Family Services

Parenting and Skill building

Enhance your parenting abilities.

Give your child the best start in life through dedicated support to build the skills and confidence you need as a parent.

Support for families to thrive

Dedicated support to build your skills and confidence as a parent.

Parenting doesn’t come with a handbook. Whether you’re pregnant, raising a toddler, supporting a teenager, navigating family changes, or looking to strengthen your relationship with your child, we’re here to help.

Uniting offers evidence-based parenting programs and family services designed to build confidence, strengthen family relationships and support children’s emotional wellbeing.

Our experienced practitioners provide practical strategies, guidance and support to help parents and carers create positive, connected family relationships.

How we can help

Our parenting and family support services can help you:

Build confidence in your parenting
Better understand your child's emotional and developmental needs
Strengthen parent-child relationships
Improve family communication
Navigate separation and family transitions
Manage challenging behaviours
Support your child's emotional wellbeing
Connect with other parents and carers
Access information, resources and community support.

If you are looking for support to develop your parenting skills and build confidence, we can support you with:

Parenting workshops and programs

We offer a range of free parenting programs, groups and events designed to support parents and carers at every stage of their parenting journey.

Delivered in a welcoming and supportive environment, our parenting workshops provide opportunities to connect with other parents and carers, learn new skills, and build confidence in your parenting.

Programs are available for parents and carers of toddlers, children and adolescents, with sessions offered throughout the year across a range of locations.

Whether you’re looking for parenting support, family counselling, parenting classes, emotional wellbeing programs or family relationship support, we’re here to help.

Circle of Security®

Help your child feel safe, secure and confident.

Circle of Security® supports parents and caregivers to better understand their child’s emotional needs, strengthen attachment and build secure relationships that support healthy development.

Suitable for caregivers of children aged 0–5 years.

Tuning in to Toddlers™

Support your toddler through big feelings.

This six-week parenting program helps parents understand toddler behaviour, respond to emotions and build stronger connections through emotion coaching and positive communication.

Suitable for parents and carers of children aged 12 months to 4 years.

Tuning in to Kids®

Build your child’s emotional intelligence.

Tuning in to Kids® helps parents and carers understand emotions, strengthen relationships and support children to develop healthy emotional and social skills.

Suitable for caregivers of children aged 3–10 years.

Dads Tuning in to Kids

A parenting program designed specifically for dads and male carers.

Learn practical strategies to better understand your child’s emotions, strengthen communication and build positive family relationships.

Suitable for fathers and male carers of children aged 3–12 years.

Tuning in to Teens®

Support your teenager through adolescence.

The teenage years can be challenging for both parents and young people. Tuning in to Teens® provides practical tools to improve communication, strengthen relationships and support your teen’s emotional wellbeing.

Suitable for parents and carers of children aged 10–18 years

Parenting Adolescents

Parenting Adolescents is a six-week program that helps parents better understand adolescent development, strengthen communication and support teenagers through the challenges of growing up.

Suitable for parents and carers of children aged 10–17 years

Skills for young parents

Starting Out – Croydon

Starting Out is an innovative support service to young people 25 years of age or younger who are pregnant or parenting and residing in Melbourne’s Eastern Metropolitan Region.

Starting Out also provides a group-based program which focuses on parenting education, attachment-based play activities and building social relationships and connections.

Pregnant and Young Parenting Support – Launceston

If you’re under 25 and pregnant with your first child, we can work with you and your family to build your skills and confidence to keep you safe and connected. We can help you navigate a wide range of issues including financial difficulties, homelessness, interactions with child safety, parenting challenges, or feelings of isolation. Your support could include one-on-one case management, small group activities and community engagement.

Mother Safe, Child Safe Program – Dandenong & Windsor (Prahran)

The Mother Safe, Child Safe (MSCS) Program provides therapeutic group work activities for women and children who are experiencing, or have experienced, family violence. The program operates across two regional streams. The Outer South stream serves families in the Local Government Areas of Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia, delivered from the Dandenong office. The Inner South stream supports families in the LGAs of Stonnington, Glen Eira and Port Phillip, delivered from the Windsor office.

Upcoming events

We can support you with

Parenting and Skill Development Groups

These programs provide support and information to help strengthen parent-child relationships and increase development opportunities for children.

Parenting and Skill Development One on One sessions

We provide tailored, one-on-one support that enhances parenting practices and encourages parents to build on family strengths.

Parenting and Skill Development Playgroups

Connect with other parents and experienced support workers to learn and develop parenting skills and confidence to support your child's wellbeing and development.

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Get in touch

We’re here for you.

Contact us to learn more about our parenting programs and family counselling services, check eligibility, or register your interest in an upcoming group.

Browse our current parenting programs, workshops and events to find practical parenting support available in your area.

Call us on

(03) 9192 8100

Referrals and advice

We offer information and links to other support services in your area, depending on the needs of you and your family. This may include community activities, support groups, accessing interpreters and other specialist services including family violence, drug and alcohol, financial, disability, housing, employment, education and mental health services.

The Orange Door

Eligibility.

Some of these programs require a referral from The Orange Door.

The Orange Door is a free service for adults, children, and young people, who are currently facing or have encountered family violence, as well as families requiring additional assistance with childcare. For more information contact your local Uniting office or visit orangedoor.vic.gov.au to locate your nearest office.

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Communities for children

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Youth services

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