Having a baby guide

Confirming your pregnancy

There are many different signs and symptoms of early pregnancy. The most common sign is a missed period. Pregnancy is most often confirmed using a home pregnancy test. If you want to, you can get your GP to confirm your pregnancy. Before 8 weeks, you might not need to do anything except care for yourself and your health.

Some pregnancies are not planned. If you’re pregnant and don’t know what to do, talk to a trusted counsellor as soon as possible. This can be very stressful, but there are many services that can help you find the best option for you. You can find help and support in your language.

Your GP may refer you to a midwife or obstetrician for blood tests and ultrasounds. It’s okay to ask your GP any questions and they must keep what you say confidential. These conversations can help you make decisions about your pregnancy.

Your blood tests will include finding out your blood type. If your blood type is Rh-negative, it’s important to find out the father’s blood type. If theirs is Rh-positive, your pregnancy may need a little extra attention.

Looking after your body

Pregnancy brings many different symptoms and changes your body and emotions. More than half of all pregnancies include morning sickness.

Once you confirm your pregnancy, it’s important to stay healthy so your baby develops well. What you eat during pregnancy matters. So does avoiding things that can hurt your baby, like alcohol and drugs.

The Better Health Channel has dietary recommendations to keep you and your baby healthy. These recommendations will help you avoid contracting listeria and salmonella and understand the mercury levels of different fish.

Visit the Better Health Channel for advice on your physical health and caring for your body during pregnancy, including staying active and avoiding injury.

You might need certain vaccinations. Some diseases, including measles, are dangerous to your baby. Getting the vaccinations you need will help keep you and your baby safe.

Caring for your mental health

Finding out that you or your partner is pregnant can bring a range of emotions. Some people are very happy while others feel nervous or anxious. You can even feel different emotions in the same day.

All these feelings are normal. It’s a good idea to talk to trusted friends, family members or your GP about finding support and information that’s right for you. Let your healthcare provider know if you’re feeling depressed or anxious a lot at any time in your pregnancy.

Beyond Blue and the Raising Children Network have advice about mental health and pregnancy, including information for dads and partners. Better Health Channel has more mental health support and resources.

Work and finances

In Australia, it’s against the law to treat a pregnant person in a way that disadvantages them. You have the same rights in the workplace as someone who is not pregnant.

If your job is not safe to do because of your pregnancy, your employer must find you safe work. Your employer must also let you go to the doctor to care for your pregnancy. The Fair Work Act gives you these rights.

Know your rights. Find out what to do if your employer is treating you unfairly (discriminating against you) because of your pregnancy.

You might worry about how much it costs to have a baby. Use MoneySmart to find out how to save money and budget after your baby is born. You can also find more information at Services Australia.

You may be able to take parental leave when the baby is born. You might also be able to get Parental Leave Pay. Check to see if your family is eligible.

Research your pregnancy and birth care options

Start thinking about your care for the months ahead. Find out your options for having a baby as a public or private patient. If you have health insurance, find out whether it covers pregnancy and birth. Decide if you want to choose your own obstetrician or midwife. If you do, find out how much it costs.

It’s a good time to get to know the practitioners who may care for you. You should also find out about:

• types and levels of care during pregnancy (antenatal care)
• what you can expect Medicare to cover
• types of care during labour and birth (intrapartum care)
• how and where you’d like to give birth (your birthing plan). This can include homebirth, hospital birth, support people, environment and pain relief
• maternal and child health services after the birth.

If you want a private midwife to support you with homebirth, talk with your healthcare provider about whether this is a safe option for you.

Book your birthing facility

Find out as much as you can about where to give birth. A public or private hospital, birth centre, your doctor or a homebirthing midwife can provide some or all of your pregnancy and birth care.

Tests, scans and checks

Pregnancy also means having a range of tests and scans during your pregnancy. This starts in early pregnancy and includes your 12-week scan.

Talk to your GP or healthcare provider about the routine tests you will have and any additional tests or scans they recommend.

These tests and scans include:

• Maternal health screening (various tests, including blood and urine, to check for a range of infections or conditions)
  • If you’ve had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy, your doctor will also test that your blood glucose levels are normal.
• Routine screening (screen for genetic conditions like Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome and trisomy 13)
• Ultrasounds
• Diagnostic tests (tests done to confirm the presence or absence of health conditions)

Getting support during your pregnancy

It’s important to have a supportive person around during your pregnancy. An involved and informed partner or support person can be there when professionals can’t. There are many other supports you can reach out to when you’re pregnant, including:

• midwives
• obstetricians
• family and friends
• community and peer groups
• online support groups or forums.

Ask as many questions as you like. Your healthcare provider should get to know and respect your:

• body
• choices
• culture
• family
• spiritual beliefs.

Pregnancy complications

Pregnancy can bring much excitement and many worries at the same time. It’s normal to have anxieties or concerns. It’s important to talk to your doctor, midwife or obstetrician for advice and information. While every pregnancy is different, complications can happen.

Sadly, miscarriages sometimes happen. This is the loss of the pregnancy before 20 weeks or the loss of an embryo or fetus under 400 grams. About 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage. Doctors don’t know what causes most miscarriages. The most common symptoms of miscarriage are pain and bleeding. If this happens, tell your healthcare provider immediately.

If your pregnancy miscarries, you can contact Births, Deaths and Marriages to receive an early pregnancy loss commemorative certificate remembering your baby. This is a free service.

Birth defects are any abnormalities that develop before birth. They’re very rare. (Less than 2% of births in Australia each year have birth defects.)

• Birth defects are usually found during pregnancy, at birth or in early childhood. Some problems may be genetic.
• Birth defects can be big or small. They can affect how your baby grows, how it works or both. We don’t know what causes many birth defects, but many things you do can increase the chance of a healthy baby.
• To track your and your baby’s health, there are standard and special tests you may take during pregnancy.
• About 25% of pregnancies experience bleeding at some time. There are many different reasons for this. No bleeding in pregnancy is normal, so contact your healthcare provider or local emergency department for advice.
• Sometimes it’s safest for you to rest completely until the baby is born. This is called bed rest. Being on bed rest can be stressful in its own way. You can feel anxious and lonely. Joining online support groups and sharing your feelings with other people on bed rest can help.
• You may have a ‘high risk’ pregnancy. This means you or your baby are more likely to have problems during pregnancy or after birth. If you’re having your baby in the public healthcare system, you may see an obstetrician for extra care during pregnancy, during and straight after labour, or both. If you have a Medicare card, this won’t cost anything.

Caring for pregnancy

20-week scan

You usually have a scan at 20 weeks. A sonographer will check and measure your baby’s size, parts of their body and the placenta. This scan might also reveal your baby’s sex.

While most scans are straightforward, sometimes the sonographer may find an abnormality or issue. They may ask you to come back for another scan, refer you to a specialist or offer further testing.

Testing for gestational diabetes

Around 24 to 28 weeks, you’ll be tested for gestational diabetes. This is a form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy, but usually goes away after birth. You will be tested earlier in your pregnancy for gestational diabetes if you had it during a previous pregnancy.

Baby's movements

You will start to feel your baby move between weeks 16 and 24 of your pregnancy, regardless of where your placenta lies. It's a myth that babies move less towards the end of a pregnancy. You should feel your baby's movements right up until they are born, even during labour.

A baby's movements can be described as anything from a flutter or a kick to a swish or a roll; these are signs that baby is well.

Taking note of your baby’s movement patterns is important. The #MovementsMatter campaign website has a guide on how to get to know your baby’s movements.

Reduced movements can be a sign a baby is unwell. If your baby’s movements slow down or become weaker, contact your midwife or doctor immediately.

Antenatal (birth) classes

Look into booking your antenatal (birth) classes. This is a great chance to connect with people in your community who are sharing the same experience. Your midwife or doctor can suggest classes in your area and you can search online. Make sure the teacher or organisation is certified.

There are different types of antenatal classes. Ask around to find one you’re comfortable with. You should finish your course by 36 weeks.

Government support

If you don’t already have one, create a myGov account. This gives you online access to Centrelink, Medicare, Child Support Agency and My Health Record.

When you register your baby for Medicare, you can also choose if you want to register their My Health Record. Your baby’s My Health Record will store their early health, growth and development, test results and other health information. Other health providers can access this information.

My Health Record is an ‘opt-out’ program. If you don’t want a record created for your baby, say this on your Medicare registration form.

The Family Tax Benefit is a 2-part payment that helps with the cost of raising children. Find out if you’re eligible, how much you can get and how to claim.

If your out-of-hospital medical costs go over a certain amount within one year (the threshold), Medicare will give you a higher rebate (more money back) through Medicare Safety Nets.

With multiple births more common now because of fertility drugs, you may be eligible for special payments from the government to support the extra costs.

If pregnancy makes it hard to walk or physically access places, you can apply for a temporary accessibility permit. This will make it easier to be active in your community.

Telling your employer and parental leave

When should you notify your employer you are pregnant?

There is no set law requiring you to notify your employer that you are pregnant. However, workplaces typically have policies around time frames for telling your employer.

Taking leave

Find out how much paid and unpaid leave you can get. Remember that either partner can get the government’s paid parental leave, depending on who is the main caregiver. Your family may also be able to claim Dad and Partner Pay from the government.

If you’re planning on taking parental leave, you need to give your employer 10 weeks notice before taking parental leave, whether it’s paid or unpaid. If this isn’t possible (for example, your baby is born prematurely), you must give them as much notice as possible. This is the same whether your leave is paid or unpaid.

Make sure you include any leave you want to take before the due date. Your employer can ask you to prove that you’re pregnant, like providing a doctor’s letter confirming your pregnancy and your due date.

Some employers must provide paid parental leave to an employee. Know your rights, and whether this includes you.

If you want to keep working up to your due date, talk with your employer and healthcare provider. You might need a medical certificate to make sure this is safe for you and your baby.

Know your rights when pregnant

It’s also important to know your rights in the workplace when pregnant. It’s against the law to discriminate against or bully someone because they’re pregnant or they are thought to be pregnant.

You can’t be fired or not promoted because you're pregnant. Your employer must protect you against discrimination. You can make a complaint if your employer discriminates against you because of pregnancy.

Child care

Think about how things will work after birth. Will you return to your job? Who will care for your baby? Some child care centres have very long waiting lists, so it’s best to start planning before your child is born. It’s not unusual for families to apply for a place early in pregnancy. There are other options: think about what’s right for your family.

Partner or family issues

Pregnancy brings a lot of changes – and relationships can change with it. You might feel like you need more support, want to give more support or help, but not know how. There are plenty of ways to take a little pressure off and enjoy this special time.

Talk with your healthcare provider if your relationships feel stressful, uneasy or unsafe in any way. Family violence can hurt your and your baby’s health, even before birth.

Should any instances of family violence occur during pregnancy, know that you are not alone. There is a lot of support available for you and your baby, including Safe Steps, a statewide 24-hour, 7-days-a-week confidential telephone service that provides information, support and access to safe accommodation or refuges for women and their children. You can contact Safe Steps on 1800 015 188, safesteps@safesteps.org.au or by visiting the Safe Steps website.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Family violence is never the victim’s fault. It’s important to both you and your baby that you feel safe. In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000) and ask for the police.

Preterm or early labour

Sometimes labour will start before a baby is ready to be born. This is called premature labour. It is an emergency and needs immediate medical help so knowing the signs of premature labour can help you prepare in case it happens.

Get to know the signs of premature labour. Call your care provider or any hospital midwifery department straight away if you have any of the signs.

Pregnancy loss and stillbirth

Pregnancy loss at any time can be a devastating experience. It’s important to find support and care. Talking to people who have been through this can help you with very difficult feelings when it seems like nobody else understands.

You can get support payments, carer payments and parental leave under certain circumstances. Let your employer know as soon as possible that you’re taking leave.

Stillbirth

Stillbirth is the loss of a baby:

• after 20 weeks
• if the baby weighs over 400 grams
• when a baby is not alive when they are born.

Stillbirth can’t always be prevented but there are some things you can do to reduce the risk. These include:

• sleeping on your side
• paying attention to your baby’s movements
• maintaining your health, including stopping smoking if you do
• attending your antenatal appointments and keeping a record of your baby’s growth
• choosing the right time to give birth, if necessary, with your healthcare provider.

You must register the birth with the government. You can ask for a birth certificate to be made for your baby. Some hospitals hold special services to grieve the loss of these babies.

Late pregnancy is very tiring. It can be exhausting getting through the day, especially when you have to look after other people.

There’s less space for baby to move, it’s hard to get a good night’s sleep and you’ll probably feel all kinds of emotions. Don’t try to do too much and rest as much as you can.

While most pregnancies are healthy, some complications can occur in late pregnancy. These can include pre-eclampsia, reduced fetal movement or bleeding. Attending your antenatal appointments and monitoring yourself for symptoms can help you to catch any complications early and get support.

Check your leave and financial support

Make sure your Parental Leave Pay application is complete. If you’re eligible, you’ll receive a payment for up to 18 weeks.

You must let your employer know at least 10 weeks before taking parental leave. If this isn’t possible (for example, your baby is born prematurely), you must give them as much notice as possible. This is the same whether your leave is paid or unpaid.

You can claim your parental leave pay from Centrelink up to 3 months before birth.

You may be eligible for the Newborn Upfront Payment and Newborn Supplement. You get this payment for each child taken into your care. You don’t pay tax on it, but whether you get it depends on your income and how many children you have.

Government Paid Parental Leave

If you’re the primary carer of a new baby or a newly-adopted child, the government may pay you for up to 18 weeks while you care for them. You can claim this as well as your employer’s parental leave pay, if they offer it.

You must meet the time frames for making your claim to get the full 18 weeks payment. You can claim before or after your child’s birth or adoption. In the case of birth, you can claim up to 3 months before the due date.

Making your claim before the birth means your claim will be assessed faster. You can also choose when your Paid Parental Leave period starts after your child’s birth or adoption.

You can still claim after the birth or adoption date if it’s within the time frames, but you may not get the same benefits.

Find out more about your eligibility and how to claim Paid Parental Leave.

Get ready for the birth

Around this time, you’ll be setting up baby’s room. You can find safety guidelines for baby furniture, toys and nursery set-ups. Make sure you choose a safe convertible car seat and transport for after the birth.

You’ll probably have a good idea of your birth plan by now. Everyone involved should know their role. Remember that plans can change at the last minute. Think about what you’d like to happen if you need a caesarean birth, whether planned or unplanned. You can still make decisions.

Overdue babies and medical intervention

Only 5% of babies are born on their due date, so it’s pretty normal if baby seems cosy for now and not in a rush to move. Stay in close contact with your healthcare provider. Because every pregnancy is different, they may be happy to wait and see if labour starts on its own or talk with you about other options - like induction.

Induction is completely normal. In Australia about a quarter of pregnant women are induced.

Even after all the planning, some babies skip the birth plan, leaving you with an unexpected homebirth. If this happens, call 000 for an ambulance and urgent help.

Get familiar with the signs of labour. If you think you’re in labour, or have any questions or worries, call your care provider or any hospital maternity ward.

Every labour is different. The more you know, the better you can make decisions when the time comes. Make sure your support people know what you want so they can advocate for you. You can prepare by attending antenatal classes and developing a birth plan with your preferences for the birth.

The early labour phase can last for hours. Speak to your doctor or midwife to determine the right time to come into hospital. A warm bath, paracetamol, light snacks and rest can help you to manage your early labour symptoms while you wait.

Labour and birth is hard work and it's important to know that your choices should be respected and heard throughout the labour and birth process. You are entitled to change your mind about preferences at any time. Learn more about birthing options and what to expect during labour and birth.

If your baby is unwell or needs special care when it is born, they may be taken to a special-care nursery or neonatal intensive care unit. This could mean going to a different hospital that can provide the special care you and your baby need.

Registering your baby and obtaining their birth certificate

The hospital or midwife will notify the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages that you have given birth. They’ll also give you a Parent Pack, which includes a Newborn Child Declaration form. Use this declaration as proof of your child’s birth to enrol them in Medicare. Follow the directions in the pack and submit the form as soon as possible.

Once your baby is born, you must also submit a birth registration statement to the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Your Parent Pack will contain an information sheet about this process. This statement will require details about your child, yourself and your partner (if applicable). This birth registration, along with the 'notification of birth’ that your hospital or midwife submitted, complete the birth registration.

During the birth registration process with the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, you will be prompted to order a birth certificate for your child.

There are rules around what you can name your baby. Check what isn’t allowed.

If you’re a non-permanent resident of Australia, contact the Department of Home Affairs for help with visas and Australian citizenship.

Physical health

While labour and birth are normal processes, it’s not uncommon to suffer minor grazes or small tears to the perineum, or much less often, have an episiotomy. These should heal with good hygiene and within 6 weeks. Approximately 38% of women in Victoria have a caesarean section. Recovery from a caesarean takes longer than a vaginal birth.

Blood loss occurs following birth and is a normal process as the uterus returns to its pre-pregnant state. This should gradually decrease in amount and can sometimes take up to six weeks to stop. Get medical attention straight away if you experience excess bleeding; increasing discomfort, pain and feeling unwell; and not being able to use your body for normal functions (like controlling your bladder or bowels).

Mental health

Your feelings are very important. If any part of the labour and birth didn’t go to plan and you feel anxious or unhappy about it, talk with your care provider.

For some the heartfelt joy a new baby brings when growing your family adds to the incredible journey and adventure of life. However, parenting also requires hard work, has many challenges and isn’t always as joyous as we would wish.

The baby blues, thought to be driven by hormonal changes and the birth process, are a natural occurrence after childbirth. Baby blues affect up to 80% of new mothers. These feelings of sadness, mood swings, frequent weeping, feeling overwhelmed and/or anxious can occur 3 to 5 days after the birth and may continue for a few days then pass. Women who experience depression and anxiety after that time should check with their health practitioner and/or maternal child health (MCH) nurse to ensure it's not developing into postnatal depression.

A small percentage of people experience trauma during and after labour and birth. Some of these may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following birth. Anyone experiencing birth trauma should speak to their healthcare provider.

Each new parent's connection with their newborn is unique. If you're not feeling connected to your newborn baby this can be normal, but should be discussed with your health practitioner. Getting support early and discussing your feelings is the best thing you can do for you, your baby and family.

If you had problems at hospital or want to make a complaint about your care experience, bring this to the attention of those who have provided your care. If you don’t feel the issue has been satisfactorily resolved, you can contact the Health Complaints Commissioner.

Breastfeeding

Like anything new, breastfeeding takes practice. Midwives, maternal and child health nurses and lactation consultants can support you. The Australian Breastfeeding Association also has a Breastfeeding Helpline which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 1800 686 268.

While some babies breastfeed straight after birth, other babies don’t start until a little later. While breastfeeding is considered ideal, breastfeeding is not always easy and needs patience and time to learn. There's plenty of support available to help establish breastfeeding or to address any difficulties that you may be having.

Some babies are born too premature to breastfeed or have conditions that make breastfeeding harder. If this happens, you can express breastmilk and your baby can receive your breastmilk until they are mature enough to breastfeed by themselves.

If you take regular medications, check with your caregiver that it's safe to use your breastmilk. If it's not, you may be able to use donated breastmilk, if available, for a period of time.

Breastfeeding at work

You can keep breastfeeding even if you return to work soon after birth.

Workplaces can’t discriminate against a breastfeeding person. Check if yours has a clean, private place to breastfeed or express milk. Your partner or support person can bring your baby for feeds or you can express milk to leave for your baby’s carer to give to them.

Remember that if you can’t breastfeed, or provide breastmilk to your baby, formula feeding is a safe alternative to breastmilk. If you formula-feed your baby, take this time to talk to, connect with and bond with your baby.

Formula feeding

If breastmilk is not available, then commercial infant formula is the only suitable and safe alternative to meeting the nutritional needs of infants.

It's very important to understand what your baby can and can’t be fed.

What formula you feed your baby and how much you feed them will change depending on their age. Babies less than 12 months need to be fed with infant formula.

Sterilising all equipment that you use to prepare the formula is essential to thoroughly clean and kill all germs. This will help keep your baby safe and healthy.

Ensure that formula is made up and stored exactly as stated on the packaging.

If you need any help or advice about formula feeding, reach out to the midwives involved in your care, your maternal and child health nurse, doctor or pharmacist.

Going home

If birth and labour were straightforward and you're both healthy, you’ll go home after 2 to 5 days.

For safety and legal requirements, infants under 6 months of age must travel in a rear-facing child restraint in a motor vehicle. Vic Roads provides information on child restraints so you can be prepared for taking your baby home.

Bringing a newborn home can be overwhelming. It’s exciting to have your new family together, but caring for a newborn takes time and energy.

Stay in touch with your maternal and child health nurse, GP or specialist to keep track of your recovery. Rest whenever you can and don’t expect to get your usual energy or strength back straight away.

The Victorian Government provides first-time parents and carers with a bundle of nursery essentials containing key parenting information and resources to support the health, development and wellbeing of your baby. Your midwives will give you your baby bundle in hospital and if you have your baby outside Victoria your MCH nurse will be able to provide you with one.

Self-care and support

In the first week that you are home, your maternal and child health (MCH) nurse will contact you to organise your first appointment and inform you of ongoing visits.

Your MCH nurse can book you into a first-time parent’s group, which are a great source of information, support and friendship.

Your maternal child health nurse will book you into a first-time parents' group, which can be a great source of information, support and friendship..

If you do not hear from your MCH nurse, your local council will have a list of MCH centre locations where you can ring to book an appointment to get support and advice. If you’re unsure which council you’re located in, check the Find Your Council website.

MCH nurses can also refer you to appropriate support services in your local area. If you require further information about MCH and need advice at any time, you can call the Maternal and Child Health Line (available 24 hours a day) on 13 22 29.

The Raising Children’s Network has a lot of resources for new parents, including information on building and expanding a parent support network.

You can also speak with your local doctor (GP) who will be able to assist in finding local support for you and your baby.

Relationships

Having a baby is an exciting time for your family. It can bring you closer to your partner and it can bring new stresses in your relationships. If your relationship with your partner has been strained or tense since your baby arrived, talk to your MCH nurse or GP for help.

The Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Service is a free health service for all Victorian families with children from birth to school age. All MCH nurses are registered nurses and registered midwives and have additional qualifications in maternal and child health nursing.

An MCH nurse will contact you by phone to organise your first appointment. They can support you with feeding, sleep and settling, connecting with and caring for your baby and provide you with information and support on early parenting.

The MCH Service works in partnership with families to care for babies and young children until they start school.

You will visit MCH nurses at 10 key stages of your child's development. The visits focus on optimising child and family health, wellbeing, safety, learning and development. Your MCH nurse offers additional visits, first-time parenting groups, and links to local community activities and services when extra support is needed. The Maternal and Child Health Line (13 22 29 available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) provides families with 24-hour access to an MCH nurse for advice and support.

Your GP is also an important partner in your baby's wellbeing. Both your maternal and child health nurse and GP can step you through the National Immunisation Program Schedule for your baby.

An immunised baby:

• is protected from dangerous early childhood diseases
• can enrol in childcare and playgroups
• is eligible for government payments.

Sleep

Newborn babies need feeding and changing regularly throughout the day and night. As tiring as this may be, it is worth remembering that these sleepless nights don’t last. It takes time for infant sleep patterns to settle into day and night rhythms.

You're not alone if you're feeling exhausted and frustrated. Trying some of these ideas can have you and your family sleeping better, sooner.

Ensure you create a safe sleeping environment for your baby.

Make sure you are familiar with Red Nose’s 6 safe-sleeping recommendations and THE Raising Children Network's 10 safe sleeping tips to reduce the risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy.

If you're struggling with your or your baby's sleep, talk to your MCH nurse, GP or other healthcare provider for advice and/or referral or contact your local early parenting support services.

If you're struggling with your or your baby's sleep, talk to your MCH nurse, the MCH Line on 13 22 29, your GP or a healthcare provider for advice and/or a referral. You can also contact your local early parenting support services.

Child safety

The home is the most common location for childhood injury to occur. Homes can have many hazards that can lead to injuries such as falls, burns or drowning. We all want to keep our children safe no matter how old or young they are. The Raising Children’s Network has a lot of resources on injury prevention. Learning first aid is a good skill to have to help your baby and others if they need urgent care.

Our fact sheet and videos, produced with Ambulance Victoria, show you what to do, where to get help, how to perform CPR and where to learn more about first aid training.

Government payments

If you didn't finalise your pre-birth claim, check out how to start receiving your payments.

Also, check with Services Australia to find out which payments you're eligible for.

Victorian Child Protection Service

Children's safety relies on individuals, family, community and the government all playing their part. When adults caring for children don't fulfil their responsibilities, are abusive or take advantage of their power, Child Protection can look into these concerns and can step in to legally protect the child.

The Victorian Child Protection Service looks out for children and young people at risk, or where families can't or won't protect them. If you're worried about the safety of a child, contact Child Protection.