Until now, your baby has probably beensitting or lying around watching things alot. However, from the fifth month onwards,they are likely to become very interestedin everything they can get hold of and willbe moving their little body in all sorts ofways to try to get to things.

Your baby will start to demand a lot moreof your time and attention now. They willwant you to play with them more, talk with

them more, and find interesting things forthem to play with and investigate.

You will notice that your baby seems tohave an unlimited amount of energy whenthey’re awake. You will need to bring morepatience and humour to your role as aparent – now things are really gettinginteresting!

Happy parenting!

How your baby is moving I’m a bundle of energyBoy, have I got energy to burn! I just can’thelp it – I want to get my hands on everything!

I have to try to touch, suck, chew, feel, twist,shake and squeeze everything I can get myhands on.

I’m learning that things can be near or far,in or out, up or down. Golly, there’s just somuch to do every day!

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Photo courtesy of Julie E

lliot

The fifth month

EDITION 5

18–21weeks

Gold Coast HealthBuilding a healthier community

At the end ofsmall talk weprovide a list ofimportant and usefulcontacts for you asparents and carers.

In this edition...

Look what I can do!How your new baby is developingphysically, emotionally and socially.

Me & you and You & me‘Parentese’, our universal language.

Looking after meWatching for food readiness and tipsfor a regular sleeping pattern.

Milestones I am reachingGuidelines on your baby’s progress.

Mountains to climbParents with a disability, and theimportance of positive parenting.

Keeping me safe and healthyChoosing the right high chair.

Looking after youSolo parenting.

Parents are people tooThe importance of teamwork.

With my feelingsI am beginning to learn about my feelingsnow.

I can show fear, anger and even disgust.

I cling to you when you hold me because Ifeel safe.

I stop crying when you talk to me.

I get excited when I have fun.

With my social skillsI may cry when I see strangers.

I smile at familiar faces and voices.

When you are having a conversation with

other adults, I will interrupt you by makinginteresting sounds to get your attention.

With my amazing brainand sensesI can recognise my own name now. Watchas I turn to you when you call my name.

I look around when I hear sounds.

I can tell the difference between myself andothers in a mirror.

I look for something if I drop it.

I can remember what I just did.

I want to touch, hold, turn, shake and tasteeverything.

With my ‘words’I will be babbling a lot now and will lovehaving you talk back to me.

When you talk to me, I will love to watchyour mouth and I might even be trying tocopy some sounds that you make.

I make sounds like ‘oo’, ‘ee’, ‘ah’, ‘bye-bye’and ‘da-da’, ‘ma-ma’.

Babbling to myself, my toys and to peopleI know is my way of getting attention!

I coo or even squeal with joy when you talkto me.

Children learn language bylistening to it and using it.

For more information go towww.raisingchildren.net.au

2

Photo courtesy of D

ee Britten

For moreinformation:www.raisingchildren.net.auwww.kidscount.com.auwww.sidsandkids.orgwww.childrens.health.qld.gov.au

Look what I can do!

With my little musclesI have a pretty good aim now when I reachout to grab things.

I can even use a raking motion to bringobjects closer to me.

My vision is almost as good as yours nowand I love to follow things with my eyes.

Now that I can turn my head it’s even morefun to watch things as they move about.

My tongue and swallowing actions are reallygearing up in preparation for eating solidfoods. You might notice my tongue movingin and out of my mouth as I watch you eat.

With my big musclesI put a lot of energy into everything I do now.

I like to rock, roll and twist my body. I maybe able to roll over, but sometimes my handgets stuck under my body.

Kicking my feet and sucking my toes issomething I really like to do.

If you support my body, I keep my head andback straight when I sit.

I can stand up while you hold me under myarms, and I may bounce up and down andstamp my feet.

©John F

oxx Studios

‘Parentese’ – ouruniversal mother tongueFrom MARCS Infant Research Unit, University ofWestern Sydney, and the Talaris Institute

‘Hellooo little bubba boo! How’s my beautifullittle bubba? What a sweet bubba! Givemummy a biiiiig smile! Who’s a smiley littlebubba?’

You can easily tell that these words arespoken by a parent to their baby – a lot likethe way you probably speak to me. Thissing-song chatter is called ‘parentese’.

When you speak to me in parentese yourvoice has a higher pitch, which gets myattention and lets me know that you aretalking to me.

You also use exaggerated emotionalexpressions, like opening your eyes wide,raising your eyebrows and using a big smile.You use short sentences and often repeatphrases over and over.

Parentese: natural anduniversalParentese is used all over the world, nomatter what language people speak. Mostpeople instinctively speak like this to babies.It seems to be ‘in-built’ in us as humanbeings. Even if you went to a country whereyou didn’t know the language, you wouldimmediately recognise someone speakingin parentese.

Parentese: I like it bestResearchers have found that babies preferto hear parentese than adult conversation.We enjoy hearing the higher-pitched soundsand exaggerated speech patterns ofparentese — even when we don't know whatthe words mean. We also enjoy watchingyour faces as you talk to us.

In fact, researchers have found that babiesas young as 5 months – my age – arecapable of some simple lip-reading. In aspecial test, babies were first shown a silentvideo of a face forming the sounds ‘ahhh’or ‘eeee’, and then they heard audiotapesof one of the sounds. The babies knew whichface matched which sound.

Babies hearing the ‘ahhh’ sound looked atthe video with the wide-open mouth, whilethose that heard ‘eeee’ looked at the videowith the grinning mouth. How amazing!

bath – make washing me fun and everyday tell me the name of parts of my bodyas you wash them.

When you are dressing or feeding meyou can also tell me the names of things.

2. Move in close when talking to me so Ican see your face and your lips movewhen you talk.

3. Be sure to talk very simply to me. It ismuch better to rub my tummy and say‘tummy’ or ‘cute tummy’ than to say ‘I’mgoing to wash your tummy now’.

4. Draw out your vowels and pitch your voiceas high as you like. Use short sentencesand repeat phrases over and over again.I will learn words more easily when I hearthem over and over again.

5. Remember that you're talking to a baby,not a mini-adult. It’s not appropriate totalk to me as if I’m an adult (plenty of timefor that later!).

3

Me & you and You & me

Parentese: it IS the bestI will learn to talk by mimicking and imitatingother people, so talking to me in parentesehelps me develop my language andcommunication skills. The short, simplesentences you use help me to figure outwords. The exaggerated sounds make iteasier for me to learn the sounds of my ownlanguage.

Speaking ‘parentese’Don’t ever be embarrassed about speakingto me in parentese. It makes me happy andexcited. I love the sounds and the smilesyou give me when you use it. By usingparentese you are helping me learn ourlanguage.

Here are some simple tips to help you speakparentese:

1. Tell me about all the things you are doingwith me and tell me the names of things.A good place to tell me names is in the

Reasons to start solids ataround 6 monthsSo I may be starting to show signs ofpreparing for solids. By 6 months (22 to 26weeks), my tongue control and ability toswallow should be well developed.

Solids are about learning to eat, which iswhy they're not introduced by bottle. Theywill help build the muscles in my mouth whichwill assist me to talk later on. I will also needextra iron, zinc and energy to grow as myiron stores from birth will start to run out.

Watching for food readinessI am still only 5 months old, so breastmilkor infant formula is all I need for now.

At this stage you should be watching me forsigns that I am starting to get ready to trysolid food. I might start:

• showing an interest in food, includingwhat's on your plate

• showing an increased appetite forbreastfeeds or infant formula

• showing very good neck and head control,

and the ability to sit upright when I’msupported

• opening my mouth when food is offeredon a spoon.

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L O O K I N G · A F T E R · M E

Photo courtesy of Q

ueensland Governm

ent

Risks of giving me solidstoo early• If I can’t swallow safely I could

choke.

• I might miss out on importantnutrients and energy from breastmilkor infant formula.

• There would be strain on my littlekidneys and digestive system.

• There is more chance of me gettinginfections, diarrhoea, allergies andtummy aches.

Risks of giving me solidstoo late• I might not grow as quickly.

• I might get an iron deficiency.

• My chewing skills might not developproperly.

• I might not wantto try new tastesand textures.

Remember to watch for the signs that I amstarting to get ready to try solids when I ambetween 4 and 6 months old.

In the next edition we will talk more on howto introduce me to solids and what solids tostart me on.

For more information talk to your doctor,child health nurse or local health professional.

I may start to wake up during the nightbetween 3 and 5 months. This is normal,even if I used to sleep through.

This does not usuallymean I am hungry,but you can offerme a breastfeedor bottle-feed ifyou want to.

Feeding

voice, keep the lights very low (use only anight light), try not to make too much eyecontact, and put me back to bed straightafter our feeding routine.

If I am falling asleep while feeding, stopfeeding me and put me straight to bed. Thenthe next time you feed me, make it a bitearlier so that my feed times are notimmediately before nap times.

By following the ‘feed – play – sleep’(remember no play at night time) pattern,

putting me to bed awake, and making day

and night different, you will make it much

easier for me to have independent sleep as

I grow older.

This means that I might sleep for 6 to 8

hours during the night and can settle myself

without you if I do wake up during the night.

There are services available to help us after

hours if you are struggling to settle me. Call

13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84).

What is ‘normal’ sleep for myage?Between the ages of 3 and 6 months, I willprobably have 2 or 3 sleeps during the day.

Each daytime sleep could last for up to 2hours. I will probably still wake at least onceat night – and I may still feed at these nighttime ‘wakings’.

The importance of a goodsleep patternEstablishing a good sleep pattern is the bestway to work towards getting a good night’ssleep!

1. Work towards a regular patternContinue to follow a general ‘feed – play –sleep’ pattern in the day, with no ‘play’ atnight.

2. Maintain a bedtime routineContinue with my bedtime routine – this willhelp me understand that sleep time is comingup. I feel more secure and at ease when Ican anticipate our ‘next stage’ of the day.

3. Put me to bed awakeIt is really good if you put me to bed whenI am drowsy but still awake. By putting meto bed awake you will help me learn to settlemyself to sleep, on my own, rather thandepending on you to feed or comfort me tosleep.

If you are still feeding or comforting me tosleep I will develop a very strong habit ofdepending on you to get me to sleep. Thishabit will be harder to break as I get older.

4. Wait and listen when I wake –don’t rush in

Remember, rushing in to comfort me whenI first wake might just wake me up evenmore. Chances are I could fall back to sleepif you wait and listen.

5. Make day and night differentAt night time, keep feed times very ‘boring’.Keep the play for daytime only, use a quiet

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L O O K I N G · A F T E R · M E

Photo courtesy Q

ueensland

Sleeping

small talk has relevant information foryou and your baby for each month frombirth to 12 months. You can access eachedition via the small talk website:www.health.qld.gov.au/smalltalkYou can also access small talk from yourlocal Gold Coast library.

How to access each month

But remember…These milestones are only a guide and I

won’t fit exactly to these descriptions. Babies

grow and develop at different rates.

But if you are worried about my development

in any way, please take me to see our child

health nurse, doctor or health professional

for advice or call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84).

sound with my lips placed together andvibrating)

• keep my head level with my body whenpulled to a sitting position.

I may possibly be able to:

• sit with or without support.

I may even be able to:

• pull up to a standing position from sitting• stand holding onto someone or something• object if you try to take a toy away• work to get a toy that’s out of reach• pass a cube or other object from one hand

to the other• babble, combining vowels and consonants

such as ga ga ga, ba ba ba, ma ma ma,da da da

• look for a dropped object

• rake a small object towards me and pickit up in my fist.

By the end of this month…I should be able to:

• hold my head steady when I’m upright• raise my chest when I’m on my tummy,

supported by my arms• grasp a rattle held to the tips of my fingers• roll over (one way)• pay attention to small objects the size of

a raisin• turn in the direction of a voice• smile spontaneously• reach for an object• squeal in delight• say ‘ah goo’ or similar vowel/consonant

combinations.

I will probably be able to:

• bear some weight on my legs• blow a raspberry (make a wet blowing

Don’t overlook the option ofbuying second-handBuying items for your baby like high chairs,cots and toys from a second-hand dealeror from parents who don’t need them anymore is a great way to save money.

You won’t need these things forever sothey don’t have to be new, but it is importantthat they are safe.

Buying online can be a good option to savemoney on new or used items, however,make sure all items you buy are in goodworking order and meet the AustralianSafety Standards.

Give yourself a financial break and checkout your local area for second-hand stores.

Remember – there is no stigma attachedto buying second-hand goods.

Second-hand is smartYou will probably soon be on the lookoutfor a high chair. Now that your baby is abundle of energy, you might also be on thelookout for some new toys to provide themwith greater stimulation.

The need and desire toacquire more items foryour baby means that youwill need to spend some money.

6

Milestones to reach

Photo is courtesy of S

arah Davey

Sourced from the Raising Children Network's comprehensive and quality-assured Australian parenting website www.raisingchildren.net.au

EmergencyphonenumbersMake a list of emergency numbers tokeep near the telephone, or key theminto the phone:

• Fire, Police,Ambulance .......................000

• From a mobile ..................112• Poisons

information...............13 11 26

See the back pages for more contactphone numbers.

Nifty andthrifty

cry instead of a big one because I know youwill respond to my small cry.

When you respond quickly to me, it takesless time for you to settle me. Because youare meeting my needs, I need to cry less.

This is the start of positive parenting. If youtreat me as someone who needs love, trustand interaction, I will learn that I can rely onyou.

Don’t worry; you can’t spoil me by respondingto me quickly. You can’t spoil a baby. Eventhough it might take a little more effort now,it will save a lot of effort later. You will havebuilt a lasting bond of trust between us thatwill really help with your future positiveparenting efforts.

If you have a disabilitySome parents with a physical disability mayexperience prejudice in the community.Please take heart. Studies have shown that,in most cases, children with a parent whohas a physical disability can develop skillsand qualities that other children don’tdevelop.

These may come from developing a deeperunderstanding of difficulties and challenges.As your baby grows into a child, they willlearn to take pleasure in helping with familychores and respecting and understandingresponsibility.

If there are support services available inyour local area, it is worthwhile to find outwhat support they can offer you – even if it'sjust information or advice from people whocan understand what you are going through.See the contacts list on the back pages ofthis newsletter for services that may be ableto help you.

Your child will still learn that you are theirsafe base and that their circle of securityrevolves around you. As your child growsolder, reasoning and explanation will becomethe main tools for positive parenting.

The importance of talkingIf you have a physical disability, you maycome to rely heavily on verbal commun-ication with your child, starting from whenthey are very young.

Your child will learn to understand that theycan feel safe if they listen to you and dowhat you say.

On page three we talk about ‘parentese’ –the language of early parenting. By using‘parentese’ you will be giving you and yourbaby the best start in a strong and lovingrelationship that is grounded in verbalcommunication.

Positive parenting: respondquickly to my cryDid you know if you respond quickly whenI cry now, over time I will cry less and becalmer? A quick response from you will teachme to trust you. This will help to build ourCircle of Security©. I will learn to give a small

7

• DEPARTMENT OFCOMMUNITIES CHILD SAFETYAND DISABILITY SERVICESwww.communities.qld.gov.au/disability

• QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENTGeneral enquiries13 QGOV (13 74 68):www.qld.gov.au/disability

• COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICEHealth information for parents and carersof children and young peoplewww.health.qld.gov.au/goldcoasthealth/community_health.asp

Photo courtesy S

andra Peroni

Mountains to climb

ImmunisationHave I received all of my 4 monthvaccinations? To check my vaccinationdetails you can look in my Personal healthrecord book (child health book) or ask ourdoctor to check the Australian ChildhoodImmunisation Register (ACIR).

It is important to have all my vaccinationson time. If I have missed any it is never toolate to vaccinate me.

Choosing the right high chairI may start eating solid foods next month,so you’re probably already looking for myhigh chair – you might have already got meone.

To make sure I am as safe as possible inmy high chair, take note of these importantpoints when choosing my high chair. Makesure:

• it meets Australian Safety Standards

• it is very sturdy, with a wide base so thatit can’t tip over easily

• it has a seat belt with a crotch strap tostop me sliding down and out

• the tray locks securely on both sides andhas no sharp edges

• you are able to easily use the tray tablesand belt buckles, but I can’t undo them

• the seat isn’t slippery – if it is, put a non-slip rubber mat on it.

Make sure my cot’s sliding rail or sliding sideis always locked into full position so I cannotclimb or fall out. It is a very long way forsomeone as small as me to fall, and I couldend up with a serious head injury.

In earlier editions we mentioned not to haveany toys, bumpers or other items in my cotexcept for my bed clothing. If you haveplaced any items in my cot, make sure youremove them.

By about this age, I am able to push myselfup on my hands and knees. I might even beable to pull myself up to a kneeling orstanding position for a very brief moment.

Please check regularly to ensure I have notbeen caught between the cot rails.

If a toy is hanging across or along the cot,I may fall into it and not be able to freemyself. I could be strangled this way. I mayalso be able to use the toy to push myselfout of the cot. That is why you don't leavethe cot side down.

If I am wearing a hooded jumper or otherloose clothing, the loose parts could getcaught up with cot toys. I could be strangledthis way as well.

I really shouldn’t be wearing these types ofclothes until I am much bigger.

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Photo courtesy of S

ally Snow

Cot safety alert!

Keeping me safe and healthy

If you are parenting soloBeing a single parent and spending timewith your baby is one of the most importantjobs you have. However, if you are raisinga child by yourself, taking care of your ownhealth and wellbeing is extremely importantfor both of you.

Find time to relax. Try to sleep when yourbaby sleeps, take a bath or enjoy somephysical activity, eat nutritious meals, drinkplenty of water and get some time out foryou.

Ask your friends and family for help withbaby, shopping and housework – they mayfind this quite rewarding.

Reward yourself and your baby for all of theachievements you have made together.Show your baby you are happy to see themwhen they wake up or if you return frombeing on an outing without them.

Encourage, praise and play with your littleone. Show they can trust you by respondingquickly when they cry. Smile, laugh and hugyour baby as often as you can.

Raising a baby on your own can have someparticular challenges but also some extremejoys. Lots of single parents, both mums anddads, enjoy the independence of raising theirchild by themselves.

If you have an arrangement where your childgets to spend special time with each parentseparately, please help your baby feel goodabout the time spent with the other parent.

If you feel anxious or upset when you leaveyour baby, your baby will feel the same waytoo. They will look to you to see if somethingis safe or not (called social referencing), soplease give your baby signs they are safeand you will see them soon.

If you are having some difficulties with your

baby’s other parent that cannot be resolved,please get some professional support foryour baby’s sake. A relaxed home that isfree of conflict and violence is very good foryour baby and their development, as arepositive co-parenting arrangements.

If you are a separated parent your baby willstill need exactly what they needed beforethe separation – a secure emotional base,routine, protection, encouragement to learn,and the support of a trusting, loving parent.

Social support: the key tostaying happy and healthyAccording to research, your social networkcan provide crucial backup, especially in theearly stages of being a single parent.

The single biggest thing you can do to helpyourself is to call on your extended family,friends and other forms of support to helpshare the load. Here are some tips forbuilding a social support network:

1. Ask family and friends to help:

• If you are in contact and they live nearyou, ask family and friends to help whenyou need a break or some time out.

• Arrange a regular time for family or friendsto look after your baby so you can havesome time to yourself.

2. Share your life with people you trust

• If you can, share what you are goingthrough with people you trust. This helpsthem to understand and provide supportwhen you ask.

3. Find other parents in a similar situation

• Join a parents' group. You can get greatsupport and advice from others who mayhave similar circumstances.

• Join a local community playgroup. Yourchild will benefit from the interaction andyou get to talk to other parents.

• Volunteer to help out at your child's childcare if they go. You are likely to meetother parents there too.

9

Looking after you©

Berthold T

renkel

13 HEALTH 13 43 25 84Playgroup Queensland: www.playgroupaustralia.com.au/qld

Beyond Blue: www.beyondblue.org.au

Raising Children Network: www.raisingchildren.net.au

Community Child Health:www.health.qld.gov.au/goldcoasthealth/community_health.asp

Relationships Australia: www.relationships.com.au

TeamworkWhilst being a parent can be great fun, italso brings challenges and hard work.

Teamwork helps couples face thesechallenges in a way that strengthensrelationships and reduces conflict.

Why is teamwork important?The way that parents interact with each otherhas a huge influence on children, even whenthey are babies. Research tells us:

• A child’s sense of safety and wellbeingis closely linked to how their parentsbehave toward one another.

• A child’s happiness and developmentdepends on the quality of their relationshipwith a parent.

• Severe conflict between parents isassociated with behavioural anddevelopmental problems in children.

Children learn from how they see theirparents interact. Your baby is learning fromyou right now. You need to show yourchildren that disagreements are a normalpart of life, and teach them healthy ways tocope with and resolve conflict.

This is also important to the long-term healthand happiness of your relationships.

Managing conflict throughteamworkAdults have a large role to play in creatinga positive environment for children. Thismeans supporting each other and discussingand solving problems together.

Some conflict is bound to happen – even inthe strongest of relationships. All parentsstart out with different ideas about familylife.

Your children can cope and even learn howto handle conflict if they see you and yourpartner disagree from time to time. However,they will be badly affected by frequent, angry,unresolved conflict.

Teamwork is about working together to solvethe solvable problems, managing theunsolvable ones and managing conflict if itarises.

A good tip…If you and your partner can’t resolve an issuein a reasonably calm manner, it is better toput it aside and agree to deal with it laterwhen you have both had a chance to calmdown and re-think the issue.

The key elements of teamworkThere are six key elements to teamwork.

1. Acceptance: Living with and valuingdifferences in others is critical to the healthof any relationship.

2. Listening: Paying attention andunderstanding what others are saying isessential for working together to resolveconflict and discuss issues.

3. Talking: What you say and how you sayit strongly influences how well you resolveissues that are causing conflict.

4. Problem solving: Problem solving is a wayof finding constructive solutions together.It's vital for working together to resolveproblems with your child or your partner.

5. Backing each other up: Backing eachother up is about supporting each other’sdecisions. It’s about agreeing in front of thechildren – showing a united front as oftenas you can.

6. Getting help if you need it: Parenting canbring dramatic changes and stress to yourrelationship. You may need some help toget you through the tough times. Help cancome in many forms:

• from your friends – talk to your friendsabout your concerns

• from your family – talk to your family,including your extended family

• from the community – ask for help frompeople in the wider community, includingclubs or church

• child care – utilise child care services soyou and your partner can take time outtogether

• from professionals – if there is a lot ofconflict in your relationship and thingsdon’t seem to be getting better, pleaseseek professional help.

This is especially worth considering if theconflict goes beyond parenting issues toother areas in your relationship, whenviolence is involved, or when one or bothpartners have talked about leaving.

10

Parents are people too!

©G

abriel Boone

Pages 11 and 12 providecontact information forcounselling services.

11

Important and useful contactsAll parents need support at different times and for different reasons.

Seeking out and using support is a vital part of parenting.

Childcare, playgroupsChild Care Access HotlineTelephone information hotline to help peoplechoose a child care service.Ph: 1800 670 305 (M-F 8am-6pm)Ph: 13 36 84 www.mychild.gov.au/childcare-information

Crèche and Kindergarten AssociationCommunity based early childhood education andcare services in Queensland.Ph: 1800 177 092 (M-F 7.30am-5pm)www.candk.asn.au

Family Day Care Association QldChildcare services in a home environment.Ph: (07) 3399 3737www.fdcqld.org

Office for Early Childhood Education and Caree-newsletterCurrent information on early childhood educationand care reforms in Queensland.www.deta.qld.gov.au/earlychildhood/news/

Playgroup QueenslandPlaygroups, early intervention programs andcommunity education activities.Ph: 1800 171 882Email: info@playgroupqld.com.auwww.playgroupqld.com.au

Child safety and welfareChild Abuse Prevention ServiceFamily support, prevention and communityeducation services.Ph: 1800 688 009www.childabuseprevention.com.au

Child Safety Services (Department ofCommunities)Protection for children experiencing harm or atrisk of harm. Professional help for child abuseand neglect, parenting problems, parent–childconflict, juvenile justice issues and other childand adolescent-related welfare issues.Ph: 1300 679 849A/h: 1800 177 135

Child Support AgencyHelping parents provide necessary support fortheir childrens’ wellbeing.www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/themes/child-support-and-separated-parents

Foster Care QueenslandFor foster carers and children in their care.Ph: (07) 3256 6166Email: fcq@fcq.com.auwww.fcq.com.au

Kidsafe QueenslandResources, information and education for parentsand carers helping to prevent injuries.Ph: (07) 3854 1829Email: qld@kidsafeqld.com.auwww.kidsafeqld.com.au

St Vincent de PaulPh: HelpLine Qld 5561 4702(M-F 8.30am-3.30pm)Email: state.admin@svdqld.org.auwww.vinnies.org.au/findhelp/

Counselling & supportAlcoholics Anonymous (AA)See the website for your local AA contacttelephone number.www.aa.org.au

Advocates for Survivors of Child AbuseSupport for adult survivors of child abuse.Ph: 1300 657 380Email: admin@asca.org.auwww.asca.org.au

Alcohol & Drug Information Service (ADIS)Telephone counselling and referrals for issuesrelated to alcohol and drug use.Ph: 1800 198 024

Parent Drug Information ServicePh: 1800 653 203

Beyond BlueInformation and support for depression, anxiety,bipolar disorder, postnatal depression, men'shealth, health professionals and support services.Ph: 1300 22 4636 (24 hours, 7 days)www.beyondblue.org.au

Bravehearts IncCounselling for children and young peoplesuffering from sexual assault/abuse related issues.Ph: 1800 BRAVE 1 (1800 272 831)www.bravehearts.org.au

Child WiseNational child abuse prevention helpline,counselling and support services for victims,parents, relatives, teachers, friends, professionalsand carers.Ph: 1800 991099www.childwise.org.au

Dads in Distress Support Services (DIDSS)Support and help for men after divorce orseparation issues.Ph: 1300 853 437www.dadsindistress.asn.au

DV line – Domestic ViolenceHelp for women, men, children and pets.Women’s Line: 1800 811 811 (24 hours, 7 days)Men’s Line: 1800 600 636Email: mail@dvconnect.orgwww.dvconnect.org

Family Drug SupportSupport and information for families affected byalcohol and other drugs.Ph: 1800 368 186 (24 hours, 7 days)Email: admin@fds.ngo.org.auwww.fds.org.au

Child and family health13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84)Confidential, qualified and supportive advice 24/7for all adult and children's health and wellbeingenquiries.

Asthma AustraliaInformation and support for people with asthmaor caring for someone with asthma.Ph: 1800 278462www.asthmaaustralia.org.au

Australian Breastfeeding AssociationProvides breastfeeding advice and supportservices for expectant and new mothers and theirpartners.Ph: 1800 MUM 2 MUM (1800 686 268)www.breastfeeding.asn.au

Child Health Fact Sheets(Royal Children’s Hospital) Information on a rangeof child health topics.www.rch.org.au

Gold Coast Community Child Health ServiceOffers a wide range of free health services tofamilies with children.Ph: 5687 9183

Gold Coast University Hospital MaternityServicesAntenatal Clinic Ph: 5687 1526Birth Centre Ph: 5687 1437Birth Suite Ph: 5687 1057,Maternity Assessment & Triage Unit - MATUPh: 5687 1424Interpreter Services Ph: 5580 7853

Immunise Australia ProgramPh: 1800 671 811 (8.30am-5pm AEST)

Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s HealthHealth and wellbeing for women includingcommunity and professional education and clinicalcare.Ph: 1800 532 642 (M-F 9am-5pm)

Medicine Line (National Prescribing Service)Telephone service providing information onprescription, over-the-counter and complementary(herbal, natural, vitamin, mineral) medicines.Ph: 1300 MEDICINE (1300 633 424)www.nps.org.au

Royal Children’s Hospital Kids Health InfoUp to date health information fact sheets forparents and adolescentswww.rch.org.au/kidsinfo

Women’s Health Queensland WideProfessional information and referral service forQueensland women run by midwives and nurses.Ph: 1800 017 676www.womhealth.org.au

www.health.qld.gov.au/goldcoasthealth/community_health.asp

Important and useful contacts

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Gamblers AnonymousSupport for compulsive gambling problems.Ph: 0467 655 799Email: info@gansw.org.auwww.gansw.org.au

Kids HelplineConfidential phone and online counselling servicefor young people aged 5–25 years.Ph: 1800 55 1800 (24 hours, 7 days)Visit website for web and email counsellingwww.kidshelp.com.au

LifelineCrisis support, suicide prevention and mental healthsupport to connect people in need with care.Ph: 13 11 14www.lifeline.org.au

Men’s Line AustraliaTelephone support, information and referrals formen dealing with relationship problems.Ph: 1300 78 99 78 (24/ hours, 7 days)Email: talkitover@menslineaus.org.auwww.mensline.org.au

National Sexual Assault, Domestic FamilyViolence Counselling : 1800RESPECTProvides telephone counselling and referrals andassists in crisis intervention.Ph: 1800 737 732 (24 hours, 7 days)www.1800respect.org.au

Post and Antenatal Depression Association(PANDA)Telephone information, support and referral servicefor antenatal or postnatal depression and anxiety.Ph: 1300 726 306 (M-F 10am-5pm AEST)www.panda.org.au

ParentlineProfessional and confidential counselling andsupport services for parents.Ph: 1300 301 300 (8am-10pm 7 days)Email: parentline@boystown.com.auwww.parentline.com.au

Sane AustraliaTelephone and online helpline for people affectedby mental illness.Ph: 1800 18 7263 (1800 18 SANE)Email: helpline@sane.orgwww.sane.org

Sexual Assault HelplineCounselling support for victims of sexual assault.Ph: 1800 010 120

Stillbirth & Neonatal Death Support (SANDSQld Inc)Support, information and education for parents andtheir families who experience the death of theirbaby to miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death andother reproductive losses. National Support LinePh: 1300 072 637 (24 hours, 7 days)www.sandsqld.org.au

Disability servicesDisability Information and SupportAssists people with a disability and their familiesto access support and services.Ph: 13 74 68Email: disabilityinfo@disability.qld.gov.auwww.communities.qld.gov.au/disability

Community Health Service SupportOrganisationsWebsite directory with links to a wide range ofhealth and disability support organisations.www.health.qld.gov.au/cchs/support.asp

Qld Government (People with disability)Directory for people with disability, their families,carers and friends to find information and services.Ph: 13 QGOV (13 74 68)www.qld.gov.au/disability/

Queensland Hearing Loss Family SupportService (QHLFSS)Support for families of deaf/permanent hearingloss infants and children.Ph: 1800 352 075

Family/parenting supportCentrelink Family Assistance Office (FAS)Financial support to eligible parents and guardians.Ph: 13 61 50 (M-F 8am-8pm)www.centrelink.gov.au

Ellen Barron Family CentreResidential service for Queensland families withchildren from birth to 3 years, who areexperiencing parenting issues of a complex nature.Ph: (07) 3139 6500www.health.qld.gov.au/ellenbarronfamilycentre

Raising Children NetworkAustralian parenting website providingcomprehensive information to assist withpregnancy, and parenting of newborn children toteenagers.www.raisingchildren.net.au

Relationships AustraliaRelationship support services for individuals andfamilies.Ph: 1300 364 277www.relationships.org.au

Family PlanningAustralian Multiple Births AssociationSupport, resources and education for multiplebirth families.Ph: 1300 886 499www.amba.org.au

Children by ChoiceCounselling, tinformation and referral for allunplanned pregnancy issues.Ph: 1800 177 725 (M-F 9am-5pm)www.childrenbychoice.org.au

Family Planning QueenslandTrue Relationships & Reproductive HealthComprehensive range of clinical, counselling,information, education and training services onfamily planning and sexual and reproductivehealth.Ph: (07) 3250 0240Email: info@true.org.auwww.fpq.com.au

Pregnancy Birth and Baby HelplineConfidential information, referrals and/or supportcounselling for women, partners and families ornew parents relating to issues of conception,pregnancy, birthing and postnatal care.Ph: 1800 882 436 (24 hours, 7 days)www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au

Medical EmergenciesQUEENSLAND AMBULANCE SERVICEPh: 000

Queensland Poisons Information CentreFast, accurate advice to assist in the managementof poisonings, suspected poisonings, bites andstings.Ph: 13 11 26www.health.qld.gov.au/poisonsinformationcentre

SIDS and KidsBereavement support for families who haveexperienced the unexpected death of a babyregardless of the cause. Also provides safesleeping education programs.Ph: 1300 308 307 (24 hours, 7 days)www.sidsandkids.org

© Copyright The State of Queensland (Queensland Health) 2015

Disclaimer: This information is provided as general informationonly and should not be relied upon as professional or medicaladvice. Professional and medical advice should be sought forparticular health concerns or manifestations. Best efforts havebeen used to develop this information which is considered correctand current in accordance with accepted best practice inQueensland as at the date of production.

The State of Queensland (Queensland Health) does not acceptliability to any person for the information provided in this newsletternor does it warrant that the information will remain correct andcurrent.

The State of Queensland (Queensland Health) does not promote,endorse or create any association with any third party bypublication or use of any references or terminology in thisnewsletter.

*© 2015 Education Services Australia Limited. This text is adaptedfrom the Engaging Families in the Early Childhood DevelopmentStory. Neuroscience and early childhood development publicationdeveloped by the Standing Council on School Education andEarly Childhood (SCSEEC), and owned by Education ServicesAustralia. This publication has not been endorsed, approved orauthorised by SCSEEC or Education Services Australia.

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