| Kids Helpline | |
| Size: | 105px |
| Services: | Phone counselling Online counselling Email counselling |
| Affiliations: | yourtown |
Kids Helpline is a free Australian telephone and online counselling service for young people aged between 5 and 25. Counsellors respond to more than 6,000 calls each week about issues ranging from relationship breakdown and bullying to sexual abuse, homelessness, suicidal thoughts, depression and drug and alcohol usage.
The service is primarily funded by yourtown, an Australian youth community services organisation, which provides the Kids Helpline service.[1] Supported by the Australian Government (through the Department of Health and Aged Care and the Australian Human Rights Commission), the Queensland Government, and Government of Western Australia. It is also supported by corporate sponsors, Optus, Bupa, Future Generation Investment Company, and First National Real Estate.[2]
All counsellors that provide services through Kids Helpline are university-qualified and are formal employees of yourtown.[3]
Long-term users of the service can also access case management through Kids Helpline, as well as "wrap around care" where a trusted adult is involved in ensuring a child's welfare. Kids Helpline can also refer patients onwards to more formal and in-person services.