Your donation helps us to provide care and support for children and families through our wide range of programs. All donations are tax deductible.

Would you like to look after a child for a weekend, a few days, a few months or longer? Do you work, but still have some time and energy to care for a child?

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Volunteers are essential for the running of our services and are highly valued. Volunteering with OzChild is a rewarding and enriching experience.

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Align your company with OzChild Unite, a program that is committed to enhancing your business contacts and helping children in your community. Attend our next networking event! Contact Unite.

OzChild offers an Information and Advice service for kinship carers, and others who may be supporting kinship carers, in the designated Local Government Areas.

If you are living in the areas covered by Wesley Mission Victoria please call (03) 9794 3000.

What does the OzChild Information and Advice Service offer?

• Information about the range of community supports available for kinship carers
• Advice about how to manage the issues and challenges that kinship carers may face
• Advice about the care requirements of the child they are caring for
• Information about the financial supports that may be available for kinship carers.

Who can use the Information and Advice Service?

Anyone involved in kinship care such as:

• Kinship carers
• Children in kinship placements
• Members of the extended family
• Professionals involved in supporting kinship carers and children
• Other relevant members of the broader community

A Kinship Information and Advice Worker can be contacted at OzChild on (03) 9212 5600, or through this contact form (select Kinship Care). The office is open Monday to Friday between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm. Our reception staff will be able to tell you when the Kinship Information and Advice Worker is available.

Group Support

Groups provide invaluable support to kinship carers and the children or young people they care for. Meeting others in a similar situation can help normalise your experiences and break down isolation.

OzChild will be developing support and skill-based groups that will help carers build their confidence and skills. In the future, both the Information and Advice worker and our Family Support worker will have information about these groups.

OzChild has a history of helping children which dates back to 1851. Today, the organisation is continuing to build on this strong foundation, with around 170 staff and 500 volunteers.

We run multidisciplinary and culturally aware programs across a range of areas to strengthen the potential and life opportunities of Australian children. Services include foster care, kinship care, child and family support, disability, training and consulting, outreach services, school and community support and youth pathways.

Download our current newsletter.

Tannesha

Tannesha, aged 4, was living with her mother, Abby, who was dealing with mental health and drug abuse issues.  Abby was unable to provide a safe and stable home, and Tannesha was placed in out of home care.  Tannesha was traumatised by being placed out of her mother's care and became withdrawn and refused all food.

Read more...