Melbourne

Melbourne Family

This Melbourne family directory brings together practical support and activities across the CBD, inner suburbs and wider metropolitan area, alongside Victorian and online services available locally. Use it to find early-parenting advice, relationship and disability support, playgroups, toy libraries, creative activities, school-holiday programs, outdoor adventures and specialist help for young people.

👶 Early parenting, playgroups and toy libraries

Maternal and Child Health Line

This confidential, Victoria-wide telephone service provides information, advice and referrals for families with children from birth to six years. Qualified maternal and child health nurses can discuss breastfeeding, nutrition, child care and health, sleep, parenting and a parent’s health. The line operates 24 hours a day on 13 22 29.

Tweddle Day Stay Program

Tweddle provides early-parenting day support in Footscray for parents with children aged from birth to three years. The program addresses sleep and settling, feeding, routines, attachment, play and toddler behaviour. Families can self-refer or use a professional referral pathway. Phone (03) 9689 1577 for enquiries.

Playgroup Victoria – Find a Playgroup

Playgroup Victoria’s searchable directory covers metropolitan Melbourne and includes baby, grandparent, disability, cultural-specific and LGBTQIA+ playgroups. A parent or carer must remain with their child throughout each session. General enquiries can be made on 1800 171 882.

City of Melbourne Toy Libraries

Families can access toy-library collections at The Chapel in Carlton, Hotham Hub in North Melbourne and Library at The Dock in Docklands. The Dock service is click-and-collect only. Members may borrow up to three items for three weeks, with one renewal available.

Stompers

This free weekly Library at The Dock program combines stories, songs and rhymes for toddlers aged 18 months to three years. Sessions are held on Tuesdays during school terms and do not require bookings.

🤝 Relationships, family wellbeing and safety

Melbourne Family Relationship Centre

Based in Melbourne CBD, this Relationships Australia Victoria centre offers information, advice and referrals, separation-related support and family dispute resolution for people involved in caring for a child. Contact the centre on (03) 8625 3666 to discuss appointments and suitable services.

The Orange Door

The Orange Door is a free service for people who need help with family violence or with the care, wellbeing or development of children and young people. It has locations across metropolitan Melbourne, and people can make direct contact without a referral. Use the location search or call 1800 219 819.

♿ Disability and child development

Association for Children with Disability Support Line

This free Victoria-wide support and advocacy service assists families of children aged from birth to 18 with disability or developmental delay. It can help families understand their rights and advocate for their child, with interpreter support available by arrangement. Call (03) 9880 7000 or, for regional callers, 1800 654 013.

ACD Workshops and Peer Support

Parents and carers across Victoria can join free online workshops and peer-support opportunities. Sessions provide practical information about advocating for a child with disability or developmental delay and navigating relevant supports. Check the current calendar for available workshops.

Amaze Autism Connect

Autism Connect is a free phone, email and web-chat service available across Victoria. It offers information, support and referrals for Autistic people, their families and supporters.

VMCH Early Learning and Therapy

VMCH provides specialist early-childhood intervention and allied-health services in Kew for babies and children with disability or developmental delay. Its services for children up to 12 include speech pathology, occupational therapy, psychology, physiotherapy, music therapy and specialist education. Contact 1300 698 624 or earlychildhood@vmch.com.au.

Brimbank Melton Children’s Health and Wellbeing Local

This Sunshine-based service supports children up to 11 and their families living in Brimbank and Melton. Jointly run by IPC Health, the Royal Children’s Hospital and Western Health, it coordinates child-development, wellbeing, mental-health, paediatric, allied-health and family support. Referrals are currently accepted from partner agencies and Enhanced Maternal Child Health in Brimbank and Melton. Phone 1300 472 432.

🎨 Family activities and early-years discovery

ArtPlay

Located at Birrarung Marr, ArtPlay brings babies and children up to 13 together with artists for creative experiences. Onsite events require advance booking or registration at the door. Contact (03) 9658 7880 or artplay@melbourne.vic.gov.au.

Pauline Gandel Children’s Gallery

This Melbourne Museum gallery in Carlton is designed for play and discovery by babies and children up to five. Families must reserve timed entry as well as arranging general museum admission. Sessions last 50 minutes, and the climbing net is restricted to children aged five and under accompanied by their carers.

Dino Days

Melbourne Museum’s weekly early-years dinosaur program includes stories, dress-ups, sensory soft play, a dino disco and children’s question-and-answer activities. It runs on Wednesdays from 10 am to 2 pm, excluding school holidays, and is included with museum entry.

🌿 School holidays, camps and adventure

Museums Victoria School Holidays

Museums Victoria publishes changing school-holiday programs for Melbourne Museum and Scienceworks in Spotswood. Activities can include special events, workshops, exhibitions, planetarium sessions and hands-on experiences. Check the current program, age guidance and booking requirements before visiting.

Junior Rangers

Parks Victoria offers ranger-led outdoor activities for primary-school-aged children during school holidays. Locations and sessions vary between holiday periods, including activities near Melbourne when scheduled. Advance booking is required.

Adventure Camp – Melbourne

Adventure Camp offers outdoor school-holiday camps for children aged six to 11 at Beaumaris Life Saving Club. Families should check the current Melbourne program and availability directly before booking.

🧑 Youth wellbeing and practical support

headspace Collingwood

Located in Abbotsford, this free service supports people aged 12–25 through mental-health access workers, counselling, GP services, alcohol and other drug support, and work-and-study assistance. Phone reception on (03) 9417 0150 to discuss appointments or referrals.

headspace Sunshine

This free service supports people aged 12–25, as well as families and friends. Assistance covers mental wellbeing, relationships, work or study, sexuality and gender identity, and alcohol or other drug use. Call (03) 8311 9420 to make an appointment.

YSAS Youth Drug and Alcohol Advice Service (YoDAA)

YoDAA is a Victoria-wide advice line and website for young people and anyone concerned about a young person’s alcohol or other drug use. Qualified youth and social workers offer information, support and referral assistance. Call 1800 458 685.

Frontyard Youth Services

Melbourne City Mission’s specialist Melbourne CBD service works with young people aged 12–24 who are at risk of homelessness or experiencing homelessness.

eSafety Commissioner – Parent Resources

These Australian Government online resources help parents and carers discuss digital risks with children and young people. Topics include gaming, social media, cyberbullying, online safety and AI-generated content.

✅ Practical checks before you choose

• Confirm that the service, activity or venue suits the child’s current age and circumstances.
• Ask about accessibility, communication support and supervision arrangements where relevant.
• Check current costs, session dates, referral rules and availability directly with the provider.
• For holiday activities and timed-entry venues, book ahead where required and review cancellation conditions.
• For statewide or online services, confirm how support is delivered and whether local appointments are available.

📌 Legitimate family-focused providers and organisations serving Melbourne are welcome to self-list. Keeping program, eligibility and contact details current helps families compare appropriate local, metropolitan, statewide and online options.

⚠️ Accuracy Note: We do our best to keep this information useful and up to date, however details can change over time. If you notice anything that appears incorrect or out of date, please let us know and we will review it. Local business owners and community leaders can also help keep local information accurate by logging in and creating or managing their own listing and useful content on melbourne.city.