Families

Your child's development from conception to 2 years Every child deserves the best start in life.

Get your child's development checked How to get a free check of your child's communication and movement skills.

Get an autism assessment for your child How to get an assessment, what a referral must include and how we assess autism.

Refer a child to the Child Development Service To get a child's development checked, fill in the online form or call us.

Get help introducing your baby to solid food Book a free online workshop.

Parenting advice and support Call or visit to talk about your concerns and find parenting programs and playgroups.

Find a Child and Family Centre Check if you can use our services and find a centre near you.

Find the Child Development Service Check if you can use our services and contact us.

Australian Early Development Census Learn how we measure child development in a child's first year of school and how we use the results.

Becoming a foster carer Check if you can be a foster carer, the types of care you can give and how to apply.

Becoming a kinship carer How we work with families to decide where their child lives if they need care and if you're asked to be a kinship carer.

Support for foster and kinship carers Money, wellbeing check-ups, training and other government and community support.

Get parental responsibility for a child Legal options for foster carers, kinship carers and stepparents.

Adopting a child Check if you can adopt and learn about the types of adoption, waiting times and costs.

Steps to adopt Before you can apply, getting assessed and being matched with a child.

Applying for an adoption order Transferring parental rights and responsibilities for a child to their adoptive parents.

Get adoption records Find out about birth relatives, leave your contact details for a relative or make a contact veto.

Placing your child for adoption Support when you're considering adoption and the steps if you decide to go ahead.

Entering a surrogacy arrangement Find if you can enter a surrogacy arrangement, what you need to do and how to transfer rights.