Rights and services for children and young people

Are you a child or young person?

You have the right to be safe, healthy, and happy.

Your rights include:

Being safe and feeling safe
Living in a home that is safe and secure, free from family violence
Staying healthy and well including having safe drinking water, having enough to eat, and having access to healthy and nutritious food.
Going to see a health professional such as a doctor or dentist when you need to
Going to school and accessing media like the news
Being in contact with family, friends, and people and places that matter to you
Feeling proud and strong in your own culture
Have a say and be heard
Tell someone if you are unhappy
Be treated with respect and not experience discrimination

You can find out more about your rights.

Kids Support Services

If you are in danger, call the police on 000. Calling the police is free from any phone you use.

Peter Mac supports

You can speak to any Peter Mac staff member or volunteer and tell them if you do not feel safe or comfortable.

Kids Helpline

Kids Helpline is a free (even from a mobile phone), confidential 24/7 online and phone counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25. The phone number is 1800 551 800.

13 YARN

13 YARN is a free (even from a mobile) , confidential, culturally safe space to yarn about your needs, worries or concerns. Indigenous Australians can contact 13 Yarn by calling 13 92 76.

The Orange Door

You can visit The Orange Door in person, call them, or send them an email. The Orange Door is open from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday. The Orange Door can help you if something bad is happening at home to yourself or another person, if someone close to you is hurting you, or if you are worried about the safety of someone that you know.

Safe Steps

If you would like to speak to someone online about something that is happening at home to yourself or another person, you can use the Safe Steps web chat. This chat is open 9am- midnight Monday to Friday. You can reach a Family Violence Specialist at any time of the day or night by calling 1800 015 188.

Headspace

Headspace is a confidential, free and secure space where young people 12-25 or their family can chat, email or speak on the phone with a qualified youth mental health professional. You can connect with a clinician seven days a week between 9am-1am (AEDT) by using accessing Headspace or calling 1800 650 890.