff who provide parents with positive, practical advice and guidance on caring for their baby. This can be done through the following services:

Parents’ help line

Outreach service

Daystays

Residential care

Childcare centres

Occasional care

Parents’ help line available by phone 24 hours a day. For access to the other services a referral from a health professional is required.

Most services are free, but some costs may be involved for residential care, to cover the costs of accommodating

 Parents.

NSW Health Department

Welfare agency

Salvation Army

Can support Tara by providing:

practical emergency assistance for families facing financial pressure by assisting with food, clothing, bills.

employment services

financial counselling

professional counselling

aged care

Access can be made by phone,

through a local Salvation Army church, or through the extensive network of social services across Australia .

No cost involved

A charity organisation that receives funded by donations as well as government grants.

Parenting group

Australian Breastfeeding Association

Can support Tara in breastfeeding by providing support and counselling.

Through the local association, by phone, or through the local early childhood centre.

No cost

From donations and subscriptions

Community group

Playgroup

Can provide Tara with an informal session where other parents, carers, babies and children up to school age come together in a relaxed and friendly environment. Playgroup gives children an opportunity to have fun, make new friends and develop new skills through informal play.

Playgroups are held in a variety of venues located throughout NSW. Contact Playgroup Australia for the nearest playgroup.

A membership fee must be paid on a term basis. This cost varies between terms.

An additional fee between $1 and $5 is paid weekly.

Non-profit organisation, funded through members’ fees

Government agency

Centrelink

In Tara’s case Centrelink could offer financial assistance in the following areas;

Family allowance

Childcare assistance

Childcare rebate

Family Tax Initiative

Parenting payment

Carer Allowance

as well as

Social workers

Financial information services

JET program

By phone or through the nearest Centrelink office

No cost involved

Federal Government

Childcare service

Preschools

Could support Tara by providing an educational program which will give Rebecca opportunities to participate in activities appropriate to her age and to socialise with other children.

Preschools operate on different times e.g. half-day formats, 8am-4pm etc.

Approach the local preschool

Cost varies between preschools, but parents and carers may be entitled to child care benefits which results in a reduction of fees

Will vary.

Many are self-funded

Carers’ support groups

Carer Respite Centres and Carer Resource centres

Carer Respite will assist Tara by providing respite for part of a day or longer on a regular basis or when there is an emergency.

Carer Resource Centres provide information and advice to carers about the types of services that may help, as well as the contact details of support groups.

Call to  the Carer Respite Centres and Carer Resource Centres

Commonwealth Government