The City of Stirling strives to strengthen families and communities through a range of family based initiatives that enhance health and well-being, build positive relationships, connect families to their communities and enhance access to responsive family support services.
Family health and support
The City of Stirling strongly advocates for the physical and intellectual growth and wellbeing for children.
While focusing on children in the early years and above, the City works collaboratively with external agencies and service providers to encourage and promote social and emotional development, language and connection to culture and community.
Please note, the following services are operated in conjunction with not-for-profits or Government departments.
Programs and services
Teen Family Centre
The Teen Family Centre provides services to young parents (21 years and under) who are engaged in education. The centre's objective is to provide a real opportunity to improve their lives and the lives of their children through education, close mentoring and communal support.
For more information, please visit the Teen Family Centre website.
Better Health program
One in four Australian children are overweight or obese, and this can lead to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. There is also a 25-50 percent chance of childhood obesity leading to adult obesity, so preventative action during childhood is really important.
The Better Health program runs a free 10-week program for families with children aged 6 to 12 to help them lead healthier and happier lives. The program aims to build confidence and self-esteem through games and activities, while learning new, healthy and goal-setting skills. Programs are run either face to face within the community or online where families will be allocated their own health professional who calls them each week.
For more information, please phone 1300 822 953 or visit the Better Health website.
Child Health centre
The City has a number of Child Health centres located at Community Hubs and centres.
The Child Health centres are located at the following locations:
- Mirrabooka Community Hub
- Inglewood Community Hub
- Osborne Community Hub
- Scarborough Community Hub.
Please note, immunisations cannot be organised through the Child Health centres.
For more information, please visit the Community hub page.
Child safe organisations and the National Principles
A child safe organisation is one that creates a culture, adopts strategies and takes action to promote child wellbeing and prevent harm to children and young people. There are 10 National Principles for Child Safe Organisations designed to provide a consistent approach to creating organisational cultures that foster child safety and wellbeing.
To find out more, please visit the Child Safe Organisations website.
headspace
headspace Osborne Park supports young people aged 12 to 25 who are going through a tough time. They provide free information and support around:
- Physical health
- Mental health
- Education
- Employment
- Alcohol and other drug use.
If you need to talk to someone, headspace Osborne Park is a great place to start.
For more information on headspace, please visit the headspace website.
ReachOut.com
ReachOut.com is Australia's leading online mental health service. It's the perfect place to start if you're not sure where to look for information on mental health issues for young people. It helps many young Australians with information, support and stories on everything from finding your motivation to getting through really tough times.
For more information please visit the ReachOut website.
Children of parents with a mental illness (COPMI)
The COPMI website has helpful information for children and teenagers who have a parent with a mental illness.
For more information, please visit the COPMI website.
Act Belong Commit
Act Belong Commit provides guidelines on how to become more mentally healthy.
For more information, please visit the Act Belong Commit website.
Vision Counselling - Community Support program
The Community Support program provides free, short-term counselling to individuals who may otherwise not have access to counselling services. Individuals can access up to six free counselling sessions with therapists at the Scarborough office.
Appointments take place at Vision Counselling and Psychology which is located at Stirling Leisure - Scarborough.
For more information, please phone the Vision support team on 1300 184 746 or visit the Vision Counselling website.
Additional resources
Playgroups are a great way for your child to interact with others in a fun and safe environment, while giving parents the opportunity to interact with each other.
There are many different types of playgroups that operate across the City of Stirling, offering a range of niche groups including culturally diverse, dad's groups and groups for children with disability.
Playgroup WA is the peak body in Western Australia for children’s playgroups. Alternatively, your child health nurse may be able to provide you with a list of local playgroups at your purple book appointments.
Visit Playgroup WA or the Western Australian Department of Health website.
The City offers a range of activities and programs for children and their families.
Libraries and hubs
The City of Stirling has four community hubs that offer a range of services, facilities and spaces for community activities. The hubs focus on meeting the needs of each hub’s local residents all in one convenient location. Each hub has a library and community centre with additional services available at each location.
The City of Stirling has six libraries and offer a range of activities for children and young people throughout the year including coding clubs, Lego clubs, Baby Rhymetime and Story Time.
Please visit the libraries and hubs page for more information.
Parks and playgrounds
There are many parks and playgrounds located throughout the City of Stirling for children of all ages and abilities. Outdoor activities are a great way for you to spend time with your child.
Parks and playgrounds page
Activities and leisure programs
The City runs and hosts a number of activities for children across a wide range of ages including junior sports, toddler gym and school holiday programs.
To find out more please visit the activities and leisure page.
Family and domestic violence support
Family and domestic violence refers to violence, abuse and intimidation between family members, and people who are or have been in an intimate relationship.
The perpetrator uses family and domestic violence to control and dominate the other person causing fear, physical harm and/or psychological harm.
Types of family and domestic violence
Family and domestic violence in Australia can include:
- Emotional abuse
- Physical assault
- Sexual assault
- Verbal abuse
- Financial abuse
- Psychological abuse
- Harassment in person or via text or social media
- Stalking
- Abusive behaviour towards pets
- Breaching an apprehended domestic violence order.
Family and domestic violence is a crime and a violation of human rights.
Stirling Women’s Centre
If you are experiencing family or domestic violence, the Stirling Women’s Centre can support you. The City of Stirling’s Women’s Centre provides crisis accommodation and support services for women and children.
- Safe, short-term accommodation for six to eight weeks
- Safety planning
- Risk assessment
- Housing information
- Advocacy
- Family and domestic violence education
- Referrals
- Financial and trauma counselling
- Legal advice and assistance
- Supporting expanding social networks
- Court support and transport.
The Safe at Home program provides support for women and children to enable them to stay in their own home when it is safe for them to do so.
The program is based on an assessment of risk and safety which empowers women to make informed decisions after they have experienced family and domestic violence.
For more information, please phone Stirling Women’s Centre.
Personal safety plan
A personal safety plan is important for minimising the risk to yourself and your children in the event of a family and domestic violence incident. The Stirling Women's Centre can help your family develop a safety plan in relation to family domestic violence.
A sample personal safety plan would include the following elements:
- Contact Crisis Care or the police and find out about legal and other resources available to you beforehand, in case you have to use them during a crisis
- Identify safe areas of the house where there are no weapons and where there are escape routes. If arguments occur, try to move to those areas
- Do not run to where the children are, as you may also put them in danger
- Have a list of emergency phone numbers on hand. Always have your mobile phone charged and know where it is. Do not be afraid to call the Police
- Tell someone you trust what is happening to you
- Let your friends and neighbours know of your situation. Develop a plan for them to assist you if needed. This may include a signal such as turning the outside light on even during the day if you need help
- Show your children how to get help (teach them how to dial 000, ask for police and know their home address)
- Teach them how to seek help and not get involved in the violence between you and your partner
- Plan with your children and identify a safe place for them to go. Reassure them that their job is to stay safe, not to protect you
- Plan a code-word to tell the children that they should get help or leave the house
- Practice how to get out safely with your children (keep the conversation practical like other safety conversations you may have around natural disaster planning, fire safety etc.)
- Have a spare set of car keys hidden for when you may need to escape
- If you have the opportunity, try to set money aside or ask friends or family members to hold money for you
- Keep a written account of all violent incidences, noting dates, events and threats made if possible
- If you have been injured, go to a doctor or an emergency room and report the incident. Ask for the information to be documented
- Know where your closest local daytime and 24-hour Police stations are
- Pack an emergency bag, if needed include birth certificates, ID, keys, bank cards, passports, money and USB with important documents on it
- Teach your children that violence is never right, even when someone they love is being violent. Tell them that it is not their fault and they have not done anything to cause the violence.
Naala Djookan Healing Centre
The City of Stirling leads a consortium of ten (10) partner specialist organisations to operate a One Stop Hub (Hub) model in Mirrabooka. One Stop Hubs are funded by the Department of Communities and designed to make it easier for victims of family and domestic violence (FDV), by providing a range of support and wraparound services in one location.
Naala Djookan Healing Centre seeks to simplify access for women affected by family and domestic violence by providing trauma informed therapeutic services. We offer a range of integrated and evidence-based services in one safe, inclusive, culturally responsive and welcoming location.
The City of Stirling leads this service in partnership with Australian Childhood Foundation, Ebenezer Aboriginal Corporation, Ishar Multicultural Women’s Health Services, Karla Kuliny Aboriginal Corporation, Legal Aid Commission of WA, MercyCare, Multicultural Services Centre of WA, Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre and Wadjak Northside Aboriginal Community Corporation.
Contact details and staffed hours
- 25 Cedric Street, Stirling
-
Monday to Friday 8.30am - 5.00pm
- (08) 9205 7375
- Lodge a general enquiry
Family and domestic abuse - Useful resources
Police | 000 or 131 444 |
Crisis Care | (08) 9223 1111 |
Women’s Domestic Violence Helpline | 1800 007 339 |
Men’s Domestic Violence Helpline | 1800 000 599 |
Sexual Assault Resource Centre (SARC) | 1800 199 888 or (08) 6458 1828 (24hr emergency line) |
Lifeline | 13 11 14 |
Beyond Blue | 1300 224 636 |
Meth Helpline | 1800 874 878 |
| Naala Djookan Healing Centre | 1800 199 008 |
