Child & Family Health
Counselling for children, adolescents, parents & adults
Our counsellors help families to play, share, and get along by helping them to understand and talk about feelings and behaviour.
What we do
Counsellors help children, teenagers and adults who are having difficulties in day to day life by helping them to understand and talk about feelings and behaviour.
Your counsellor will talk to you about your concerns and any difficulties you or anyone in your family is having.
Your counsellor will work with you to decide what is important to you as a family, your goals and how counselling can help you.
Who we care for
Children, adolescents, parents and adults.
How to access this service
You can ask for this service by calling the Central Referral Service on 1800 600 681.
An administration officer will gather some information from you and pass your request on to the counselling team.
There may be waiting times for counselling services.
Health Professionals please refer your clients using our referral form. We will confirm acceptance of your referral following receipt and review of eligibility.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the service provided?
Counselling services are usually provided at one of our Community Health Centres. Some visits may happen in your home or at a community venue like your child’s preschool.
Is there a cost for this service?
This service is free if you have a Medicare card and live, work or study in the Cumberland, Parramatta, Blacktown or Hills local council areas.
Who will I meet at my appointment?
What will happen at my appointment?
When you arrive at the Community Health Centre, a receptionist will greet you. The receptionist will tell your counsellor you have arrived, and will ask you to wait in the waiting area.
At the appointment your counsellor will talk to you about your concerns and any difficulties you or anyone in your family is having.
Together with your counsellor, you will decide on what is important to you, your goals and how counselling can help you.
Your counsellor might ask you to fill out a questionnaire.
What do I need to bring to my appointments?
To your first appointment:
- your Medicare card
- your child’s Blue Book (My Personal Health Record)
- please also bring copies (if any) of your child’s:
- reports or documents from your local doctor or paediatrician
- any hearing assessments
- assessments or reports from other health professionals your child has seen, e.g. psychologists, paediatricians, occupational therapists, speech pathologists
- reports of testing by a school counsellor, school reports from the last 12 months and any psychometric (IQ) testing reports
- we might send you a questionnaire to complete - please also bring this to your appointment
To every appointment:
- your child’s Blue Book (My Personal Health Record)
What is the Blue Book (My Personal Record)?
Your child’s Blue Book (My Personal Health Record) is given to you in the hospital after you’ve had your baby.
Notes about your child’s health and progress can be made in the Blue Book by you, a Child and Family Health nurse, your doctor or any other health professional your child sees.
The Blue Book has helpful information - look in the ‘Useful contacts and websites’ section and on the back cover.
The Blue Book is also available in other languages.
Child development describes the changes in your child’s physical growth. As children grow they also learn social, emotional, behaviour, thinking and communication skills.
Learn the Signs Act Early is a new tool in your child's Blue Book that you can use
to
learn about your child's brain and physical development.
We can help if you have questions about your child’s development.
Download PDF Brochure