Help and support for young people
For young parents
Centrelink provides a range of payments and services to help young parents. This includes Parenting Payment(Opens external website) and Child Care Subsidy(Opens external website). The Raising Children Network(Opens external website) website has information and resources to support parents.
Education and training
Services Australia helps young people continue education and training. This includes payments like Youth Allowance(Opens external website) and ABSTUDY(Opens external website).
Australian Apprenticeships(Opens external website) give young people the opportunity to train, study and earn an income. This can be a variety of qualifications in most occupations.
The Skills for Education and Employment Program(Opens external website) provides language, literacy and numeracy training. This is for job seekers who find it hard to get work. Services Australia and Employment Service Providers can refer job seekers to the program.
Employment
JobAccess(Opens external website) is a free information and advice service about employing people with disability. JobAccess helps people access information about services, financial help and workplace solutions. This service is for people with disability, employers, service providers and the community.
Workforce Australia(Opens external website) is a place to search for and apply for jobs. It also provides information on how to start a business and learn new skills.
The Transition to Work(Opens external website) service helps young people into work or education. This includes apprenticeships and training.
Visit myfuture(Opens external website) to find information and resources to explore local career pathways and courses.
Services Australia provides a range of payments and services to job seekers(Opens external website). This includes Youth Allowance and JobSeeker.
The Fair Work Ombudsman(Opens external website) helps employees understand their workplace rights and responsibilities.
Health
Medicare(Opens external website) helps when a person uses health care services or buys medicines. Young people aged 15 or older can have their own Medicare card.
Indigenous Access Line(Opens external website) 1800 556 955: is a free telephone service to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people access Medicare.
Health Care Card(Opens external website) provides concessions on health-care costs. This means cheaper prescription medicine through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. It also allows cheaper medical services funded by the Australian Government. Card holders can also get concessions provided by state and local governments. Some private businesses will also give concessions. This can include household, education, and public-transport costs.
Visit Head to Health(Opens external website) website for a range of mental health resources. This includes online programs, fact sheets, audio and video, and online support groups.
Family Mental Health Support Services(Opens external website) target prevention and early intervention. They focus on Indigenous families and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Housing and accommodation
The National Rental Affordability Scheme(Opens external website) helps people on low to moderate incomes. They can rent homes at a rate that is at least 20% below market value rent.
Reconnect(Opens external website) assists young people stabilise their living situation. It helps with engagement with family, work, education, training and the local community.
Ask Izzy(Opens external website) helps people experiencing or facing homeless. They provide information on local housing and other support services.
Services Australia(Opens external website) offers help for young people who receive payments. This includes the Rent Deduction Scheme and Rent Assistance. Services Australia Community Engagement Officers can help people access income support.
Managing money
We provide support for people in financial crisis. This includes help with immediate needs, managing money and future planning. You may be able to access financial and material support that may not be available through mainstream financial services. This includes Emergency Relief(Opens external website), Food Relief(Opens external website) and Financial Counselling and Financial Capability(Opens external website) services.
Services Australia provides the free, confidential Financial Information Service(Opens external website). This provides education and information on financial and lifestyle issues to all Australians.
The Moneysmart(Opens external website) website offers free and independent financial advice. It helps people make the best choices for their money. A section for young people(Opens external website) offers advice on things like buying a car, moving out of home, getting a job, online shopping and choosing a mobile phone plan.
Community support services
Young people can also find out about local support services through their state and territory contacts.
We provide the organisations listed below for information. This does not mean we endorse these services or associated organisations or products.
Australian Institute of Family Studies(Opens external website)
They provide resources and contact numbers for a variety of services. This includes family and domestic violence, gambling, mental health and wellbeing, and others.
CREATE Your Future(Opens external website)
Information on support services to assist when leaving care.
Lifeline(Opens external website) – 13 11 14
A 24-hour telephone crisis support service. It is available to anyone needing emotional support.
Beyond Blue(Opens external website) – 1300 224 636
Provides information and support for mental health. This includes access to mental health coaching, causes, treatments, personal stories and an online forum.
Youth Beyond Blue(Opens external website) – 1300 224 636
Aims to empower young people aged between 12 and 25. It also helps friends and carers to respond to depression and anxiety.
MensLine(Opens external website) – 1300 789 978
A 24-hour telephone and online support, information and referral service. It helps men manage relationship problems in a practical and effective way.
Kids Help Line(Opens external website) – 1800 55 1800
A free 24 hour, private and confidential, telephone and online counselling service for young people aged between 5 and 25.
SANE Australia(Opens external website) – 1800 18 SANE (7263)
Provides information about symptoms, treatments, medications, where to go for support and help for carers.
eheadspace(Opens external website) and headspace(Opens external website) – 1800 650 890
An online, email and telephone service supports young people and their families going through a tough time.
ReachOut(Opens external website)
Provides young people with the information, help, support, advice and connections they need to manage mental health difficulties such as stress.
SORTLI app
This is available in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. Each version features up-to-date state-specific information to help you find what you need.
Suicide Call Back Service(Opens external website) – 1300 659 467
A free 24-hour, nationwide service that provides telephone, video and online counselling(Opens external website) for anyone affected by suicide.
1800RESPECT(Opens external website) – phone 1800 737 732 or text 0458 737 732
24 hours, 7 days a week
The national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. People experiencing or at risk of experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence can contact 1800RESPECT for free and confidential support.
- Phone: 1800 737 732 – 24 hours, 7 days a week
- Text: 0458 737 732 – 24 hours, 7 days a week
- Online chat: visit the 1800RESPECT(Opens external website) website – 24 hours, 7 days a week
- Video call: visit the 1800RESPECT(Opens external website) website – Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm AEST except national public holidays. No appointment needed.