Child FIRST teams are located across Victoria, each providing children, young people and families easier access to the services they need.
Each Child and Family Information, Referral and Support Team (Child FIRST) provides a central referral point to a range of community-based family services and other supports within each of the Child FIRST catchment areas.
Child FIRST links vulnerable children, young people and their families into the relevant services they need.
Factors which affect a child's safety, stability or development are:
- Significant parenting problems that may be affecting the child's development
- Serious family conflict, including family breakdown
- Families under pressure due to a family member's physical or mental illness, substance abuse, disability or bereavement
- Young, isolated and/or unsupported families
- Significant social or economic disadvantage that may adversely impact on a child's care or development.
Use the table below to find your local Child FIRST or The Orange Door referral phone number. If you are not sure which local government area the family you are concerned about lives in, visit the Know your council website.
For more information, see the Victorian Child FIRST catchments map (pdf), which is also available in Related resources on this page.
What is the Orange Door?
Child FIRST, as the access point for family services, is progressively transitioning to The Orange Door.
The Orange Door is the new access point for women, children and young people who are experiencing family violence, or families who need assistance with the care and wellbeing of children to access the services they need to be safe and supported.
Local Government areas that have already transitioned to The Orange Door are indicated in the following table.
For more information, visit The Orange Door website.
Local Government Area | Child FIRST/The Orange Door referral number |
---|---|
Alpine | 1800 705 211 |
Ararat | 1800 219 819 |
Ballarat | 1800 219 819 |
Banyule (Orange Door) | 1800 319 355 |
Bass Coast | 1800 339 100 |
Baw Baw | 1800 339 100 |
Bayside (Orange Door) | 1800 319 353 |
Benalla | 1800 705 211 |
Boroondara | 1300 762 125 |
Brimbank | 1300 138 180 |
Buloke (Orange Door) | 1800 290 943 |
Campaspe | 1800 260 338 |
Cardinia | (03) 9705 3939 |
Cardinia (Aboriginal children and families) | (03) 9794 5973 |
Casey | (03) 9705 3939 |
Casey (Aboriginal children and families) | (03) 9794 5973 |
Central Goldfields | 1800 260 338 |
Colac-Otway | 1800 312 820 |
Corangamite | (03) 5232 5500 |
Darebin (Orange Door) | 1800 319 355 |
East Gippsland | (03) 5152 0052 |
Frankston (Orange Door) | 1800 319 353 |
Gannawarra (Orange Door) | 1800 290 943 |
Glen Eira (Orange Door) | 1800 319 353 |
Glenelg | 1300 543 779 |
Golden Plains | 1800 219 819 |
Greater Bendigo | 1800 260 338 |
Greater Dandenong | (03) 9705 3939 |
Greater Dandenong (Aboriginal children and families) | (03) 9794 5973 |
Greater Geelong (Orange Door) | 1800 312 820 |
Greater Shepparton | 1300 854 944 |
Hepburn | 1800 219 819 |
Hindmarsh | 1800 195 114 |
Hobson's Bay | 1300 775 160 |
Horsham | 1800 195 114 |
Hume | 1300 786 433 |
Indigo | 1800 705 211 |
Kingston (Orange Door) | 1800 319 353 |
Knox | 1300 369 146 |
La Trobe | 1800 339 100 |
Loddon | 1800 260 338 / 1800 512 359 |
Macedon Ranges | 1800 260 338 |
Manningham | 1300 762 125 |
Mansfield | 1800 705 211 |
Maribyrnong | 1300 775 160 |
Maroondah | 1300 369 146 |
Melbourne | 1300 775 160 |
Melton | 1300 138 180 |
Mildura (Orange Door) | 1800 290 943 |
Mitchell | 1800 663 107 |
Moira | 1300 854 944 |
Monash | 1300 762 125 |
Moonee Valley | 1300 775 160 |
Moorabool | 1800 219 819 |
Moreland | 1300 786 433 |
Mornington Peninsula (Orange Door) | 1800 319 353 |
Mount Alexander | 1800 260 338 |
Moyne | 1300 543 779 |
Murrundindi | 1800 663 107 |
Nillumbik (Orange Door) | 1800 319 355 |
Northern Grampians | 1800 195 114 |
Port Phillip (Orange Door) | 1800 319 353 |
Pyrenees | 1800 219 819 |
Queenscliff (Orange Door) | 1800 312 820 |
South Gippsland | 1800 339 100 |
Southern Grampians | 1300 543 779 |
Stonnington | 1800 319 353 |
Strathbogie | 1300 854 944 |
Surf Coast (Orange Door) | 1800 312 820 |
Swan Hill (Orange Door) | 1800 290 943 |
Towong | 1800 705 211 |
Wangaratta | 1800 705 211 |
Warrnambool | 1300 543 779 |
Wellington | (03) 5144 7777 |
West Wimmera | 1800 195 114 |
Whitehorse | 1300 762 125 |
Whittlesea (Orange Door) | 1800 319 355 |
Wodonga | 1800 705 211 |
Wyndham | 1300 775 160 |
Yarra (Orange Door) | 1800 319 355 |
Yarra Ranges | 1300 369 146 |
Yarriambiak | 1800 195 114 |
In some areas referrals about Aboriginal children and families can be made directly to an Aboriginal organisation, as indicated in the table.